Game-Day Blog: Three Keys For The JMU-ODU Game

NEWPORT NEWS – Old Dominion has proven to be a legitimate contender in the Colonial Athletic Association in its first year in the league. But the Monarchs’ three CAA wins have come against teams – UMass, Rhode Island and Villanova – with a combined 7-15 record.

A win today against James Madison would be ODU’s most impressive this season.

Of course, JMU’s three CAA wins are against teams – William & Mary, Richmond and Villanova – with a combined 8-15 record. So a win over the Monarchs would be equally solid for the Dukes.

Here are three things to watch for in today’s JMU-ODU game.

1) Can JMU’s defense avoid giving up the kind of big plays that have been the trademark of the Old Dominion offense this season?

The Dukes have struggled some with their pass defense this season, especially on third downs. They given up five touchdown passes of 20 yards or more this season.

Old Dominion has made a living putting up points from far out, scoring 10 touchdowns of over 20 yards, six off passes and four on long runs.

Expect to see plenty of nickel packages from the JMU defense today. Safety Jakarie Jackson is back from a hamstring injury and both he and Ryan Smith should be on the field together against ODU’s wide-receiver loaded formations.


If JMU can generate the kind of pass rush with its four down linemen that it did in battering Richmond 31-7 (sacking UR QB Aaron Corp seven times in the game), the Dukes will be able to drop seven defenders into coverage on passing downs.


But if the Dukes need to turn to blitzing, and leave their corners isolated in man-to-man all game, ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke could be in for another big day.

2) It isn’t just on offense that the Monarchs are making big plays. Can JMU avoid a special teams’ disaster?

Old Dominion has returned two punts for touchdowns, recovered two onsides kicks and blocked five kicks (four punts and one field goal) already this season. Those are the kind of plays that can turn a game, especially in bad weather, which is what’s called for today in Norfolk.

In the Monarchs three years of existence, they’ve displayed a Virginia Tech-esque knack for specials teams play, blocking a total of 17 kicks in that time.

JMU has had some iffy moments this year when it comes to punt protection and its kick coverage has been less than stellar. With the extra week (coming off a bye), the Dukes surely spent some time shoring up their protections. And if they didn’t, ODU will find a way to exploit that.

3) How will the forecasted rain affect both teams’ game plans?

JMU shouldn’t have to alter what it does much if it rains heavily, as is expected here in Norfolk. The Dukes have played two games in the rain this season – wins over William & Mary and Richmond. In both games, they piled up rushing yards while throwing for under 80 yards.

Of course, that’s basically the same approach the Dukes use when the sun’s shining.

ODU, on the other hand, is a pass-happy attack that could be muted by heavy rains. And facing JMU’s defense – the best in the CAA against the run – rushing the ball might not be a viable option.

The Monarchs may have a better chance trying to chuck it through the rain.

For updates during the game, follow @mikeabarber on Twitter.

CAA Picks: Week 9

HARRISONBURG – Predicting who will win Colonial Athletic Association football games this year is proving nearly as difficult as winning a title in the ultra-competitive league. This week’s schedule features two toss-up matchups – JMU at Old Dominion and Massachusetts at Richmond – and a third that I could see going either way in Delaware at Towson.

But you’re also seeing some separation develop in the standings. Maine and Towson can take huge steps toward winning a league title by taking care of business Saturday. The Black Bears host the struggling Villanova Wildcats and Towson plays at disappointing Delaware.

James Madison, New Hampshire and Old Dominion could make headway toward locking up a I-AA playoff bid with wins Saturday. The problem for JMU and ODU is, they face each other.

As for me, I’m in a Richmond-esque slide, desperately searching for a Duke-like week on my schedule to right the ship. I posted a losing record (2-3) last week for the first time this year by reaching for upsets with Villanova and William & Mary. I finally jumped off the Rhode Island bandwagon and what do the Rams do? Win a game.

That showing dropped my overall record on the year to 40-17. Here are this week’s picks…

Rhode Island at New Hampshire: The Rams finally put things together in their 38-34 win over Delaware last week. Can they keep it going this weekend against the Wildcats? The Rams have struggled giving up points and stopping opposing passing attacks.

UNH. They throw it and they score a ton.

New Hampshire won an emotional rivalry game at Gillette Stadium last week against Massachusetts, the final meeting between the two schools as conference mates. (UMass is moving up to Division I-A next year.)

PICK: New Hampshire 34, Rhode Island 17

Massachusetts at Richmond: Richmond squandered a 16-0 halftime lead and lost to Maine 23-22 last weekend, pushing its slide to four games. After a 3-0 start that included an upset of I-A Duke, the Spiders have fallen on tough times.

That won’t change Saturday, even playing at home in front of yet another sell out crowd. Richmond won’t be able to run the ball on UMass, forcing the Spiders into the kind of one-dimensional offensive game plan that has made quarterback Aaron Corp the second-most sacked QB in the CAA.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Herandez – the league’s leading rusher – should have a field day against UR’s defense.

