Old Dominion boasts one of the Football Bowl Subdivision’s most explosive and balanced offenses. The Monarchs lead the country with 14 plays of at least 40 yards, and they’re among just four teams averaging at least 250 passing yards and 230 rushing yards per game.
Sustaining those gaudy numbers Saturday at James Madison will be a chore.
The Dukes are top-10 nationally in scoring defense, total defense and opponents’ yards per play. Most impressive: Halfway through the season, they are the only FBS team yet to allow 300 yards in a game.
Even in its lone setback, 28-14 at Louisville in Week 2, JMU (5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) was stout defensively. The Cardinals managed a paltry 264 yards, and their 151 yards passing were less than half their aerial norm.
Moreover, Louisville didn’t seize the lead until a fourth-quarter, strip-sack touchdown.
Sixteen Dukes have recorded tackles for loss, and 10 have contributed to the team’s 18 sacks. Sophomore Mychal McMullin from Phoebus High embodies that depth.
McMullin doesn’t start, but his 18 tackles are the most among JMU’s defensive linemen. None was more important than last week versus Louisiana.
On the final play of the first half, with his squad leading 14-7, Ragin’ Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux boldly declined a field goal attempt on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line. But McMullin and safety Tyler Brown combined to stuff Bill Davis for no gain.
“His progress is really two-fold,” second year Dukes coach Bob Chesney said of McMullin. “It’s not only his ability to now understand this scheme and what it does and what his role is and what is expected of him. He’s a very good football player.
“But the thing I’m really most proud of is he had a lot of moments a year ago where just mentally keeping himself calm in pressure situations was not his strong point. And he has grown significantly in this past year, and he is now a leader in that defensive line room.”
Following the goal-line stand, JMU dominated the second half 17-0 to win 24-14. The Dukes also pitched a second-half shutout the week previous at Georgia State and in their last four games have allowed 10 points after intermission.
Similar to JMU’s defense in defeat at Louisville, ODU’s offense sprung huge gains in losses at Indiana and Marshall.
Quarterback Colton Joseph broke touchdown runs of 75 and 78 yards against the Hoosiers, and last week versus the Thundering Herd he completed passes of 71, 47 and 46 yards. He also had a 42-yard rush.
“I’ve been saying for awhile that I thought our wide receivers were pretty talented and can make some plays,” ODU coach Ricky Rahne said, “and obviously having a returning quarterback that’s been in the system awhile gives you some advantages, too.
“The funny thing is, I think there’s probably more out there that we haven’t hit, and I think we need to continue to hit those big plays, while also being efficient and being able to take the check downs when they’re there and they’re required, and also obviously be able to run the ball.”
Sophomore Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (all of two catches last season) was the Monarchs’ top returning receiver, but Rahne and position coach Kody Cook discovered Ja’Cory Thomas and Tre’ Brown at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where last year they won a junior college national title. Talk about finds.
Brown and Thomas are averaging 20.7 and 18 yards per catch, respectively, and they have combined for 770 yards and five touchdowns on 40 receptions.
Add a rushing attack that ranks third nationally at 6.4 yards per carry, and you have the makings of a formidable offense. Joseph’s running ability was a given, but the revelation has been another JUCO transfer. Trequan Jones played two seasons at Georgia Military College and is averaging 8.8 yards per attempt.
JMU coach Bob Chesney during spring practice. He steered the Dukes to a 9-4 record last season, his first in Harrisonburg. (JMU Athletics photo)
“When you watch No. 20 (Jones), he finds that green grass and he puts his pads down,” Chesney said. “A little tiny sliver of air in there, he’s able to run through and make some plays.
“If you try to load up that box, they’re going to shoot the ball outside, and they’ve got some pretty capable receivers with a quarterback who, if he doesn’t like what he sees on the pass play, pulls the ball down and runs.”
Indeed, often the only team that can slow ODU is ODU. The Monarchs have yet to play a turnover-free game, and they committed a combined eight in their two losses.
Resolve that issue Saturday and ODU has a puncher’s chance.
David Teel, david.teel@virginiamedia.com
