With NC State football just two days away from opening the 2018 season against James Madison at Carter-Finley Stadium, it’s time to get to know the opponent better. The Breeze Sports Editor Blake Pace helps us break down the matchup.
Technician: James Madison is one of, if not the best teams in FCS. How does the level of play in FCS compare to FBS, and where would that put James Madison among FBS teams?
Pace, by email: The biggest difference between the FCS and FBS is the size, speed and athleticism of the athletes. Of course, recruitment, scouting and coaching are all advantages in favor of FBS teams, but just the pure difference of athletes on the field is a significant gap. Despite all that, JMU has fared well against FBS opponents recently. The Dukes swept past ECU 34-14 last season and had a 21-14 lead after the first quarter on UNC and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky two years ago. Head coach Mike Houston also upset South Carolina when he was coaching at The Citadel. JMU may not measure up with FBS programs, but the coaches instill a relentless and mentally tough mindset to stand a chance.
T: The Dukes have had a lot of success the past two years. What’s been the key to that?
P: The specific keys have changed over the last two years, but it all revolves back to head coach Mike Houston. Two years ago we had one of the most electric offenses in college football with quarterback Bryan Schor and running backs Khalid Abdullah and Cardon Johnson, but last year it was the JMU defense with lineman Andrew Ankrah and defensive backs Raven Greene and Rashad Robinson leading the way. The coaching staff has done a tremendous job at finding the team’s identity and sticking to it like glue, which has really been able to maximize the team’s success.
T: How does this year’s team look? What are the strengths and weaknesses?
P: From an outsider’s perspective, there are a lot of questions around the team; starting quarterback, starting kicker and defensive front rotation, to name a few. But the Dukes have brought in a lot of FBS transfers and have groomed younger guys with the mindset of “practicing like you’re a starter.” It’s biggest strengths are at cornerback, running back, special teams and quarterback. JMU may just have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation, while Ethan Ratke and Tyler Gray are two kickers that are both capable of knocking down long-range field goals.
It’s biggest weaknesses are at the interior defensive line and safety. Up front, Mike Greene, Adeeb Atariwa and Paris Black have each had an impressive offseason, but the depth behind them is a bit of a mystery. Safety may be a strength by the end of the year, but Adam Smith, D’Angelo Amos and Wayne Davis need to get their feet wet in a starting role before my concerns go away.
T: Who are some key players for James Madison for this game?
P: For my money, this game will be decided on the quarterback and the style of the offense around him. JMU hasn’t announced it’s starting QB, and won’t until he walks on the field this Saturday, but it’s clear the offense goes in two different directions depending on who’s under center. If it’s Ben DiNucci, the transfer from Pitt, the running game will be lethal given his ability to run with the ball and work outside the pocket.
This will also open up the field and give the JMU offense more room to run rampant. If they want to run a pro-style offense with it’s QB staying in the pocket, then Cole Johnson is the guy. He has a huge frame, a cannon of an arm, and can stay upward in a collapsed pocket. Feeding into the strengths of the specific quarterback and the quarterback taking advantage of the opportunity will keep this game as tight as it can be.
T: Who are some underrated players for James Madison?
P: There are three very underrated players on the JMU defense — defensive end Ron’Dell Carter, linebacker Dimitri Holloway and safety D’Angelo Amos. Carter and Amos have had amazing preseasons and are poised for solid first years in the starting lineup. Holloway missed all last year after starting in JMU’s National Championship run the year prior, but is in the best shape and health of his playing career. The three will be trying to replace some of JMU’s greatest players on last year’s team and have high responsibilities.
Offensively, it’s not a specific player that’s underrated, but just the number of running backs JMU has. Cardon Johnson, Marcus Marshall, Trai Sharp have career yards per carry of 6.7, 5.9 and 5.2, respectively. They’ve also added Jawon Hamilton, a transfer from UCF, and guys like Eric Kirlew and Percy Agyei-Obese are younger guys capable of being difference makers.
T: How do the Dukes match up with NC State, particularly Ryan Finley and his receivers, who could be among the best in the country?
P: The NC State passing game is lethal, but thankfully JMU’s greatest strength is its secondary. Rashad Robinson and Jimmy Moreland’s ability to work one-on-one on the outside has given the rest of the defense more time to break down pass protection and watch the eyes and reads of the quarterback. The team has also recently brought in safety Wayne Davis, a transfer from Ohio State, who’s a freak athlete and capable of making an impact in the passing game. Curtis Oliver, another solid corner for JMU, will come on as an outside linebacker and nickel corner in specific packages. Being able to limit the passing offense will be crucial in JMU keeping things close, but it’s hard to deny the talent of Finley and his passing options.
T: What is your prediction for this game?
P: I think it’s important to stress how tough this game is to gauge. Both teams are replacing a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, and it’s the first week — meaning there isn’t much quality tape for both teams to study. There is definitely a gap in size and talent, but I believe the coaching staff at JMU and the team’s overall mindset will keep things close for a while. The elite running attack of JMU will attempt to control the clock and the secondary will do it’s best to minimize Finley’s impact. I’m not blindly throwing faith at JMU, but there’s a reason NC State paid JMU $425,000 to play — this will be a tough game. I think the offense will pour in quickly, but defenses will tighten up in the second half. Eventually, I believe NC State will pull away at some point in the middle of the third quarter and walk off with a final score of around 42-31.