PICK: UMass 27, Richmond 17

Maine at Villanova: I still have a hard time imagining Villanova going winless in the league this year, even with how young and beat up they are. Hosting a Maine team that has been one of the biggest surprises of the year, but a squad that’s had to pull some rabbit-out-of-the-hat type wins to stay atop the league standings, could this be the Wildcats’ weekend?

No.

Maine will be able to move the ball against Villanova, with or without Pushaun Brown. Villanova won’t be able to do the same.

PICK: Maine 28, Villanova 10

Delaware at Towson: If you go by preseason expectations, Delaware should win this game by about four scores.

But things haven’t played out the way most expected for either team. Delaware, considered a league title contender, has lost back-to-back games to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, while Towson is stunningly tied atop the league standings with Maine.

The game features two of the league’s most productive tailbacks in Delaware’s Andrew Pierce and Towson’s Terrance West. But Tigers quarterback Grant Enders seems to be making the plays that make the difference.

In the end, Enders and Towson’s redzone defense help make this geographically-close game finally a rivalry.

PICK: Towson 23, Delaware 22

James Madison at Old Dominion: Seems all season long, people west of Norfolk have been waiting for the Monarchs’ mirage to fade away. It hasn’t happened. ODU is a legitimate contender in its first year playing in the CAA.

But this will be the toughest test yet for the Monarchs, who have wins over Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Villanova on their CAA resume, to go with losses to Delaware and Towson.

The Dukes are coming off a bye week. Their offensive line and running backs should be rested and ready to go. JMU should run the ball effectively. As long as its defense can keep ODU’s wide receivers in front of it and not give up long touchdowns, the Dukes should take a big step toward returning to the I-AA playoffs for the first time since 2008.

PICK: JMU 24, ODU 20

CAA Picks: Week 8

PARK RIDGE, N.J. – The gauntlet that is the Colonial Athletic Association’s football schedule is taking its toll on teams and prognosticators alike. Two teams (Maine and Towson) are looking to remain unbeaten in league play. Three (Richmond, Rhode Island and Villanova) are still searching for their first CAA win.

And in one rivalry matchup, two teams (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) square off for the final team as league foes.

The UMass-UNH tilt at Gilette Stadium certainly is this week’s headline grabber. But when the dust settles, Maine-Richmond will probably be more impactful on the league standings.

As for me, the CAA slate continued to take its toll. The bye week came at the perfect time, giving me a long weekend back home in New Jersey, feasting on bagels and lox, REAL pizza, veal parmigiana and pork chops. THAT’S how to spend the bye week.

I went 3-2 last week to drop my overall record to a less-than-spectacular 38-14. Let’s shake things up this week by picking Villanova to get off the schneid and William & Mary to get back on track.

Here are this week’s picks…

Delaware at Rhode Island: Both of these teams are off to disappointing starts this year. Rhode Island, which is leaving the CAA for the NEC, is going out like a lamb, having lost all three conference games so far.

Delaware is still in the playoff hunt, but losses to Maine and UMass have the Blue Hens walking a tightrope the rest of the way.

Both teams run the ball well and play decent run defense, so it may be a question of which team’s quarterback has the better day. Delaware is going back to Trevor Sasek after Tim Donnelly proved ineffective.

Rhode Island was my sleeper pick in the league before the year, a projection that has blown up completely. Delaware, I had as a contender for a league title. That’s still a possibility.

PICK: Delaware 27, Rhode Island 17

New Hampshire vs. Massachusetts: This is the final meeting between these two teams as league rivals, with UMass bolting for the low-level I-A MAC next year. Both teams are 4-2 and playing well on offense.

UNH hasn’t played much defense at all this year, and that could be the difference in this game. Could. But UMass has been terrible in pass defense all year long, meaning New Hampshire quarterback Kevin Decker should be in line for a big day.

Between Decker and UMass tailback Jonathan Hernandez, fans at Gilette Stadium should see plenty of offense, with just a bit more coming from the Wildcats.

PICK: New Hampshire 45, Massachusetts 41

Old Dominion at Villanova: Statistical analysis says Villanova has no chance in this game. ODU has the league’s top scoring offense and the Wildcats are saddled with the next-to-last ranked defense in terms of points allowed.

But this is a rare gut pick (influenced by talking to some coaches around the league). I can’t see Villanova going winless in the league, and with Rhode Island not on this year’s schedule, this might be the Wildcats’ best chance at a victory.

Villanova played W&M tough at home earlier this year. I say Andy Talley’s team gets over the hump and surprises everyone this week.

PICK: Villanova 20, ODU 17

Maine at Richmond: These two teams are nearly identical statistically, but are miles apart in terms of wins and losses. Their names appear right next to each other in almost every statistical category.

The always gutsy, gritty Black Bears are finding ways to win games this year, thanks to a  strong running game led by Pushaun Brown and the passing attack of QB Warren Smith, who is not just taking care of the football but is also making big plays through the air.

Richmond got off to a fast start, winning its non-conference games, including an upset of I-A Duke. Quarterback Aaron Corp can make big throws when he’s given time.

PICK: Maine 24, Richmond 21

Towson at William & Mary: Towson has been impressive as the league’s up-and-comer this year, winning its past two games in dramatic fashion. William & Mary has been terribly unpredictable this year, playing a close game against Villanova, getting shutout by Delaware and then whipping New Hampshire.

