In advance of Saturday’s playoff game between James Madison and New Hampshire, Dukes coach Mike Houston held his weekly press conference Tuesday at O’Neill’s Grill in Harrisonburg. Coordinators and players also spoke with members of the media following the team’s practice.
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- After JMU’s practice Tuesday evening, Mike Houston said JMU junior running back Cardon Johnson would miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury. Here are the details.
- At practice, junior quarterback Bryan Schor was in full pads and taking snaps with the first-team offense.
- Houston opened his press conference discussing New Hampshire’s 64-21 first-round win over Lehigh. Houston said “it was a dominating performance” and that he wished New Hampshire would have had a little bit tougher of a start to the playoffs.
- Houston said the advantage of having a rematch with New Hampshire or any opponent in the playoffs is that he, his assistants and the team know what the matchup should be like and how the game should go. Houston said he expects the UNH-JMU rematch to be one of the best games in the country this weekend.
- New Hampshire played its backup quarterback, senior Adam Riese in the win over Lehigh after starter Trevor Knight got hurt in the regular-season finale. Houston said JMU is anticipating seeing Riese again. JMU saw both quarterbacks when the two teams played in October.
- Houston said New Hampshire’s offense doesn’t change drastically depending on whether Riese or Knight plays. The first-year Dukes coach added the only real difference between the two is that Knight has more mobility.
- New Hampshire scored nine touchdowns in its win over Lehigh. Houston said the Wildcats success on offense started with their offensive line and senior running back Dalton Crossan. Houston said Crossan was one of the best running backs in the CAA this season.
- In the first meeting, JMU opened its passing game against New Hampshire’s defense because the Wildcats stacked to box to key on JMU running backs Khalid Abdullah and Johnson. JMU quarterback Bryan Schor threw for four touchdowns in the game. Houston said he thinks New Hampshire will defend JMU the same way, with the front filled to defend the run.
- Offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick echoed Houston’s thoughts about how New Hampshire would again try to defend first. Kirkpatrick said most defensive coaches plan to stop the run before the pass.
- Kirkpatrick said he was impressed with the way New Hampshire was able to force Lehigh into mistakes. Lehigh turned the ball over four times – three interceptions and one lost fumble. The first-year offensive coordinator said UNH’s ability to force turnovers is something JMU is aware of.
- Defensive coordinator Bob Trott said the most important part of Saturday for his defense would be to get off the field on third down. Trott said if New Hampshire gets good momentum offensively, it likes to snap the ball quickly and run a lot of plays.
- Trott said against New Hampshire’s offense, the opposing defense “always has to be on its toes.” Trott said UNH does so much with formations and motions that JMU has to prepared to see it.
- Senior corner Taylor Reynolds described the formations, motions and muddle-huddles that New Hampshire uses as “eye candy” to get a defense distracted. Reynolds said throughout practice this week, coaches are emphasizing the importance of recognizing the different looks New Hampshire’s offense would show.
- Reynolds said both New Hampshire quarterbacks are dangerous. He said JMU’s defense has spent time preparing for both Knight and Riese.
- Senior running back Khalid Abdullah said New Hampshire’s defense looks much improved when he watches film of the Wildcats. He said they run to the ball well and that JMU would have to match UNH’s energy Saturday.
- Senior wide receiver Brandon Ravenel caught two touchdowns at New Hampshire in October. Ravenel could match up with UNH corner Casey DeAndrade in one-on-one situations throughout the game. Both Ravenel and DeAndrade are All-CAA first-team choices. Ravenel said the key to getting open against a quality corner like DeAndrade is try to take advantage of whatever the corner is willing to give him.
