In advance of Saturday’s game between James Madison and North Carolina, Dukes coach Mike Houston held his weekly press conference Tuesday at O’Neill’s Grill in Harrisonburg. Players also spoke with media members following the team’s practice.
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- Houston called this week’s road game against the Tar Heels “a drastic increase in the level of competition.” The first-year Madison coach said North Carolina is a “top-tier ACC” program.
- Houston pointed out the familiarity with his team and North Carolina. Houston said backup quarterback Connor Mitch knows just about every player personally on North Carolina’s offense. Additionally, offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick, run-game coordinator Bryan Stinespring and wide receivers coach Drew Dudzik all coached against North Carolina recently. Dudzik, a former Duke graduate assistant and Stinespring, an ex-Virginia Tech assistant, coached against North Carolina as recently as last fall. At East Carolina, Kirkpatrick faced the Tar Heels in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
- From a Week 1 loss to Georgia at the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game to a Week 2 win at Illinois, North Carolina made a big jump with its run defense, Houston said. Against UNC, Georgia ran for 289 yards and Illinois ran for 182 yards. On the other side of the ball, Houston said he thought the play of UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky improved from Week 1 to Week 2.
- North Carolina’s biggest standout is two-time All-American Ryan Switzer. On offense, the senior plays receiver, but maybe makes his biggest mark on special teams. In his career, he has seven punt returns for touchdowns. Houston said stopping Switzer would be an emphasis throughout the week of practice for the Dukes. Houston added that JMU punter Gunnar Kane would have to place his kicks well on Saturday.
- The UNC offense plays at an up-tempo pace according to Houston. He said it’s probably faster than JMU can go offensively. Houston said it would be critical to keep JMU’s defensive players fresh against the tempo of the Tar Heels.
- Houston said the Tar Heels defense is probably the best defense JMU will face all season. He said UNC is particularly strong on the interior of its defensive line and at middle linebacker.
- Houston said with the challenge North Carolina provides, he hopes to get “a good idea of exactly” where his team is at heading into Colonial Athletic Association play.
- Junior quarterback Bryan Schor said he started breaking down tape of North Carolina’s defense on Sunday. Schor said he noticed right away the Tar Heels defense uses a 4-2-5 system similar to JMU’s 4-2-5 defense. The Dukes signal-caller said it’s probably “a plus” for JMU’s offense that it’ll matchup with the defensive scheme it practiced against throughout training camp.
- Schor said when he turned on tape, he recognized how big North Carolina is on its defensive line. He said most of the guys on UNC’s defense “look the part.”
- Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill holds 62,980 and this Saturday is North Carolina’s home opener. Schor said even though he isn't changing the way he prepares for UNC, he admitted that there is an exciting part to the game because JMU will be playing against a well-known opponent in front of a big crowd.
- Junior tight end Jonathan Kloosterman said he sees the Tar Heels are really big upfront, so in order for JMU to run the ball, the Dukes have to be fundamentally sound.
- Kloosterman added that JMU has the approach that it can run the ball against any opponent whether its Central Connecticut State or North Carolina. Kloosterman said the amount of run-pass options that JMU uses throughout a game really helps the cause. He added that Schor has done a great job of determining when to hand the ball off and when to throw it.
- Senior Rashard Davis said the key to JMU’s punt return game is the scheme and the personnel around him. Davis has returned two punts for touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season.
- Davis added that he’s been able to trust his teammates since the blocking has been so good. Davis pointed out cornerback Jimmy Moreland has been the lead blocker on both of his touchdown returns.
- North Carolina’s punt returner is the All-American, Switzer. Davis said he sees a lot of himself in the way Switzer catches and returns punts. Davis said before he started returning punts that he’d watch Switzer’s highlight tape.