W&M’s Jonathan Grimes had a huge game against New Hampshire. Towson is coming off a miracle finish against ODU, winning by converting a fourth-down-and-miles into a game-winning touchdown.

Let’s trust the Tribe one more time and say the return of quarterback Michael Graham and linebackers Jake Trantin and Dante Cook will have W&M looking more like the national title contender it was predicted to be in the preseason.

PICK: William & Mary 24, Towson 21

Upon Further Review: A look back at the JMU-Villanova game

HARRISONBURG – JMU bounced back from its overtime loss to Maine by taking care of business against Villanova. The Dukes’ used a balanced offensive attack – its most balanced of the season – in the 34-10 rout of the decidedly-down Wildcats.

The win gives JMU a little momentum and a positive feeling going into its bye week, when it will have some things it needs to work on. The pass defense still has to improve, especially on third down.

New quarterback Jace Edwards has to continue to improve – something he’s done in each of his three starts this year. The coaching staff will have to continue to refine the offense, finding ways to use its two-headed running back attack of Jordan Anderson and Dae’Quan Scott in the most positive way.

But first, lets look back on some things coming out of the Villanova game in this week’s Upon Further Review.

First down: Jace Edwards took giant strides in his development as a quarterback Saturday, despite playing with a dislocated shoulder.

The redshirt freshman, playing for the suspended Justin Thorpe, had his best game in Saturday’s 34-10 win over Villanova. Edwards passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns and completed a pair of long throws to Daniel Brown (a 41-yarder that setup a score) and Kerby Long (an 80-yard touchdown) that broke open the game.

And the Midland, Texas native did it all with a dislocated left (non-throwing) shoulder. Edwards suffered the injury scoring JMU’s touchdown in overtime last weekend in a 25-24 loss to Maine. He tried wearing a protective brace during the week, but it affected his throwing motion.

Saturday, the injury didn’t seem to hamper Edwards, though JMU didn’t use him as a runner, normally a component of the offense. Instead, the Dukes employed more of the Wildcat formation, with Dae’Quan Scott at QB.

Perhaps even more impressive than Edwards’ efficient 9-for-12 passing day was this anecdote.

At one point in the first half, JMU coach Mickey Matthews called timeout, concerned that Edwards had checked out of play. But when the rookie came to the sideline and talked things over with the coaches, it turned out Edwards actually was seeing things exactly right.

That’s a good sign that Edwards has a firm grasp on the offense.

Second down: Was JMU’s defense better, or was Villanova just inept?

This is one of those, little from column A, little from column B, kind of answers. Villanova redshirt freshman quarterback Dustin Thomas was careless with the football at times, especially in the redzone where his first interception cost the Wildcats a chance for at least a field goal try.

Villanova is young and inexperienced and not the daunting foe it’s been in recent years. Of course, Central Connecticut State wasn’t anything to write home about but it managed to move the ball for a late score against JMU.

The Dukes sacked Thomas four times, picked him off twice and held him to an 11-for-24 passing performance.

With the bye week, it’ll be interesting to see if Madison makes any schematic adjustment to its defense. JMU moved from the eight-man front it had used as its base since 2004 to a more traditional 4-3 look. The pass defense has struggled since the change.

Third down: With just one home game left, can the Dukes make the Division I-AA playoffs?

The Dukes have played extremely well down the stretch, going 9-1 in November the last three years. But three of the team’s final four games are on the road, and all should be against ranked opponents. (Towson and ODU are currently in the Top 25 and UMass should be after ripping Delaware on Saturday. The new poll comes out Monday.)

Their final home game is against last-place Rhode Island, perhaps the biggest disappointment in the CAA this season. That game SHOULD be a win.

ODU is a complete wildcard, but if the Dukes want to make the playoffs and want to reestablish themselves as the state’s premier I-AA program, it’s a win they need to have.

JMU is 2-1 against both UMass and New Hampshire since 2006, though it lost at home to both last year. Like ODU, these two games could go either way.

A 7-4 record should be enough to get the Dukes into the postseason, though they’d feel better – and have a good shot at a home game in the first round – at 8-3.

Extra-points: Kicker Cameron Starke missed his first extra-point try in Saturday’s game, pushing it wide left. The kick came after Starke had to free himself from strands for purple and yellow streamers that had blown onto the field after JMU scored. … Safety Ryan Smith, playing for the injured Jakarie Jackson (hamstring), was tied for the team lead with eight tackles and had an interception. … JMU’s next opponent, Old Dominion, lost a heart-breaker at home to Towson, giving up the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-and-29 play.

Game-Day Blog: Three Keys For The JMU-Villanova Game

HARRISONBURG – James Madison’s football team plays three of its final four games on the road, all against teams with winning records. So winning today’s matchup with down-and-out Villanova is even more important.

With a win, the Dukes would be 5-2 and would only need to go 2-2 down the stretch to put themselves in line for their first playoff appearance since 2008.

It all starts, however, with beating the Wildcats for the first time since, you guessed it, 2008.

