Ben DiNucci: One game review

KingintheNorth

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I just re-watched the 2020 FCS Championship game, focusing on 2020 7th round pick James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci.

Player/#: Ben DiNucci/6 Height/Weight: 6-3/209 College: James Madison Age: 23

Honors:
  • 2014-2015 Gatorade Player of the Year (Pennsylvania)
  • 2nd team USA Today All-American
  • AAAA Player of the Year
  • ACFA 1st Team All-American
  • CAA Offensive Player of the Year
a47ac262-dbba-4e3e-a6ef-0a2970477ed3_750x422.jpg


2019 stats: 16 games, 268/378 for 3441 yards passing, 29 TD, 6 INT, 569 yards rushing. 7 TD
2018 stats: 13 games, 211/309 for 2275 yards passing, 16 TD, 12 INT, 433 yards rushing, 9 TD
2017 stats: (Pittsburgh) 10 games, 88/158 for 1091 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT, 126 yards rushing, 1 TD
2016 stats: (Pittsburgh) 2 games, 3/9 for 16 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 18 yards rushing
2015 stats: (Pittsburgh) Redshirt
5a59112fcaf01.image.jpg


Game reviewed: James Madison vs. North Dakota State
FCS National Championship, Frisco, Texas, January 11, 2020

Game stats: 22/33 for 204 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 9 yards rushing

What I liked: He can make all of the NFL throws, distributes the ball all over the field. Gritty, not afraid to take a hit, he throws well on run and maneuvers around the pocket. James Madison uses a lot of 12 & 13 personnel, and his favorite target is a 6-5/230-pound WR, so he benefits from size and personnel mismatches. His throws are accurate and gives his weapons a chance to make plays.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t see many (if any) progressions from him in this game. It could have been that his first reads were open, but I wanted to see him progress through the routes and pick apart the defense. Also, when James Madison was down 15 in the 4th quarter, they were still handing off the ball. I get running “your offense” but with the national championship on the line, it seems like you would put the team on the future NFL QB’s back to give him a chance to win the game. He ended up throwing an interception that ended the game for the Dukes. The announcers kept bringing up his meltdown in the playoffs the year before, throwing 5 interceptions against Colgate.

Overall: Very little risk drafting a player at pick 231, but for me I want to see a draftable QB dominating at the FCS level, especially since he played 3 years at Pitt before transferring to James Madison. I like his toughness and I do think he’s in an ideal situation where he can learn Mike McCarthy’s system while sitting behind veterans Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton. The NFL’s recent roster expansion from 53 to 55 improves his chances of making the team as a 3rd QB, although it is possible that he could get exposed to the practice squad.
 

darthseinfeld

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CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
I just re-watched the 2020 FCS Championship game, focusing on 2020 7th round pick James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci.

Player/#: Ben DiNucci/6 Height/Weight: 6-3/209 College: James Madison Age: 23

Honors:
  • 2014-2015 Gatorade Player of the Year (Pennsylvania)
  • 2nd team USA Today All-American
  • AAAA Player of the Year
  • ACFA 1st Team All-American
  • CAA Offensive Player of the Year
a47ac262-dbba-4e3e-a6ef-0a2970477ed3_750x422.jpg


2019 stats: 16 games, 268/378 for 3441 yards passing, 29 TD, 6 INT, 569 yards rushing. 7 TD
2018 stats: 13 games, 211/309 for 2275 yards passing, 16 TD, 12 INT, 433 yards rushing, 9 TD
2017 stats: (Pittsburgh) 10 games, 88/158 for 1091 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT, 126 yards rushing, 1 TD
2016 stats: (Pittsburgh) 2 games, 3/9 for 16 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 18 yards rushing
2015 stats: (Pittsburgh) Redshirt
5a59112fcaf01.image.jpg


Game reviewed: James Madison vs. North Dakota State
FCS National Championship, Frisco, Texas, January 11, 2020

Game stats: 22/33 for 204 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 9 yards rushing

What I liked: He can make all of the NFL throws, distributes the ball all over the field. Gritty, not afraid to take a hit, he throws well on run and maneuvers around the pocket. James Madison uses a lot of 12 & 13 personnel, and his favorite target is a 6-5/230-pound WR, so he benefits from size and personnel mismatches. His throws are accurate and gives his weapons a chance to make plays.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t see many (if any) progressions from him in this game. It could have been that his first reads were open, but I wanted to see him progress through the routes and pick apart the defense. Also, when James Madison was down 15 in the 4th quarter, they were still handing off the ball. I get running “your offense” but with the national championship on the line, it seems like you would put the team on the future NFL QB’s back to give him a chance to win the game. He ended up throwing an interception that ended the game for the Dukes. The announcers kept bringing up his meltdown in the playoffs the year before, throwing 5 interceptions against Colgate.

