Upon Further Review: Looking back at the W&M game (And A QB's suspension)

HARRISONBURG – Well, I never bothered to post the Upon Further Review blog I wrote Sunday morning after the Dukes’ big 20-14 win over William & Mary. In the wake of starting quarterback Justin Thorpe’s suspension, other topics seemed a bit more pressing.

First down: Did JMU’s offense find an identity running the ball Saturday? And will Thorpe’s suspension send them back to square one?

Against William & Mary, sophomore running back Dae’Quan Scott posted his third straight 100-plus-yard rushing performance, the first JMU running back to do so since Eugene Holloman in 2006. The Dukes also got 81 yards rushing from quarterback Justin Thorpe against the Tribe and had the look of a team that can impose its will on opponents running the ball.

Scott has proved to be a legit every-down back, running hard between the tackles and fast outside them, breaking tackles and proving a capable blocker. JMU has also used some – but not much – of its Wildcat package with Scott.

Now, with Thorpe out for at least the next five games, the Dukes have to go back to the offensive drawing board. It was poor play on offense – and the quarterback position – that sunk the past two seasons, as JMU went 6-5 and missed the playoffs in both years. JMU coach Mickey Matthews took over in the offseason as quarterbacks coach and play-caller and – through four games – the Dukes appeared to be making progress.

Thorpe looked sharp throwing the ball against North Carolina and Scott emerged as a star the next three games. After back-to-back road wins over ranked opponents (Liberty and William & Mary), JMU moved up to No. 9 in the latest I-AA Top 25 poll.

But if the Dukes were a stock, Jim Kramer would be yelling to sell. News of the suspension to Thorpe would have them plummeting. Going forward, to rebound, JMU will need its offensive line to be even more dominant and Scott and backup Jauan Latney to continue to play well.

Oh yeah. And…

Second down: JMU will need new quarterback Jace Edwards to step up.

Edwards practiced well in the preseason and beat out the more highly touted Billy Cosh – a transfer from Kansas State – for the backup job. He doesn’t have the speed or raw athleticism of Thorpe or the arm strength of Cosh, but Edwards impressed Matthews’ with the coach called a quarterback’s “moxie.”

If Edwards can get by primarily handing the ball to Scott and Latney as he gets comfortable running the show, he could prove a more than capable fill-in until Thorpe returns. But if JMU asks Edwards to pass the ball only on third-and-long – when defenses know what’s coming – he could damage his psyche.

Matthews said Edwards is more athletic than people realize, pointing out that he was a spread option quarterback in Texas in high school. But he’s young, playing earlier than would be ideal as a redshirt freshman. He saw some limited action in the season-opening loss to North Carolina, but that’s it.

There will be plenty of pressure on Edwards, but really, for all this talk of what the offense needs to do post-Thorpe, the unit that’s really under the gun is…

Third down: The defense. JMU needs its D to become the dominant force people expected.

The Dukes aren’t going to score much or be as explosive without Thorpe. That’s reality. But they can be efficient, controlling the ball and the clock. The defense will have to play, well, the way it played the last two years before switching to the 4-3.

JMU’s defensive line has been ravaged by injuries. Defensive tackle Sean O’Neill is out for the year after knee surgery. Nick Emmons, the other starter, hasn’t played yet this season because of a knee injury suffered in practice. Jordan Stanton came out of Saturday’s William & Mary game with an undisclosed injury.

The Dukes only lost two starters from last year -- defensive tackle Ronnell Brown was a senior and safety Jonathan Williams was booted from the team for off-field transgressions. But in the second half against William & Mary, new Tribe quarterback Mike Graham torched Madison’s secondary.

If the defense can play the way JMU is accustomed to seeing it play, the offense should be able to tread water all the way to the brink of a playoff berth. And that’s when Thorpe – who is allowed to practice with the team – would be back.