Here are three keys to today’s game.

1) How many yards will JMU’s running game rack up against Villanova?

The Dukes come in with the Colonial Athletic Association’s top rushing attack, piling up 241 yards per game on the ground. Villanova’s defense has been terrible in general, but the Wildcats’ have been particularly susceptible to the run, giving up a league-worst 176.5 yards per game to go with 14 rushing touchdowns, also the most allowed in the CAA.

JMU sophomore running back Jordan Anderson turned in the best back-to-back offensive showing the Dukes’ have had since 1999. Anderson has run for 374 yards and broken off three touchdowns of 45 yards or more in his last two outings.

Defensive linemen Marlon Johnson and Antoine Lewis will have to play a monster game up front to help keep the Dukes’ running backs – Anderson and Dae’Quan Scott – out of the second level of Villanova’s defense.

2) Will quarterback Dustin Thomas return to action for Villanova?

Coach Andy Talley called the redshirt freshman a gunslinger after Thomas’ debut saw him fling three interceptions in a loss to Temple. As bad as that was, the Wildcats have been missing Thomas since he separated his left (non-throwing shoulder) in the second game of the year, a loss to up-and-coming Towson.

Thomas has the mobility and the play-makers mentality to keep the Wildcats in a game. He also has the youthful exuberance to make the kind of mistakes that can take Villanova right out of games. Still, its best chance at upsetting JMU is to have Thomas on the field today.

3) Against a subpar opponent, will the Dukes’ defense actually defend some passes?

The defense really has only turned in one strong effort this year. That was a seven-sack performance in a 31-7 rout of rival Richmond. The defensive front battered UR quarterback Aaron Corp so badly that day, it was hard to tell how well JMU’s secondary was playing – he didn’t get off many clean throws.

Last week, it wasn’t hard to evaluate the defensive backs. They were terrible, allowing Maine quarterback Warren Smith to absolutely pick them apart, especially on third down. JMU didn’t cover quick throws out wide or crossing routes to the tight end. It struggled to get pressure with Maine running roll-outs.

Villanova is only averaging 154.2 yards per game through the air. (Only JMU gains less via the forward pass, 90.2 ypg.). And the Wildcats have thrown just four touchdown passes this year, ahead of only Madison’s three.

JMU will be without its two starting defensive tackles (both lost for the year with knee injuries), its starting free safety and two back-up linebackers. But it should have enough to stifle Villanova's throwing game. Shouldn't it?

CAA Picks: Week 7

HARRISONBURG – The game of the week? It features a team that had been the league’s perennial doormat traveling to a first-year league member. Yep, Towson at Old Dominion grabs the headlines this week in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Tigers and Monarchs are among teams seeking to prove they not only have the talent to win CAA games, but they also possess the intestinal fortitude to do it week in and week out. (And you can add a very impressive Maine team to that list.)

Meanwhile, teams like William & Mary, Delaware and Massachusetts – already saddled with early-season losses – find themselves fighting to stay relevant.

As for me, a 4-2 mark last week was nothing to write a blog about. But I guess I just did. Maybe this week will be better as I look to pad my 35-12 overall record.

Here are this week’s picks.

New Hampshire at William & Mary: UNH hasn’t beaten William & Mary since 1998, losing eight straight games against the Tribe. That run of futility prompted New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell to quip this week that he can’t even beat W&M’s Jimmye Laycock in a game of golf.

Well Coach, leave your clubs in the bag this weekend. You should find success on the football field.  The Wildcats have been one of the CAA’s top teams despite less-than-stellar play from its defense. UNH is giving up a league-worst 38.2 points per game. Luckily for McDonnell, his always-explosive offense – led by quarterback Kevin Decker – leads the CAA in scoring at 40.2 points per game.

The Tribe, the preseason favorite in the league, have struggled, dragged down in large part to inconsistent play and injuries at the quarterback spot. Quarterback Mike Paulus threw two interceptions last week as W&M was shut out 21-0 by Delaware.

PICK: New Hampshire 38, W&M 20

Rhode Island at Maine: While the Rams are leaving the CAA with a whimper, the Black Bears are roaring. Back-to-back wins over Delaware and James Madison have established Maine as a legitimate contender for a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs.

Disappointing Rhode Island will have better luck reaching the postseason when they move down to the limited-scholarship NEC.

PICK: Maine 24, Rhode Island 13

Massachusetts at Delaware: The Blue Hens bounced back from their surprising loss to Maine by whipping William & Mary 21-0, coming up with a pair of interceptions and getting a big game from tailback Andrew Pierce. The less Delaware asks young quarterback Tim Donnelly to do, the better of it is.

Massachusetts has its own issues at quarterback but – like Delaware – the Minutemen have an absolute horse of a tailback to ride in Jonathan Hernandez, the CAA’s leading rusher this season.

Both teams can score. But only Delaware can play defense. That’s the difference in this one as the Hens keep themselves in the running for a CAA title and postseason berth.

