HARRISONBURG – This season, James Madison might use as many as eight different offensive linemen, position coach Bryan Stinespring said.
“I think we’re going to be more of a rotation offensive line this year,” Stinespring said. “I don’t know that you’re going to see the same five throughout the entire game, and it’s a credit a little bit to the rise of [redshirt freshman] Zaire Bethea, [freshman] Liam Fornadel and [freshman] Jake Glavin.”
Bethea, Fornadel and Glavin are all working with the second-team offense, but their growth over the last three weeks has helped develop depth for JMU.
From left to right, senior tackle Aaron Stinnie, senior guard A.J. Bolden, sophomore center Mac Patrick, sophomore guard Gerren Butler and sophomore tackle Jahee Jackson are taking first-team snaps.
“I think that next group is pushing the first group and there are some guys there that are in a position to allow us to play maybe a sixth, seventh or eighth guy,” Stinespring said. “But I do feel that in the course of the season, we’ll be able to rotate a couple of guys in and out.”
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- Stinespring said he was happy with his unit’s performance on Tuesday in practice, but that overall consistency needed to improve.
- The second-year JMU assistant said, “We’ve been inconsistent and that’s just an honest assessment. I think we’ve had some pretty good days, but I thought [Monday] was maybe our worst and I thought [Tuesday] was maybe our best. When we start putting good days together day in and day out, then we’ll get closer to finding out who our [starting] five are.”
- Stinespring said he really likes what he sees from Fornadel both in ability on the field and with his preparation to play. Fornadel played his high school football at New Jersey power Don Bosco Prep.
- Patrick said he’s more comfortable making calls and checks at the line of scrimmage compared to when he was first thrown into the first last year in the national semifinal at North Dakota State.
- Patrick said he’s able to recognize anything a defense will show him.
- The chemistry upfront has improved since the start of the camp, according to Patrick. He said the group has gelled together nicely.
- Cornerback Jimmy Moreland said since Charles Tutt’s injury that he, Rashad Robinson and Curtis Oliver have all seen an increase in reps. Moreland said both freshmen Wesley McCormick and Taurus Carroll have stepped up and played better too.
- Moreland said its crucial for McCormick and Carroll to be ready because if any of the three experienced players get tired, then at least one of the two freshmen will have to play.
- JMU started its preparation for East Carolina this week. Moreland said he’s already watched film of the Pirates.
- From what he’s seen so far, Moreland said, “They’re a really fast team.” He also added that ECU is a better than last year’s 3-9 record indicated. Moreland said he’s been studying the Pirates’ receivers.
- On Tuesday, ECU coach Scottie Montgomery announced Gardner Minshew won the quarterback job over Duke transfer Thomas Sirk. Minshew will start against JMU.
