Tribe Troubles

[BeachTribe]

Taken from the Richmond Times Dispatch I-AA Notes.

TRIBE TROUBLE: The defense of William and Mary is ranked No. 119 among 121 in Division I-AA. The Tribe allows an average of 487.2 yards per game.

W&M (0-3 in the A-10, 1-4 ) has yet to have a first half about which to brag. The Tribe has been outscored 100-40 in five first halves this season and hasn't led at intermission.

As if we don't have enough trouble....

BLOCKHEADS: James Madison did it again last Saturday. The Dukes blocked a kick, and this one was the key play in a 34-13 clubbing of Richmond.

To end the Spiders' first drive, Sid Evans rejected UR's 28-yard FG attempt. "It changed the game early," said JMU coach Mickey Matthews. The Dukes took over at UR's 48 and scored seven snaps later for a 7-0 lead. UR never regained its balance.

Madison (2-2 in the A-10, 3-3) has blocked four kicks this season. It blocked seven in 2002. Rodney McCarter, a starting safety, has five blocks in two years.

"In 23 years of coaching a lot of kids, the one thing Rodney McCarter has that those other great [kick-blockers] had is a great takeoff," said Amos Jones, the JMU assistant in charge of special teams. "That, and a good reaction to whatever key they use."

Said McCarter: "I always try to key the fingertips of the center."

Some centers, according to McCarter, have a hitch in their form that starts with the fingertips.

At their board the Dukes are talking about a 8 or 9 game winning season and how they plan to run the ball down our throats.

Go Tribe...Surprise the Dukes!

[dukaholic]

Yes we plan to run the ball down your throats. We also planned to do that against Liberty, Virginia Tech, Villanova, etc. We plan to do it to everyone, because we can't win any other way!

[WMTribe90]

Wow, 119 out of 121. Pretty much speaks for itself. I know defense has never been the Tribe's strength with the exception of the 96 and 97 seasons, but obviously not going to win many games surrendering close to 500 yards per game, no matter how prolific your offense is.

How much of our defensive woes are coaching/schemes and how much falls on the players?

Personally, i believe the coaching may be part of it as there has been times this year when our defense has been confused and not ready at the snap. However, I think the bigger problem is that WM simply think isn't getting the players (with a few exceptions), like we were getting just as recently as five/six years ago. Just my opinion, but I think the coaching and level of competition has remained fairly constant from 1996 to now, so I'm left to believe we just don't have the talent we once did on that side of the ball. I also know we are young and this may not be the case next yr., once some of the younger guys get more experience. Losing cason for the yr. was abig loss as well.