PICK: Delaware 27, UMass 24

Towson at Old Dominion: Who would of thunk it? This is the biggee in the CAA this week. But it’s true. The Tigers are undefeated against I-AA foes this year. Their only loss came at I-A Maryland. And they’re 2-0 in the CAA, beating downtrodden Villanova and outscoring – barely – Richmond.

Running back Terrance West is an emerging star and quarterback Grant Enders continues to play well for Towson.

Old Dominion’s rush defense has been great all year and it will have to contain West on Saturday.

The Monarchs’ only loss came at Delaware in a game that was close until the fourth quarter. Playing at home gives ODU an edge and backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke has been sharp in relief of the injured Thomas DeMarco, who may be available Saturday.

Still, ODU is the new kid on the block. Towson has paid its dues – and then some.

PICK: Towson 27, Old Dominion 24

Villanova at James Madison: The reign of the Szczurs is clearly over. Minus star do-it-all-guy Matt Szczur and rugged quarterback Chris Whitney – among a huge group of seniors on last year’s team – Villanova is taking its lumps this year. Lineup-wide youth combined with a rash of offensive injuries have taken the Wildcats from the top of the hill to swirling the bottom of the bowl seemingly overnight.

As for JMU, the Dukes are trying to claw back into the ranks of the elite after back-to-back 6-5 years that saw them miss the playoffs. JMU is 4-2 but the record is prettier than the recipe. It’s overcome struggles on both sides of the ball, the suspension of its starting quarterback and season-ending injuries to its two starting defensive tackles.

Now, the Dukes are trying to bounce back from a gut-wrenching overtime loss to Maine. Quarterback Jace Edwards – filling in for the suspended Justin Thorpe – has been steady and has yet to make a major mistake. Running back Jordan Anderson has emerged both as a big-play threat and a reliable yard-gainer, taking pressure off Edwards.

The JMU run game will be too much for Villanova to handle. And the Wildcats’ offense should be bad enough that the Dukes will look good.

PICK: JMU 24, Villanova 10

Upon Further Review: A look back at the JMU-Maine game

HARRISONBURG – Maine stunned James Madison 25-24 in overtime Saturday with a well-crafted and daring 2-point conversion to win the game. And the loss left lingering questions, both about the Dukes' execution on that final play and its defensive effort all game long.

With a night to sleep on Saturday’s thrilling and entertaining finish, here is this week’s Upon Further Review.

1) Should JMU have called a timeout before the game-winning 2-point conversion?

Legendary Indiana (and later Texas Tech) basketball coach Bob Knight used to say, he didn’t like to call timeouts late in games because he believed his players were better prepared than his opponents.

Saturday, JMU had the option – and the time – to call timeout before Maine’s 2-point try, but coach Mickey Matthews and his players were confident they had the situation under control.

On the play, Maine had seven players lined up to the left, six bunched as an offensive line and one – running back Pushaun Brown – lined up behind the cluster. To the far right, the team had a wide receiver and its kicker lined up.

In the middle, tight end Justin Perillo was at center, with backup quarterback Chris Treister behind him.

JMU’s defensive scheme ruled out a direct snap to Brown – which is a fake Maine used last year against the Dukes out of a punt formation. The wide receivers were all covered – including Perillo and Brown, who ran curls into the end zone as the play developed.

The only thing left was for Treister to run the ball. JMU’s Vidal Nelson and Dean Marlowe both rushed up to hit Treister short of the goal line. But Treister leapt for the end zone and the impact of Nelson’s hit sent him spiraling through the air before crashing down for the game-winning score.

“In my eyes, it just happened in slow motion,” Robertson said.

But would a timeout have changed the outcome? Matthews didn’t think so.

“When you’re spread out like that, there are so many different things that they can do,” Matthews said. “We had time to call timeout, but we lined up correctly. Just the kid made a great play.”

Maine coach Jack Cosgrove agreed.

“They were lined up right,” the Maine coach – long known for gadget special teams plays – said. “They had everybody covered. The only alternative was the one he took.”

Second down: While passing on the final timeout wasn’t a mistake, playing its cornerbacks so far off of Maine’s wide receivers was.

JMU spent much of the week focused on stopping the running of Maine’s Pushaun Brown, who had torched Delaware for 193 yards and three touchdowns the week before.

But Saturday, it was the Black Bears’ quarterback – Warren Smith – who took apart JMU’s defense. Smith passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns, going 28-for-40.

The Dukes’ defensive backs were leaving 5- and 6-yard cushions between themselves and Maine’s receivers, and Smith was all too happy to fire out quick passes. Of his 28 completions, 24 were for 15 yards or less and 18 were for 10 or less.

“We’re really struggling pass-defense wise,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “We’ve struggled all year. Our secondary’s not playing real well. We can’t make any plays."

So why not have the corners come up and bump the receivers, throwing off Maine’s timing and taking away the quick throws?

“We were trying to get them up there,” Matthews said. “We just couldn’t. I don’t really know why. It’s a great question. I think it’s a confidence thing.”

Huh? When a coach tells a defensive player to play bump-and-run coverage, doesn’t he just listen. Not to go all “A Few Good Men” here but, can JMU players decide which orders they’re going to follow?

