Crusty
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While I wait for us to win the BB NC, to pass the time, I decided to take a look at our 2014 football opponents. Please add any corrections or comments you may have.
Duke Blue Devils 10-4 (6-3)
Duke’s surprising 10 win season was powered by an explosive offense that more than made up for a porous defense. They scored an average of 32.8 PPG (29.4 in conference) while racking up 435.6 yards per game with 64 explosive plays (20+ from LOS). What is a real mystery is how they achieved such great results without being really good at anything in particular. Duke’s offense doesn't overwhelm anybody with real strengths but, rather, seems to simply be a team that doesn't do anything really bad.
Their strongest attribute seems to be an ability to put the ball in the end zone - 69% of the time they score a TD when they reach the red zone (SU was 45%). Other than points scored, Duke’s offensive stats in conference play are rather pedestrian.
This is another well-coached disciplined team with the third fewest penalties in the ACC (SU was 13th). They also had a small positive TO margin for the season.
Duke is a very young team and will lose only a total of one starter from both sides of the ball. Twenty-one of 22 will return.
Pitt put up 58 points in their victory over Duke and as we know SU held the Panthers to 17 points. Duke’s wins came at the expense of NC Central, Memphis, Troy, Navy, Virginia, VA Tech, NC State, Miami, Wake Forest, and North Carolina. Their losses were to Pitt 58-55, GT 38-14, FSU 45-7 and Texas A&M 52-48.
I don’t think there is much question that we can play with Duke but we probably won’t beat them in a shootout.
Offense (Pro Set)
Amazingly, the Blue Devils managed to win 10 games with an offense that started 3 freshman, 5 sophomores, 3 juniors and NO SENIORS! You get the point – everybody returns next year. Duke will be tough on offense.
QB
Junior QB Anthony Boone (128.2 ER) will return next year. He had a decent year completing 64% of his pass attempts for 2,260 yards (205 per game). However, he had 13 TD’s and 13 INT’s.
OLine
Duke gave up only 11 sacks last year, the 3rd best in conference play. The interior line averages 305 pounds and will have one sophomore, two juniors and two seniors – lots of experience.
WR/TE
Duke has talented WR’s returning next year led by 5’ 9” sophomore speedster Jamison Crowder. They also throw a lot to their talented sophomore TE Braxton Deaver (6’5” 230) who had the second most receptions with 46 for 600 yards (13.04 yards per catch).
RB
Duke pretty much runs the ball by committee with Junior running back Javon Thompson (348) Sophomore Josh Snead (761) freshman Jela Duncan (672) and freshman Shaq Powell (344).
Defense (4-2-5)
Duke DC Jim Knowles uses a 4-2-5 that features a hybrid safety/linebacker the (“Star” or “Spur”) instead of three traditional linebackers. The basic idea is to combat “hurry up” offenses that do not allow DC’s to substitute freely. Advocates feel that it is the best starting package no matter who the opponent puts on the field and regardless of formation. Thus far the results have been unimpressive.
Here is how HC David Cutcliffe explains the rationale for the 4-2-5 in a blog post by the Raleigh News & Observer.
Duke’s conference play defensive stats are:
Kenny Anunike, Duke’s best DE, will be the only player on Duke’s entire team to be lost to graduation.
LB
Since I am not familiar with the 4-2-5, I can only assume that linebacker is a critical position and that run tackling is a priority skill in this scheme. Of the sic linebackers one the depth chart 2 are freshman, 3 are sophomores and one is a junior.
CB & Safety
All but one of Duke’s corners and safeties are 6’ or taller and can run. Six of the eleven on the depth chart are freshman. This may explain Duke’s poor passing defense stats. If this group improves the Blue Devils might have something.
Recruiting
Thus far, Duke’s 2014 class is nothing to write home about. That could change, of course, so stay tuned.
Duke Blue Devils 10-4 (6-3)
Duke’s surprising 10 win season was powered by an explosive offense that more than made up for a porous defense. They scored an average of 32.8 PPG (29.4 in conference) while racking up 435.6 yards per game with 64 explosive plays (20+ from LOS). What is a real mystery is how they achieved such great results without being really good at anything in particular. Duke’s offense doesn't overwhelm anybody with real strengths but, rather, seems to simply be a team that doesn't do anything really bad.
