2021 Richmond Spiders Football - Spring Season - Prologue - James Madison

[mojo-spider]

ha! it'll be great if we're actually able to play this great rivalry game...

really looking forward to finding out about the Spiders and Dukes on Saturday, as I'm sure the players and coaches for both teams are too...

there are legitimate questions about each... some of which will be answered with a possible CAA Championship and FCS Playoff bid on the line...

I like this Spiders team...they look like they are having fun playing the game...it's showing in their energy and passion on the field...if we play our best Saturday I think we can put some venom back into the rivalry...

enjoy the Prologue...

Go Spiders!

 

[SpiderRick]

I don't understand why we have to keep playing them at their place. I mean, they are already loaded with FBS transfers, we have to give them even more of an advantage?

 

[FRS1976]

I don't understand why we have to keep playing them at their place. I mean, they are already loaded with FBS transfers, we have to give them even more of an advantage?

I think it's because they call our stadium The Bread Box !

 

[32counter]

 

[urfan1]

Put your game face on guys! Kick butt, take names!

 

[DTSpider]

This weekend usually is spring “game” - say what you want about the spring season but I’m definitely much more excited about today!

 

[rspides]

Spiders, let’s prove that the gap has narrowed between JMU & rest of CAA. I believe we are in playoffs with win or tight,game into 4th qtr. Line opened at +13, now seeing +9 1/2. Let’s do this

 

[SpiderRick]

well that didn't take long, 2 minutes all the way down the field. absolutely no defense, if it stays like this we will lose big time. let's see what kind of vanilla offense we dial up

 

[Gospiders06]

We can't move the football at all today.

 

[SpiderRick]

VANILLA OFFENSE. Runs up the middle. Drop back passing. Has the coach ever considered rolling out our running quarterback and giving him some time? The ONE decent pass was a result of Mancuso rolling out. Every year in the Huesman era the play calling is atrocious.

You wait and wait and wait to watch a game, and you get this kind of crap. It would have been nice to at least see a competitive quarter or half but no, the beat down starts in the first two minutes of the game. Madison is faster stronger and better coached. Just like playing VCU in basketball. This isn't a rivalry, it's a joke. The gap just gets wider and wider.

 

[SpiderK]

Special teams still suck

 

[Captain Anderson]

Garbage spot on that screen pass on 3rd down. Not even a measurement. Home cooking and no mention of it from these purple and gold announcers.

 

[SpiderRick]

When's the last time you saw a measurement? I don't even think they do that anymore

 

[Speyederman]

How many Third and Longs are the Dukes going to convert?

 

[8legs]

good football teams have passing quarterbacks

 

[72Spider]

good football teams have passing quarterbacks

Can't believe he's the best we've got.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Mancuso is not a high level QB due to fact he does make quick decisions on
pass routes. He would be a better TE then a QB. But English is not a strong backup.
I hope the two other younger QBs can play better but Mancuso is not going to take us
but so far.

 

[Captain Anderson]

Offense isn’t dynamic enough. We aren’t going to be able to run the ball on these guys like we did on Elon and the Tribe. Our defense has played admirably but are getting worn out...you are seeing more missed tackles as the game has progressed. Sadly our better offenses under Rocco would probably beat or really scare this Dukes team...they are very good but don’t have special qb play this year. We just aren’t explosive or creative on offense.

 

[Gospiders06]

23-6 this game should have been cancelled. We had zero chance to begin with.

 

[mojo-spider]

Spiders fans were spoiled for six years with back to back pro style, strong armed QBs, Strauss and Lauletta who attracted a very talented group of WRs Diggs, Barnette, Brown, etc.

Obviously we have not been able to recruit these skilled positions to the former level...that makes the offense seem so vanilla against really good teams...

Go Spiders!

 

[ur2K]

What exactly is our offense designed to do? What’s would it look like if it were run like it was supposed to? I don’t really understand what we’re trying to do out there.

 

[Gospiders06]

What exactly is our offense designed to do? What’s would it look like if it were run like it was supposed to? I don’t really understand what we’re trying to do out there.