“We’re just not very confident in the defensive backfield right now,” Matthews said when pressed. “Any time you’re not confident you don’t get up there.”

For good reason. Despite returning all but one starter in the secondary, JMU is now sixth in the 11-team Colonial Athletic Association in pass defense, giving up 225.8 yards per game through the air.

“If we don’t start playing better pass defense, we won’t win another game,” Matthews said.

Maine backup tight end Justin Perillo had a career day, catching nine passes for 101 yards and the Black Bears’ touchdown in overtime. (Perillo caught eight passes all of last season and his most this year was six against Albany.)

It’s understandable that he wasn’t a focal point of the defense coming in, but by the second half, it’s inconceivable that JMU couldn’t adjust to what he was doing. (Which was mostly running delayed crossing routes over the middle.)

“I think it was some new plays,” Matthews said. “I don’t think he caught that many going into this game.”

Third down: Lost in all the commotion of the furious finish, there were some encouraging performances from the Dukes.

Running back Jordan Anderson picked right up where he left off from the Richmond game. Anderson, a sophomore, took his first carry of the game against Maine up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown.

Anderson, who got all the work in the offensive backfield after Dae’Quan Scott – playing after dislocating his shoulder last week against Richmond – fumbled. Anderson finished with 212 yards – the most for a JMU player since Curtis Keaton ran for 237 in 1999.

Anderson is now sixth in the CAA in rushing despite not playing in two games after fumbling, himself, in the win over Central Connecticut State.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jace Edwards was accurate throwing the ball Saturday, going 13-for-17 for 98 yards and hitting six receivers. More impressively, Edwards led the Dukes on a 13-play drive for the go-ahead field goal with 2:06 to play, the scored a diving 1-yard touchdown in the overtime (setup by six straight Anderson runs.)

Also of note, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Anthony McDaniel had four tackles, all behind the line of scrimmage, and was in on all three of JMU’s sacks.

PUNTS: The Dukes have now lost their last three overtime games – Saturday against Maine, last year at Richmond and 2009 at Maryland. … Senior defensive tackle Nick Emmons re-injured his left knee. His status is not known. … Next week’s opponent, Villanova, lost 47-17 to New Hampshire.

Game day blog: Three keys for the JMU-Maine game

HARRISONBURG – James Madison comes into today’s football game having won four straight, including three straight over teams ranked in the Sports Network’s Division I-AA Top 25. The Maine Black Bears enter as one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s surprise teams, coming off a 31-17 upset of Delaware.

JMU, offensively, is establishing itself as a power running team. Defensively, the Dukes are delivering on the preseason expectations of a unit that returned nine starters.

Even a five-game suspension to its starting quarterback – Justin Thorpe – hasn’t derailed Madison’s return to the elite of I-AA football.

Can the Black Bears? Here are three keys to today’s game.

1) Can new starting quarterback Jace Edwards handle the pressure of a tight game?

“Maine always plays us really tough,” Edwards said this week. True. Four of the last six meetings between James Madison and Maine have been decided by eight points or less, including last year’s 14-10 Dukes’ victory in Orono.

To win a close game, steady quarterback play is a must. Edwards may have ice water running through his West Texas veins, but no one knows yet.

Edwards went 5-for-12 passing last week and scored a 10-yard touchdown run (on which he may or may not have fumbled before reaching the end zone). But all preseason – as Edwards was beating out Kansas State transfer Billy Cosh for the backup QB job – Matthews praised Edwards’ moxie.

That aspect of his game – even more than his arm or his running – could be tested today.

2) Can the Dukes avoid getting Pushaun-ed?

Delaware sure couldn’t. Pushan Brown, the Black Bears’ senior tailback run over and through the Blue Hens, piling up 193 yards and three touchdowns in an eye-opening win last weekend. Brown is second in the CAA in rushing and during practice this week, JMU’s assistant coaches spent time chanting his name at the team’s defensive players.

“He’s definitely a threat,” senior linebacker Vidal Nelson said. “He’s a great running back. He runs hard. He’s quick. He has every intangible that a good running back has. We have to tackle, wrap up. He’s got some power behind him.”

JMU leads the CAA in rushing defense, giving up 85.8 yards per game. Brown is averaging 120.5 rushing yards per game himself. And many of his yards come in bruisingly physical fashion.

“You can’t be shy of contact when you’re on the football field,” Brown said. “I was always taught, even though you’re a running back, hit people. Don’t wait for someone to hit you.”

While Maine quarterback Warren Smith has learned to protect the ball enough to make Maine’s passing attack effective, the Black Bears won’t be able to keep things close without a healthy dose of Pushaun.

3) Will JMU’s defense be able to carry over the success it had against Richmond?

A week ago, the Dukes’ defenders finally lived up to all their preseason hype. They harassed Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp, sacking him seven times and getting pressure all game while just rushing their four defensive linemen. Without the need to blitz, JMU was able to drop seven defenders into pass coverage.

But the Dukes also stifled any semblance of a running game Richmond tried to generate. If JMU handles Pushaun Brown and the Maine running game effectively in the first quarter, then batters Maine quarterback Warren Smith the way it did Corp, it might not matter what the Dukes’ offense does Saturday.