Their strongest attribute seems to be an ability to put the ball in the end zone - 69% of the time they score a TD when they reach the red zone (SU was 45%). Other than points scored, Duke’s offensive stats in conference play are rather pedestrian.
- Scoring Offense 5th
- Passing offense 10th
- Rushing Offense 6th
This is another well-coached disciplined team with the third fewest penalties in the ACC (SU was 13th). They also had a small positive TO margin for the season.
Duke is a very young team and will lose only a total of one starter from both sides of the ball. Twenty-one of 22 will return.
Pitt put up 58 points in their victory over Duke and as we know SU held the Panthers to 17 points. Duke’s wins came at the expense of NC Central, Memphis, Troy, Navy, Virginia, VA Tech, NC State, Miami, Wake Forest, and North Carolina. Their losses were to Pitt 58-55, GT 38-14, FSU 45-7 and Texas A&M 52-48.
I don’t think there is much question that we can play with Duke but we probably won’t beat them in a shootout.
Offense (Pro Set)
Amazingly, the Blue Devils managed to win 10 games with an offense that started 3 freshman, 5 sophomores, 3 juniors and NO SENIORS! You get the point – everybody returns next year. Duke will be tough on offense.
QB
Junior QB Anthony Boone (128.2 ER) will return next year. He had a decent year completing 64% of his pass attempts for 2,260 yards (205 per game). However, he had 13 TD’s and 13 INT’s.
OLine
Duke gave up only 11 sacks last year, the 3rd best in conference play. The interior line averages 305 pounds and will have one sophomore, two juniors and two seniors – lots of experience.
WR/TE
Duke has talented WR’s returning next year led by 5’ 9” sophomore speedster Jamison Crowder. They also throw a lot to their talented sophomore TE Braxton Deaver (6’5” 230) who had the second most receptions with 46 for 600 yards (13.04 yards per catch).
RB
Duke pretty much runs the ball by committee with Junior running back Javon Thompson (348) Sophomore Josh Snead (761) freshman Jela Duncan (672) and freshman Shaq Powell (344).
Defense (4-2-5)
Duke DC Jim Knowles uses a 4-2-5 that features a hybrid safety/linebacker the (“Star” or “Spur”) instead of three traditional linebackers. The basic idea is to combat “hurry up” offenses that do not allow DC’s to substitute freely. Advocates feel that it is the best starting package no matter who the opponent puts on the field and regardless of formation. Thus far the results have been unimpressive.
Here is how HC David Cutcliffe explains the rationale for the 4-2-5 in a blog post by the Raleigh News & Observer.
“We are in an era of spread offense, in an era of three and four wide receivers consistently. Forever we had gone nickel defense in those circumstances with people matching personnel. What we think is that we can find those versatile athletes at the safety positions that can play like linebackers and cover like DBs. So, instead of having to jump in and out of personnel, if they go into two tight ends, we can play our five defensive backs.
“We did a study on the percentage of personnel groupings we faced. And by far and away, it was the personnel grouping of three wide receivers of some sort. So, why would you not use as your base what you’re playing most of the time? So, that’s the science behind it.
“You’re putting speed on the field, and I always tell people, the one thing in football that I can assure you is that speed has never had a bad day.”
“We did a study on the percentage of personnel groupings we faced. And by far and away, it was the personnel grouping of three wide receivers of some sort. So, why would you not use as your base what you’re playing most of the time? So, that’s the science behind it.
“You’re putting speed on the field, and I always tell people, the one thing in football that I can assure you is that speed has never had a bad day.”
Duke’s conference play defensive stats are:
- Scoring Defense 10th
- Passing Defense 12th
- Rushing Defense 12th
- Sacks 11th
- Tackles for loss 13th
- Interceptions 1s
- Fumbles Recovered 10th
Kenny Anunike, Duke’s best DE, will be the only player on Duke’s entire team to be lost to graduation.
LB
Since I am not familiar with the 4-2-5, I can only assume that linebacker is a critical position and that run tackling is a priority skill in this scheme. Of the sic linebackers one the depth chart 2 are freshman, 3 are sophomores and one is a junior.
CB & Safety
All but one of Duke’s corners and safeties are 6’ or taller and can run. Six of the eleven on the depth chart are freshman. This may explain Duke’s poor passing defense stats. If this group improves the Blue Devils might have something.
Recruiting
Thus far, Duke’s 2014 class is nothing to write home about. That could change, of course, so stay tuned.
