Hens riding high as JMU heads to Delaware

That sound you heard the first weekend of the year was 22,000 University of Delaware fans doing a double take simultaneously as the Blue Hens debuted an offense under first year coach K.C. Keeler that utilized four wide receivers and no huddle.

The change was drastic from former coach Tubby Raymond's famous Delaware Wing-T and has JMU coach Mickey Matthews' staff watching a lot of film in order to prepare for the new offense.

"They take the best team picture in the league," Matthews said. "They look really good on film."

Last week against No. 11 Northeastern University, the Blue Hens racked up 427 total offensive yards against the best defense in the Atlantic 10. The Dukes' defense has been simulating defending a no-huddle offense this week in practice.

"Nine times out of 10 you have enough time," Matthews said of making necessary substitutions and defensive play calling. "You have to be quick about it and you have to be smart about it."

Matthews admitted that the hardest part of defending a no-huddle offense is simulating it in practice with the practice squad and that preparing for Raymond's Wing-T provided a greater challenge to defend.

Delaware quarterback Andy Hall might prove to be the greatest challenge to JMU, having rushed for 72 yards and passed for 211 against the Huskies. "They looked like they were playing tag and Andy Hall was never it," Matthews said.

JMU will look to come out against the run and gun Blue Hens' offense in the Dukes' usual 4-3 defense, but also will mix in nickel and dime packages, according to Matthews.

JMU's defensive unit stepped up Saturday as they limited the University of Maine to just 136 yards in the first half and 0-7 on third-down conversions. The Black Bears finished with 277 yards and were 2-for-12 on third downs. The Dukes had surrendered 530 yards to Villanova University the previous weekend.

"The only adjustment we made was our chinstrap," Matthews said. "We played harder and smarter."
Keeler has made changes of his own defensively in Newark, moving from the 4-3 that Raymond utilized to what Matthews described as a 5-2. "Delaware's defense totally stoned [Northeastern], that's concerning," Matthews said.

Offensively, Matthews is confident in his squad despite their inability to produce points against Maine in last weekend's 17-6 loss. Matthews said that no one this season has moved the ball offensively against the Black Bears like the Dukes did, but JMU just failed to convert on scoring opportunities in the red zone.

Going into Delaware stadium, the largest in the league, Matthews is concerned with ensuring that his squad maintains composure in the face of a hostile crowd. "They're going to make some plays and get the crowd loud," Matthews said. "You can't take them out of it forever."

Matthews admitted that as JMU recruits against Delaware for nearly every player, that there is the atmosphere of a conference rivalry whenever the Dukes and Blue Hens meet up.

"It's more than very competitive when we play each other," Matthews said. "Because we're playing one of our rivals, there's a little hitch in our step this week."