GAMEDAY EVE Report: JMU Football vs. Richmond

#22/23 JMU Dukes (4-4, 1-4) vs. #20/22 Richmond Spiders (4-4, 2-3)
Nov. 4, 2010 - 3:30pm - Richmond, VA

Online audio: MadiZONE (free)
Television: Comcast SportsNet-Mid-Atlantic
Radio: JMU n/Telos Radio Network (Harrisonburg WSVA 550-AM, Roanoke WWWR 910-AM, Richmond WREJ 1540-AM, Hampton Roads WGH 1310-AM or ESPN 94.1-FM
Live Stats: JMUSports.com

Weather Report

Tailgating	11am	48°	0% (precip)
Mid-tailgate	1pm	52°	20%
Getting into the stadium	3pm	54°	20%
Kickoff	3:30pm	53°	20%
Game over	6:30pm	47°	0%

Line for the game
JMU by 1

Injuries
Too many to name at this point...

The Numbers (game averages)
JMU Sagarin (101); Strength of Schedule: 60.84 (123)
JMU Rushing Offense: 168 yds - Richmond Rushing Defense: 154 yds
JMU Passing Offense: 149 yds - Richmond Passing Defense: 198 yds
JMU Total Offense: 317 yds - Richmond Total Defense: 352 yds
JMU Scoring Offense: 17.63 - Richmond Scoring Defense: 21.13
JMU Sacks allowed: 1.38 - Richmond Sacks: 1.63

Richmond Sagarin (121); Strength of Schedule: 61.89 (116)
Richmond Rushing Offense: 176 yds - JMU Rushing Defense: 132 yds
Richmond Passing Offense: 133 yds - JMU Passing Defense: 151 yds
Richmond Total Offense: 283 yds - JMU Total Defense: 283 yds
Richmond Scoring Offense: 17.50 - JMU Scoring Defense: 14.38
Richmond Sacks allowed: 1.25 - JMU Sacks: 1.13

JMU predictor: 63.49; Richmond predictor 56.09 (+3 home) = JMU by 4.4

What to watch
Not really sure what to say at this point... It looks like we're trying to be a little more creative with our playcalling, but we choose to do it at the worst times. We'll get a long drive going with some good passes and then go back to three downs of running it. The Dukes still aren't utilizing their TE's enough in the passing game. I have liked going back to getting into a huddle and then hiking the ball a few seconds after getting to the line instead of sitting around for 15 seconds at the line waiting for the playcall. Richmond's is good, but not fantastic. If we don't come to play they can stop us, but if we play to win this game and try to put up as many points as we can I think we can do well. To say that our offense has struggled in the second half of games this year is an understatement. Whether it's our offense getting off rhythm during halftime, getting tired, or the defense adjusting better than us, we just haven't gotten things done. No matter what happens in the first half, the second half is where this game will be won or lost (yes, I know that is an obvious statement, but you get my point). We need to keep the tempo up and go after the Richmond defense anytime we get the ball.

On defense, for the most part we've been great. It seems like there's always one or two drives a game though where we just aren't in sync. We need to fix that starting tomorrow. I know our depleted defense is getting tired, but they can't take any plays off. Richmond is using their fourth-string quarterback and we need to take advantage of that. Against Delaware, they put up 13 (with their 1st string QB). They got shut out by UNH. They only scored 11 against UMass. Then they destroyed Towson 28-6. Last week they only put up 7 on Villanova. So their scoring has been all over the place. I think our defense can keep them in check.

The game changer will be special teams, just like it was last week. Skahn, who was a beast at the start of the season, seems to have lost his ability to punt it more than 30-40 yards. That combined with the fact that our coverage team is TERRIBLE. We had guys surrounding the UMass returner last week and he made it out of the group and made it up the sideline for a huge game. This is a weakness for our team that should be fairly easy to fix because we have the athletes, just need to stay in our lanes.

The Series
JMU is 4-3 vs. Richmond since 2003. Since 2004, every game has been decided by a touchdown or less except for 2006. The away team has also won every game since 2004.

My Thoughts
This team is killing me. While I enjoy drinking the kool-aid...I'm starting to see the bottom of the glass. Our offense has had flashes of being effective, but has also seemed inept at times. Injuries have absolutely killed the team (especially the offense line), but we should have enough guys to consistently get at least 17 points. We have too many weapons to not. Both JMU and Richmond have to win out to make the playoffs, so both teams will be fighting with everything they've got. I still believe our defense can hold them around 10-14, so it'll come down to how well our offense and special teams do. Still keeping the faith for this game and think we can get the win.

Windbreaker prediction: JMU - 14, Richmond - 13

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Game Notes
JMU Game Notes

Score Updates
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And as always...