Don't worry it's all a social event out here!!!

 

[WP02alum]

Did we at least have a good Spider crowd at the game yesterday? I heard they were still selling tickets all the way up to kickoff.

 

[FRS1976]

Too bad we can't suit up Eric Ward!

 

[Eight Legger]

What exactly is our offense designed to do? What’s would it look like if it were run like it was supposed to? I don’t really understand what we’re trying to do out there.

Excellent question. It feels like we are running a Patriot League offense, but not doing it particularly well. JMU ran something like this when they had Landers, but it worked because he was bigger and better as a runner and still a capable passer, too.

 

[DTSpider]

Excellent question. It feels like we are running a Patriot League offense, but not doing it particularly well. JMU ran something like this when they had Landers, but it worked because he was bigger and better as a runner and still a capable passer, too.

Yes, when Durden was their OC. And quite honestly i always felt he held back Mickey from winning more. Maybe he’s just a really nice guy but I don’t get how Durden has survived as long as the seemingly weakest link.

 

[DirtyDukes]

Mojo I loved your video as always. It's not a JMU/UR game without Satchmo. I'm shocked that you guys didn't make the playoffs. The MVFC bias is unreal and unwarranted. Rest up in the offseason and we'll see you in the Fall.

 

[Hanca]

I'm with DT. Durden's job security is baffling. No imagination, strange red zone play calling, etc. Anticipate D will be strong in fall but offense will continue to hamper results. Do not believe Mancuso is the qb some do but feel Durden incapable of developing an offense no matter who is behind center. Would like to see a change at qb and OC

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Either Durden was calling the wrong pass plays or Joe M just misread several.
I think Joe tries to go deep to often such as on first down where the imcompletion
sort forces you into 3 passes. Rarely did we see a short 3-5 yard pass on first down or
on third down. JMU defense is good but you got to give them variety to create opportunities. I think he loves Joe primarily cause he runs hard.

 

[mojo-spider]

regarding QB position anyone have any idea about the future of the "Jacksons?"...Hardy and Walker...Hardy shows as a true frosh and Walker as a redshirt frosh on the roster...

thought I remembered someone on here mentioning one of these guys had the best arm on the team...

I don't recall seeing either play a down since arriving...also have Wickersham coming in from LA in next class...

Barring a transfer, one of these guys will probably succeed Joe and Beau...

Go Spiders!

 

[32counter]

At QB we have Hardy,Mancuso,Jackson,English rostered presently.Wickersham is an incoming frosh.With 5 QBs,something has to give.Jackson has the arm.Hardy’s brother going to UVa by the way.

 

[ncspiderfan]

I thought I heard them say something on the radio coverage of the game the other day about Braxton Hughes having a headset on on the sideline, is he still listed as a QB?

 

[KE Spider]

Yes

 

[32counter]

Yes

Non ship.All others are ship.

 

[ncspiderfan]

Yes

Thanks

I checked the roster and saw him on there, but thought maybe I missed something or heard wrong.

 

[ncspiderfan]

Non ship.All others are ship.

Thanks

 

[DTSpider]

5 of 63 at QB, where are we short? Worth it if the QB play is top notch but just seems we’ve struggled.

 

[UR23]

5 of 63 at QB, where are we short? Worth it if the QB play is top notch but just seems we’ve struggled.

Coaches love Mancuso for some reason. UR was only school to offer him a scholarship out of high school and they must feel they have to justify it. I've heard he is a really good practice player but it seems like the important games are too big for him. Same can be said about OC too. Problem with the Jackson's is they are pro style QBs and durden runs a RPO style. Not sure why they even recruited these 2. English is not any good either. There was a reason he was 4th on depth chart at Air Force. Coaches made a big deal of getting a FBS transfer QB and built him up to be what he is not. Bottom line is 2 best QBs don't fit OCs offense and 2 QBs ahead of them aren't any good but do fit offense. Solution is to move on from durden.

 

[DTSpider]

Can we kill 2 birds with one stone and pay Durden to be the OC at JMU?