CAA Picks: Week 6

HARRISONBURG – We’re into the heart of the Colonial Athletic Association and this is when teams really start to separate. Some teams have made strong cases to be elite (I’m looking at you New Hampshire and James Madison). Others are trying to prove they’re more than just Cinderella-style upstarts (Hey, Towson and Old Dominion. This one’s for you.) And some teams (Delaware, Richmond, William & Mary and Rhode Island) are trying to show they still can be a force to be reckoned with this year.

It looked like I was a force to be reckoned with until stubbing my toe with a 4-3 mark last week. Still, I’m at a respectable 31-10 for the year. Let’s rebound.

Here are this week’s picks.

Villanova at New Hampshire: Easy pick. All Wildcats. Okay, in all seriousness. Villanova’ Wildcats have started to get things together a bit, playing William & Mary (who is proving to be massively overrated) tough last weekend.

New Hampshire’s Wildcats boast the league’s top scoring offense but also are giving up the most points per game in the CAA. They shouldn’t have to claw and scratch much against the overmatched and inexperienced Villanova Wildcats.

PICK: New Hampshire 38, Villanova 17

Old Dominion at Rhode Island: This was supposed to be a matchup of two of my sleeper teams in the CAA. Unfortunately, the Rams were in such a deep sleep, they couldn’t wake up. Rhode Island comes in 1-3 after losing its rivalry game to Brown. But don’t count the Rams out.

Old Dominion jumped all over Massachusetts last week and the Monarchs would establish themselves as a legit contender in the CAA with their first road win.

But I’m taking the Rams to circle the wagons.

PICK: Rhode Island 34, Old Dominion 31

Central Connecticut State at Massachusetts: CCSU showed it can be a plucky, tough out in its loss at James Madison earlier this year. But the Minutemen – despite a surprising loss to CAA-newcomer Old Dominion last week – are still too much for a limited-scholarship NEC team.

Look for Massachusetts’ tailback Jonathan Hernandez, who leads the league in rushing averaging 129.8 yards per game, to have a monster day in this one.

PICK: Massachusetts 31, Central Connecticut 10

William & Mary at Delaware: The wheels have come off in Williamsburg. Done in by an unsettled quarterback situation, the Tribe – the preseason favorite in the CAA – is next to last in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Tailback Jonathan Grimes has been less effective because opponents haven’t had to respect W&M’s passing game.

Delaware is reeling as well, having just been smacked by Maine. It gave up 193 yards and three touchdowns to Maine tailback Pushaun Brown. If Grimes has that kind of production against the Blue Hens, William & Mary could right its ship.

More likely, Andrew Pierce and Delaware emerge with the win.

PICK: Delaware 24, William & Mary 13

Richmond at Towson: Richmond looked terrible against JMU on both offense and defense. The Spiders’ injury decimated defensive line was dominated by the Dukes’ running game. Offensively, Richmond couldn’t block JMU’s front four and never got anything going.

Towson is coming off a 28-3 loss to Maryland that should not have taken any of the steam out of the Tigers’ drive toward respectability. Towson should get talented quarterback Grant Enders (concussion) back this week.

The Spiders aren’t a terrible football team, and I usually like the desperate team to pull out the win. But in this case, I’m going to drink Rob Ambrose’s black-and-yellow Kool-Aid.

PICK: Towson 24, Richmond 21

Maine at James Madison: Maine joins Towson as the biggest early season surprise this year. Quarterback Warren Smith is protecting the football and tailback Pushaun Brown is a yard-gaining load. Defensively, the Black Bears are fourth in the CAA in fewest points allowed.

This won’t be a cake-walk by any stretch for JMU, but the way the Dukes played defense a week ago against Richmond, it’d be tough for anyone to beat them.

The offense should only improve in Game 2 under new quarterback Jace Edwards.

Maine isn’t used to playing in front of the 24,000-plus fans JMU is expecting at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday, but coach Jack Cosgrove’s kids always seem to rise to the occasion. Just ask Pittsburgh, which barely survived Maine’s visit 35-29 earlier this season.

PICK: James Madison 27, Maine 17

Upon Further Review: A look back at the JMU-Richmond game

HARRISONBURG – The players said it was the game they wanted to win most. And it showed.

James Madison turned in an inspired effort Saturday in beating rival Richmond 31-7, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, sacking UR’s Aaron Corp seven times and piling up 297 rushing yards.

Where do the Dukes go from here? First, lets look back at Saturday’s big win.

First down: The defense came through in a huge way.

For all the talk about the offense and how it would handle losing starting quarterback Justin Thorpe, it was the JMU defense that was really under the gun Saturday.

The Dukes hadn’t come within 100 yards of living up to their advanced billing. They looked a step slow and didn’t instill the fear of past groups.

Maybe they took the black game jerseys as an homage to the black shirt defenses of Nebraska. Maybe getting senior starting defensive tackle Nick Emmons back from an injury for the first time this year was a lift. Or maybe it was just saying their rival from Richmond across the line of scrimmage.

