Forging a new identity
Landers to lead no-huddle offense, JMU will implement new scheme at UNC
Posted on August 27, 2007
The heat index hovered around 100 degrees Saturday morning, but Mickey Matthews and his staff had no intention of cutting the last day of training camp short.
With practice nearing three hours, the second team defense stuffed the run during a goal-line drill to finish the workout.
The high-intensity finish was something the ninth-year head coach needed out of his re-tooled offense and defense, before blowing the final whistle.
“Overall, I feel good about our team on defense,” Matthews said. “We consistently are in the top 10 in the nation, ranked defensively, and I think that we’ll be there this year.”
JMU is coming off a 9-3 record in 2006 where they advanced to the postseason, but lost to Youngstown State in the first round after squandering an 11-point lead in the fourth-quarter. The Dukes finished 7-1 in the conference, earning them first place in the South Division and second only to Massachusetts for the CAA title.
Offensively, Madison will look to utilize the strengths of new starting quarterback Rodney Landers. The 6-foot, 1-inch junior has received praise from the staff for his running ability, whichspent the preseason tailoring the offense around his athleticism. Landers is replacing Justin Rascati, who started the last three years, including the 2004 National Championship season.
“Everybody talks about my scrambling ability and just the fact that if plays breakdown I’ll be able to create something with my legs,” Landers said. “Justin was a great scrambler. He was able to get out of trouble and do some special things and I feel like I bring that same element. I might be just a hair faster than Justin, where as he stretched some runs to 20 or 30 yards, I might be able to take it the next level. “
Landers will be running the option with a variety of running backs, including senior Eugene Holloman, who rushed for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Fellow senior Antoinne Bolton is also likely to split the rushing load with Holloman.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Durden didn’t forget about the passing game, though. Madison has implemented a no-huddle offense and is returning a strong core of receivers and tight ends that includes 5-foot-7 senior L.C. Baker. The speedy wide out has become a reliable target for the Dukes and was named Second Team all-league last year.
Opposite Baker, Landers will be looking at a slightly bigger target in 6-foot-3, sophomore, Rockeed McCarter. Sophomore tight-end Mike Caussin could also turn into a favorite option for the Dukes with his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame.
“I think we have a chance to be a very good team just because what we bring to the table is a lot of speed,” Baker said. “We’re probably one of the fastest teams that’s ever been at JMU.”
On the offensive line, the Dukes are looking to junior guard Terrence Apted and junior center Scott Lemn to help mature an otherwise young line that includes two sophomores and a redshirt freshman. The line will be without one of its staples of the last four years, due to the graduation of Corey Davis. Davis is currently with the Buffalo Bills.
On the other side of the line, seniors Hassan Abdul Wahid and John Baranowsky will do battle with sophomores Sam Daniels and J.D. Skolnitsky. A mixture of linebackers is still fighting to solidify starting roles. Senior inside-linebacker Justin Barnes is expected to take over the role of the graduated Akeem Jordan, currently with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We’re still concerned about our depth at linebacker, but we have good depth at defensive line and we’re okay in the secondary but we gotta get Tony Lezotte healthy,” Matthews said.
The face of the team will come from that secondary and three-time First Team All-Conference safety Lezotte. The senior was second in tackles last season behind Jordan and is expected to be a strong candidate for the Buchanan Award for the most outstanding defensive player in the Division-1 Football Championship Subdivision (formally know as D-1 AA), according to CAA coaches and officials.
This season marks the finalyear for Lezotte and the other true freshmen who played on the 2004 National Championship team. Baker is looking get back to the top and share the experience with his newer teammates.
“I know how it felt when I was a freshmen to be on that big stage and take that title home, and that was on of the greatest feelings of my life,” Baker said. “And I just want to have that feeling shine down on all these young guys.”