HARRISONBURG – James Madison is right where most people thought it would be after two games. The Dukes are 1-1 heading into a hostile environment in Lynchburg to take on a Liberty team with something to prove.
But JMU might have just as much to prove. The defense – highly touted going into the year – hasn’t been overwhelming. The young, inconsistent offensive has been underwhelming.
A win today is pivotal to the Dukes’ chances of ending their 2-year playoff drought. Here are three keys to today’s game.
1) Is this Liberty team the real deal?
Don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t judge the Flames by their conference. No, the Big South can’t carry the CAA’s shoulder pads, but that doesn’t mean Liberty can’t knock JMU right out of its pads. That might be a tough reality for some fans to accept. A win by the Flames today, however, would open some eyes.
I talked to LU senior linebacker Mike Connolly this week and he told me this is easily the best Liberty team he’s been on, meaning coach Danny Rocco has been steadily building toward this season.
Senior quarterback Mike Brown – an undeniably gifted athlete who began his career at wide receiver -- has developed into an adept passer, the Flames have added legitimate size and speed on both sides of the ball and LU has been drawing big crowds at its renovated stadium. Rocco expects over 20,000.
The days of those fans coming out to see Liberty play are over. Today, they’re coming to see the Flames win.
2) Will the Dukes’ offense be one dimensional again?
JMU’s offense hasn’t been able to put things together yet this season, a big reason the Flames should have a good chance today. That said, the Dukes are a young, inexperienced group on offense. If today’s the day they run and pass the ball effectively in the same game, they could be poised for a big show.
JMU quarterback Justin Thorpe told me this week that the Flames’ 3-4 alignment actually makes it easier for the Dukes to capture the edge with their option-based running game. Dae’Quan Scott – ineffective in the opener against UNC – bounced back with a big game against Central Connecticut state.
Against North Carolina, Thorpe – a redshirt junior – showed off his ability to the throw the ball, something JMU coaches said he’s made strides in since his rookie year.
JMU catches a break with Liberty nose tackle Asa Chapman suspended indefinitely after getting into some off-field legal trouble, but the Dukes haven’t put up huge offensive numbers against LU the past two meetings.
3) Can JMU’s defense disrupt the passing rhythm of Mike Brown?
The Dukes haven’t gotten a sack yet in 2011. This would be a good game to change that. Brown and the Flames’ run a passing attack based on timing, lining Brown up in the shotgun and having him get rid of the ball after just a few steps.
The problem with just flushing Brown from the pocket is he is a threat to run. But if the Dukes can lay licks on Brown throw after throw.
JMU’s defense has dominated the Flames in the last two meetings, holding Liberty to just 13 points in those two games. This defense is supposed to be smother this year.
Senior linebacker/safety Vidal Nelson wanted to dub the unit “the steel curtain” until I pointed out “purple people eaters” would make more sense. We’ll see if either moniker applies today.
Dude. Do you ever proofread your stuff before you post it? Every article has at least 3 errors. "But if the Dukes can lay licks on Brown throw after throw." Um, yes? If the Dukes can lay licks on him, then what? It's not even a finished sentence. "This defense is supposed to be smother this year." Huh? Is this supposed to say that the defense is SMOOTHER this year, or that the defense is supposed to SMOTHER opposing offenses this year? Time to look into hiring a proofreader.
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