Each Wednesday during the season, James Madison coordinators and assistant coaches will be available to the media. Wednesday evening, a few spoke following practice at Bridgeforth Stadium about Saturday’s opener against Morehead State.

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- With James Madison rolling out a new offense Saturday, offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick said he would have some plays scripted for the Dukes first offensive series against the Eagles. Kirkpatrick said he does that just to make sure the offense gets the ball in the hands of the right personnel early. Madison's first-year OC said it’s especially important to script some of the first series of the first game because he never “totally knows” what the opponent will do.

- Whether JMU starts junior Bryan Schor or junior Connor Mitch at quarterback, Kirkpatrick said he wants to see whoever wins the starting job protect the ball, not try to do too much and simply manage the game. Kirkpatrick wants the quarterback to be able to get the ball in the hands of JMU’s play-making athletes.

- Kirkpatrick said that throughout the week reps have been split pretty evenly between Schor and Mitch.

- After evaluating Schor through spring practice, summer workouts, preseason camp and into the first game week, Kirkpatrick said Schor has made a great improvement since the spring.

- Even though Kirkpatrick “hadn’t really seen” Mitch play since he recruited him out of high school, Kirkpatrick said the ex-South Carolina starter lived up to the high expectations that he had for him upon his arrival in Harrisonburg.

- On Morehead State, Kirkpatrick said the Eagles have a very “gap-sound” defense and all the defenders run to the football.

- Defensive coordinator Bob Trott said Morehead State quarterback Austin Gahafer has gotten better each year that he’s watched the quarterback play. Two years ago, Richmond – where Trott held the defensive coordinator role for the past six seasons – opened up against Gahafer and the Eagles.

- Trott said Morehead State is a spread team similar to JMU. Since the defense spent all of preseason camp trying to stop JMU’s open attack, it should benefit the Dukes on Saturday for the Eagles' attack, he added.

- Throughout the preseason, JMU defensive players have mentioned how Trott’s 4-2-5 scheme is simple enough so that they don’t have to think and they can play fast. Trott said if players are confident in what they’re doing that they’re able to react and play quickly.

- Defensive line coach Jeff Hanson said JMU will probably use three tackles on the interior line and three on the outside and six players will rotate across the front throughout the game Saturday.

- On freshman John Daka, Hanson said he has come along really well and that he plays with great effort. Hanson said the only negative is that Daka will make the occasional freshman mistake.