Whatever it was, seven sacks and -12 rushing yards was about as complete a performance as possible. And JMU did it without cornerback Leavander Jones, who did not dress for Saturday’s game for reasons I don’t know.

If not for a blocked punt to end the Dukes’ first possession, JMU might have had its first shutout since blanking Hofstra 56-0 in 2008.

Second down: The offensive line and running backs dominated Richmond’s injury-depleted defensive front.

It’s no secret. The best way to take pressure of a rookie quarterback is to run the ball. And Saturday, JMU did that to perfection.

It started with sophomore Dae’Quan Scott, an emerging star. He converted a fourth down on a run to his right, but was injured on the play.

From there, JMU turned to redshirt freshman Jauan Latney and sophomore Jordan Anderson. First Latney rushed for 76 of his 98 yards in the first half. Then Anderson, the coach’s doghouse since fumbling against Central Connecticut State, went off, amassing 162 yards, including a 45 and a 49 yard touchdown, all in the second half.

In all, the Dukes rang up 297 rushing yards.

Third down: JMU may have lost its two best offensive weapons in the same week.

Tempering the purple peoples euphoria from a four-game win streak and 2-0 mark in the CAA is the fact that JMU will be without its top two offensive stars for the foreseeable future.

Jace Edwards played well, didn’t make any major mistakes and should only get better with experience. He looked athletic enough running the option and scrambling but his passing accuracy (he was 5-for-12) will have to improve.

Andre Coble was a non-factor in the game but JMU will need him to become a weapon and take Scott’s place in the Wildcat package.

Of course, if Anderson and Latney run as well as they did Saturday, JMU’s quarterbacks will have some time to get settled in before they’re asked to win a game.

Extra points: Justin Thorpe will resume practicing with the team this week, though his role in practice is undecided. … As of noon Sunday, there was no update on Dae’Quan Scott’s condition. He suffered a left shoulder injury that JMU coach Mickey Matthews termed “very serious.” … JMU’s next opponent, Maine, upset Delaware on Saturday and may be more of a test than originally thought.

Game day blog: Three keys for the JMU-Richmond game

HARRISONBURG – For all the drama around this rivalry over the years, from Chris Morant’s pudding comment, to Richmond’s “state champion” rings, to Arthur Moats not respecting the Spiders’ I-AA national title, this year’s installment of JMU-UR may be the most intriguing.

Richmond has handled incredible offseason adversity, losing its coach – Latrell Scott – after he was arrested for a DWI. Interim coach Wayne Lineburg stepped right in and his players responded, upsetting Duke in the season opener and going 3-0 before losing a shootout to New Hampshire in their Colonial Athletic Association opener last weekend.

JMU was smacked in the face with its adversity on Sunday, when players learned that starting quarterback Justin Thorpe – along with backup linebacker Chase Williams – would be suspended for the next five games.

Who wins the Turmoil Bowl? Here are three keys to today’s game.

1) Can the JMU defense finally start living up to its billing and slow down Aaron Corp and the Richmond offense?

The Dukes – despite a defense loaded with returning starters – haven’t been anything to write home about so far this season. JMU has given up 12 touchdowns through four games, the fourth most in the CAA.

The Dukes are seventh in pass defense (232.5 yards per game) and that could be a huge issue against Aaron Corp and a Richmond passing attack that leads the CAA. JMU will have to tackle UR star receiver Tre Gray, who had 16 catches for 194 yards last weekend and is the CAA’s leading receiver. But Richmond also has an emerging star in Kendall Gaskins, who is moving from being a fullback to playing more like a tailback.

The defense should get a lift from the return of senior defensive tackle Nick Emmons, a starter who has yet to play this year.

2) Can Mickey Matthews juggle the play-calling well enough to hide the deficiencies JMU now has with starting quarterback Justin Thorpe suspended?

It will be tempting just to run the ball 50 times with Dae’Quan Scott and Jauan Latney. And a conservative game plan probably makes the most sense, both to keep Richmond’s high-powered offense off the field and to ease the load on inexperienced quarterbacks Jace Edwards and Andre Coble.

But to keep the UR defense honest, Matthews – who took over as the team’s play-caller and quarterbacks coach this offseason – will have to mix things up at least a few times. Edwards could gain confidence throwing short passes to sturdy and steady tight end Brian Barlow, who is great at catching the ball in traffic.

Coble or Scott could catch the UR defense by surprise with an option pass. JMU may need to hit a trick play to stay in the game, because Richmond’s offense is averaging over 30 points per game.

3) Will JMU’s fans answer the bell?

It’s homecoming and the game is sold out, but if most of those fans stay outside in the parking lot to tailgate, they won’t do the home team any good. Rarely if ever has a team needed a lift from its home crowd as much as the Dukes do today. They face their biggest rival without arguably their most important offensive weapon.

Richmond’s Tre Gray said this week that the Spiders don’t fear big crowds, saying “the more, the merrier.”

With a win, JMU could position itself to start the year 6-1 (easier games against Maine and Villanova follow on the schedule both at home). The Dukes will take the field wearing black jerseys for the first time, in an attempt to hype up both the crowd and themselves.

What they really hope to see is packed stands before the kickoff.