FIELD NOTES: Punting Power
JMU Athletic Communications
HARRISONBURG – In its win Saturday, James Madison showed off a skilled knack for punting.
JMU freshman punter Harry O’Kelly unveiled his rugby-style kick, and senior quarterback Bryan Schor executed a quick-kick punt.
O’Kelly flipped the field and Schor pinned East Tennessee State back to its own 2-yard line.
Both kicks played a part in a strong special teams effort against the Buccaneers.
Second-year coach Mike Houston said the team worked on each unique punt in practice, but particularly had to use time during training camp to incorporate O’Kelly’s style into the Dukes’ special teams schemes.
“I had used the scheme years ago a little bit at Lenoir-Rhyne,” Houston said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “And it’s something we wanted to use going into this year, so it something we worked a good bit in the offseason.
“It’s great to have Harry and it was his first college snap, so we’re all interested to see how it goes.”
JMU is now sixth in the FCS for net punting (42.17 yards per punt).
Houston said the team found out in a practice last year that Schor could punt.
And the coach added, when the offense is in “no man’s land” as far as field position – meaning it isn’t quite in a field goal range, but maybe isn’t close enough to go for it on fourth down either – Schor’s foot is a nice weapon to use. Defenses have to respect Schor’s ability as a passer and runner, so a punt from him isn’t expected.
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- Houston said he didn’t like the unnecessary hits Schor took Saturday.
- Schor got hit hard a couple of times when he took off to run against the Buccaneers. Both Houston and offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick have spoken to Schor about it, and Houston said once Schor saw on film that he could have slid or stepped to the sideline instead of taking a hit, he realized he was putting himself in jeopardy.
- In addition to JMU’s offensive line playing well in pass protection Saturday, Houston pointed out JMU running backs Cardon Johnson, Marcus Marshall, Trai Sharp and Taylor Woods also protected Schor well.
- This Saturday, JMU hosts Norfolk State in its final non-conference contest of the season. Houston said the Spartans have played well defensively. Norfolk State, despite its 0-2 record, has only given up 34 points.
- After ETSU showed eight or nine defenders in the box at times, Houston said he thought the Buccaneers probably took some of what other defenses had done successfully against JMU last year for their game plan. Houston said he anticipates Norfolk State copying some of what ETSU did defensively even though the Spartans run a different system.
- Norfolk State coach Latrell Scott, who spoke this morning on the MEAC coaches teleconference, said JMU is one of the best football teams in the state of Virginia and the country right now.
- Scott said the biggest key for his Spartans, is to eliminate explosive plays from JMU’s offense. Scott said to do that, him and his defensive staff would mix schemes and coverages.
- After JMU’s practice Tuesday, senior wide receiver John Miller said on his punt return touchdown against ETSU cornerback Jimmy Moreland had the key block. Miller said Moreland knows exactly what to look for when leading the punt returner down the field.
- Miller said he liked the performance the wide receivers had Saturday. He said he thought the position group made a number of tough catches.
- Miller had a couple of catches on third down to move the chains. Miller said he doesn’t change the way he plays on third down, but fortunately the ball seemed to find him in those situations. He added it’s nice that Schor trusts him to make a critical catch. Miller had clutch receptions in each of the past two seasons in games against North Dakota State and SMU.
- Schor made a few throws after scrambling behind the line of scrimmage on Saturday. Miller said every Thursday the offense has specific periods of practice to work on converting passes off of broken plays. He said since Houston and offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick came to JMU, the “scramble drill” has been part of the Dukes’ practices.
- Defensive tackle Simeyon Robinson said the biggest difference with JMU’s defense this season compared to last is that the defensive linemen understand they have to be in their assigned gap each play. Robinson said it’s a key to stopping the run.
- Robinson said Norfolk State has an athletic offense. He said Norfolk State quarterback Juwan Carter is quick and isn’t afraid to run with the ball. Because Carter can take off, Robinson added JMU’s defensive front can’t get caught running up the field to tackle the quarterback because he’ll pull the ball and run right past the defensive line.
