*** Game 15 (Playoff Edition): @ James Madison ***

[TravelingPanther]

I'm not saying there are never pockets and he could never step up. I'm say he spent the majority of the season running for his life. I believe if he resorted to trying to step up in the pocket most of the time he would have taken a lot more hits this year. Most teams spy him or send a blitz up the middle quite a bit so from my perspective I don't see the opportunity many of you see. If anyone watches the game again, feel free to point out all the opportunities to step up. I'm glad to admit if I am wron .

I just think it's fair to see why he feels more comfortable with his ability to outrun the defense than anticipating his oline will hold a block.

[TravelingPanther]

This is false

The first part or the second part. The first part is false. I'm sure there is occasionally an opportunity. The second part is true. I've seen some truly horrendous plays from the oline this year where I'm assuming poor communication leads to the lineman looking at two defenders coming and blocking neither.

[Leatherhelmet]

If you have no running game, your top three receivers are hurt and an average offensive line, I will cut McElvain some slack.

[BCPanther]

Pro style. Fire the entire offensive staff and and go pro style. Win with defense

[GonzoCat]

Well it was certainly a disappointing performance by the offense again and a beyond outstanding performance by the defense again. The offense is decimated by injuries, but we don't really make any effort to develop a decent offense which is the most frustrating part year after year. Was that the best defense we have faced all year? We certainly made them look like it, but I have my doubts.

The last game of the season always brings disappointment and questions, unless it is a win and only one team gets that.

In spite of that, by any objective measure it was a very successful season:

Took our FBS opponent, whose next game is a bowl against Notre Dame, to triple overtime and only lost then on a fluke forward fumble that was anybody's ball
10 wins for the first time in some time
Second place to most likely the eventual NCs again in the toughest conference in the country
Two playoff wins and a quarterfinal appearance

If anyone thinks a coach is getting fired for that season you're crazy. There's a good chance he gets another extension, some of you risk having a stroke if that happens, so prepare yourself for it.

[Mudrafan]

If you have no running game, your top three receivers are hurt and an average offensive line, I will cut McElvain some slack.

You are ignoring his natural tendencies and physical skills. They are what they are and aren’t

[7YrsOfCollegeDownTheDrain]

You all need to relax - Will had an amazing season. He's a freshman and he'll continue to improve. He had the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC and he did most of it playing with non starters...in a lot of cases...he did it with guys who couldn't crack the two deep if everyone is healthy. The Offensive line play needs to take a step forward. We need some dynamic guys to carry the ball.

That JMU defense is Elite. It's like playing our D...Elite edge rushers on the end and linebackers who are sure tacklers and close on players in space. That game went kind of like i expected...we needed turnovers that could flip the field and give our O a chance on a short field...we got some turnovers but other than the first fumble that somehow replay overturned so it's a non turnover, we got nothing that flipped field position.

This season was a success, and most of those guys are young. Lots to build from and lots to look forward too.

I know this is a message board so over-reaction and hyperbole are the norm. No one on that staff deserves to be fired. Lets enjoy this year for what it was and be thankful for the contributions that all of those seniors made.

[panther1]

That offensive performance was unforgivable. The offensive line should ALL hold their heads in shame. Watch our offensive line, there are way too many snaps that guys don’t even touch a defender. It doesn’t matter who the QB or skill guys are if your line is that terrible.

Defense on the other hand deserves better, that was a great performance.

[achrist70]

I’ve said it before but we need to look at our offensive staff fundamental our line and backs are not living up to potential.

[Yupster]

[QUOTE=7YrsOfCollegeDownTheDrain;n695696]You all need to relax - Will had an amazing season. He's a freshman and he'll continue to improve. He had the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC....

I don't want to get on here and criticize players. I think Will has some positives, and I do think we fail to take advantage of them, but he also has limitations. Mostly, I'd like to address this idea that he had "the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC". He didn't even have the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC THIS SEASON, Trey Lance did. For all of everyone's talk about how we run all of the time, Will had a lot of passing yards because we pass a lot compared to other teams, especially those with Freshman QBs. He completed 53% of his passes, putting him somewhere around 90th in FCS. Our offense converted 32% of 3rd downs, ranking us 103rd in FCS. Can he get better? Of course. Can the O-line and recievers help? Of course. But please stop saying he had a great season.

[BCPanther]

Mark Farley has 100% earned the right to say when. Saying different is foolish.

[clenz]

[QUOTE=Yupster;n695700]

You all need to relax - Will had an amazing season. He's a freshman and he'll continue to improve. He had the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC....

I don't want to get on here and criticize players. I think Will has some positives, and I do think we fail to take advantage of them, but he also has limitations. Mostly, I'd like to address this idea that he had "the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC". He didn't even have the best passing season by a freshman in the MVFC THIS SEASON, Trey Lance did. For all of everyone's talk about how we run all of the time, Will had a lot of passing yards because we pass a lot compared to other teams, especially those with Freshman QBs. He completed 53% of his passes, putting him somewhere around 90th in FCS. Our offense converted 32% of 3rd downs, ranking us 103rd in FCS. Can he get better? Of course. Can the O-line and recievers help? Of course. But please stop saying he had a great season.

Lance also got to play behind an OL that has allowed 10 sacks all season and like 7 QBH.

Turns out playing QB is probably easy when you have a neck wall in front of you.

[Leatherhelmet]

We had a tall pro style passer last year and our offense was still bad. We have much deeper talent, philosophy and coaching issues than quarterback height.

[sivert]

JMU committed big time to rushing the QB and stopping the run. If we had our receiving core (I was hoping to see Moore at TE), we could have varied the offense more. That would have helped a ton.
UNI will return a lot and do well next year.

[run&blade]

Next year they should win the Valley. I see no reason to accept anything less.