James Madison held its final practice of preseason camp at Bridgeforth Stadium on Friday morning. The Dukes are only eight days away from their season opener against Morehead State on Sept. 3.

*****

- Coach Mike Houston said his team finished the preseason with coaches and players on the same page. Over the three weeks, the coaching staff was able to install the “entire package” of offense, defense and special teams that JMU will use throughout the regular season.

- Houston added that the staff was able to walk away with a great understanding of the capabilities their players have, especially the true freshmen.

- The first-year coach also said the staff is “closer” to making a decision on a starting quarterback. Throughout camp junior Bryan Schor and South Carolina transfer Connor Mitch battled for the No. 1 job.

- Last fall JMU’s defense struggled despite having good individual talents like defensive end Andrew Ankrah, safety Raven Greene, cornerback Taylor Reynolds and linebacker Gage Steele. The defense – on its fourth coordinator in four years – under Bob Trott had to learn the 4-2-5 scheme throughout camp. Houston said his staff had to get the players to trust each other and believe in their roles within the system.

- Greene said he thought the install of the defense went well because Trott put the scheme in simple terms so that the players could understand it. The senior safety added the best part about the defense is that it isn’t complex. When players don’t have to think on the field, they can play fast.

- In the 4-2-5 scheme, it’s tough to define exactly what position Greene plays. He bounces from safety to linebacker and back to safety. He said the position that he plays is safety, but admitted that he never knows where exactly he’ll have to lineup.

- Greene along with Ankrah, who can lineup at defensive end or as a standup linebacker, play a few of the hybrid roles on the defense. Junior Kyre Hawkins plays a hybrid safety-linebacker role. Greene said that even though there are so many dual roles for some of the defenders, each player understands their job for a particular play call.

- Mitch said with each practice that he goes through he "feels more comfortable” with the both the offense and the personnel around him. When JMU started camp, Mitch said he had to think about where to put the ball on a certain throw or where the receiver was going to be, but now everything is coming more naturally to him.

- The ex-South Carolina quarterback said one of the things that has helped him progress is some of the film that offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick has shown him. Mitch said he’s been able to watch tape of East Carolina’s offense from when Kirkpatrick was there. One of the games that Mitch watched back was from when South Carolina played against ECU in 2014. “I was like, I remember that,” Mitch said.

- Senior wide receiver Brandon Ravenel said chemistry between the receivers and both quarterbacks have improved throughout camp. Ravenel said the competition between Schor and Mitch has been really great to watch each day because he thinks both guys have had some really good days and an overall strong camp.