HARRISONBURG — James Madison defensive line coach Jeff Hanson is frustrated.

The Dukes haven’t recorded a sack through three games and the team begins Colonial Athletic Association play Saturday at Maine.

“I’ve never been at this point in a season and not had a sack,” Hanson said.

JMU’s defensive line, like the rest of the defense, is refocusing after giving up 56 points and more than 600 total yards of offense to North Carolina over the weekend.

Last season, Andrew Ankrah, Cornell Urquhart, Brandon Brown and Simeyon Robinson combined for 17.5 of the Dukes’ 27.5 sacks. Ankrah had a team-high 10.5. All four play in Hanson’s rotation this season.

The coaching veteran of more than four decades said the stat deficiency isn’t due to a lack of trying from his group.

“Everyone wants sacks, but pass rushing is hard,” Hanson said.

Madison’s defensive front uses at least 15 minutes of each practice to work on its pass-rushing techniques.

“We have different steps that we want to work, but you have to take it from the ground all the way up to the full rush,” Hanson said.

From the initial jump off the line of scrimmage to tackling the quarterback, there are four main components he emphasizes to his players. First is to stay low off the snap and the next is to close in on the opposing offensive lineman.

The third step might be the most critical, according to Hanson. He coaches his group to avoid connecting head-on with the offensive lineman. Hanson wants his players to get to the shoulder pad.

“We don’t want to come right down the middle because that makes it easy for an offensive lineman,” Hanson said. “All the offensive lineman has to do is sit there. What we’re trying to do with our pass rush is make the offensive lineman move his feet backward. Then we can take advantage of the imbalance.”

The fourth step requires the defensive linemen to use their hands “violently” to create separation from the center, guard or tackle and move toward the quarterback.

“This week we’ve made progress,” Hanson said.

JMU coach Mike Houston said he might turn to a strategy he didn’t use during the first three weeks of the season in order to help his defense get to Maine quarterback Dan Collins.

“I do think playing more players will be something that we need to look at, so we have more players that are fresher in the ball game,” Houston said. “We have to generate more pressure on the quarterback.”

Hanson also said JMU could try more twists and stunts.

Maine’s offense utilizes a strong run game in order to play-action pass and throw the ball over the top of the defense.

North Carolina used play-action with quarterback Mitch Trubisky to throw the ball downfield against JMU. On multiple occasions, UNC receivers beat JMU defensive backs in one-on-one coverage. Trubiksy connected with Mack Hollins for a 71-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and the Tar Heels used a flea-flicker to trick the secondary in the first quarter. The play resulted in a 75-yard touchdown reception for Ryan Switzer.

Dukes cornerbacks coach Tripp Weaver said he instituted a 24-hour rule for his players to forget about the North Carolina game.

Weaver said he reviewed the tape with his players — pointed out the bad and good — and now expects them to be ready to slow Collins and Maine.

“We gave up some big plays that affected the North Carolina game and swung momentum the other way,” Weaver said. “The good part is that when we can looked on film and we saw that when we use our techniques, what we’re coaching them to do within the scheme, that they make plays. When we don’t there’s a lapse in judgment and focus, we give up the deep ones, but the morale is good.”