Overall: Very little risk drafting a player at pick 231, but for me I want to see a draftable QB dominating at the FCS level, especially since he played 3 years at Pitt before transferring to James Madison. I like his toughness and I do think he’s in an ideal situation where he can learn Mike McCarthy’s system while sitting behind veterans Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton. The NFL’s recent roster expansion from 53 to 55 improves his chances of making the team as a 3rd QB, although it is possible that he could get exposed to the practice squad.
Wish he was younger than 24
 

csirl

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I also watched the FCS championship a few days ago. Was dissappointed that the JMU offense played conservative, run first football, even when down in the 4th quarter. Wanted to see DiNucci pass a lot more, especially when down against a good team. Was very much within the comfort zone. Frustrating. Showed good accuracy, stepped up in the pocket against a good DL. Showed good footwork and ball handling.
 

fivetwos

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I watched them play West Virginia last year. First game of the year.

He is definitely raw, but seems athletic. Plenty of designed runs for him.

He did deliver the ball with accuracy, but now that the OP points it out, his first read did often seem to be open, and he would tend to use his legs when they were not.

IMO though, things like that are exactly what takes a QB so long to develop, and it can be learned.

My goodness he looks incredibly like Romo with that three quarter throwing motion and ability to move around well....also his propensity to throw picks!

It took Romo a little while, not only on the bench, but to become a better QB once he got into the lineup for Dallas.

I think DiNucci definitely makes the Dallas 55 this year and sticks around for a while because he does have some ability.

If he does become an NFL starter, itll be via the same path as Romo...at some long odds, and at least a handful of seasons from now.

The way I see it overall..... Its by no means impossible for him to one day be a starter in the NFL, and it's not a waste of a roster spot for Dallas to develop him. He has things that cant be taught like arm strength and athleticism. The things he is missing can be learned.
 

Mr_437

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I agree with the OP. I couldn't find anything with the QB going thru reads. I think that's a big part of the game and if he didn't do it in college can he go thru progressions vs NFL defenses?

Actually, I think Romo would be a great player for DiNucci to watch, amongst a host of others, to see how they process the defense.
 

tm1119

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Not going to pretend to have watched anything more than highlights and I’ll trust @KingintheNorth ‘s evaluation in terms of reading the field...but I will say he’s definitely got a live arm. Quick effortless release and he can flick the ball pretty much anywhere. Obviously a long way to go between having a good arm and being a legit nfl qb, but it’s also a damn good start. Agree that it’s going to be a matter of getting him accustomed to 1 system and developing his confidence in being able to find his receivers. Not going to be the homer that predicts greatness, but I can see a decent backup in the future
 

ghst187

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I like him a lot....but will depend on his brain and moxie...
If he’s willing to put in the work, remain humble, and learn the brain part of the position at the NFL level like Romo did while he sat...the Nuch could turn into something. I want him to turn into the next steal of the draft just so we can keep using his nickname...
 

DanA

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Just one thing. The roster cuts are still down to 53, it's just that you can now elevate two players from the practice squad to suit up each week on game day. And it can only be the same player three times, after that they need to be part of the 53 man roster.
 

KingintheNorth

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Just one thing. The roster cuts are still down to 53, it's just that you can now elevate two players from the practice squad to suit up each week on game day. And it can only be the same player three times, after that they need to be part of the 53 man roster.
Thanks. I hand't seen that part of the new roster rule.
 

fivetwos

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Just one thing. The roster cuts are still down to 53, it's just that you can now elevate two players from the practice squad to suit up each week on game day. And it can only be the same player three times, after that they need to be part of the 53 man roster.
Wow that's different from what I thought it was. Thanks.

There may be a large exemption to that type of stuff for this season considering what's going on.

Bennie Dee Nooch!
 

DanA

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Thanks. I hand't seen that part of the new roster rule.

Yeah, it’s consistently misreported so completely understandable and takes nothing away from your great analysis above. Only I’m terms of exposure to practice squad.
 

DanA

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Wow that's different from what I thought it was. Thanks.

There may be a large exemption to that type of stuff for this season considering what's going on.

Bennie Dee Nooch!

Good point. We have no idea how they will treat positive tests.
 
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