Miami @ Duke Pre-Game and In-Game Thread

[Bob Green]

Miami comes to town this week after being blown out at home by FSU 45-17. Duke has played Miami tough the past three seasons so one has to ask, is 2010 the year the Blue Devils get a win over the 'Canes? It is time to end this losing streak and turn the season around. Duke has seven football games left in 2010 and our winning streak starts on Saturday. Let's discuss the game.

Oh, and on a personal note:

http://www.wral.com/weather/

I'm loving the weather report.

Fans in Miami are calling for heads to roll. Specifically, Randy Shannon and Jacory Harris are feeling the heat.

[devildeac]

Miami comes to town this week after being blown out at home by FSU 45-17. Duke has played Miami tough the past three seasons so one has to ask, is 2010 the year the Blue Devils get a win over the 'Canes? It is time to end this losing streak and turn the season around. Duke has seven football games left in 2010 and our winning streak starts on Saturday. Let's discuss the game.

Oh, and on a personal note:

http://www.wral.com/weather/

I'm loving the weather report.

Fans in Miami are calling for heads to roll. Specifically, Randy Shannon and Jacory Harris are feeling the heat.

We really need to hang on to the football and hopefully get more than 40-50 yards rushing in the game to keep their D honest. I hope we downgrade the hurricanes to a tropical depression by about 4 PM Saturday afternoon.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Do Not Turn The Ball Over!!!!!!!!
We do that and we can win.

[mkline09]

Here is a link to a piece I wrote on Bleacher Report about what I think Duke needs to do moving foward.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...on-five-things

[loran16]

I think this is a winnable game guys. Not one where we should be expected to win. But one in which we certainly can win.

Miami's QB, Jacory Harris, Is VERY Interception Prone. If Duke can pick him off a few times (let say twice) and capitalize, it would be huge.

Meanwhile, our D showed signs of a breakthrough vs a conventional offense (by conventional i mean it wasn't an option offense) against Maryland. If they can build on this and force 3 and outs, we have a good shot.

And of course the offense. I trust in Cut in getting Renfree up to Thad's level by the end of the year, and I suspect they've worked a lot on his decision making during the bye week.

Can't wait for the game.

[Bob Green]

I think this is a winnable game guys. Not one where we should be expected to win. But one in which we certainly can win.

I agree with you. Turnovers have killed us in three of our four losses. The offense needs to be clicking on all eight cylinders. Vegas has the 'Canes favored by 17 points:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...cfm/team/duke

We need a positive turnover margin +/- on Saturday.

[4decadedukie]

I agree; Duke can win and zero turnovers will be important – perhaps critical – to our potential victory. With that said, Miami will doubtless start the game with vengeance, after being taken to the woodshed by FSU last Saturday. We MUST also prevent a first half blowout, in order to prevail.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I agree; Duke can win and zero turnovers will be important – perhaps critical – to our potential victory. With that said, Miami will doubtless start the game with vengeance, after being taken to the woodshed by FSU last Saturday. We MUST also prevent a first half blowout, in order to prevail.

I agree! As our friend banjeaux pointed out in his recent post, it's important for those who can do so to show up and support the team. This game has the potential of being a season changer.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Fun quote from Cutcliffe...

"You know I've seen it go both ways, I really have. Everybody says 'Well, they're mad', well I'm mad too," Cutcliffe told Mike Maniscalco and Mark Thomas Tuesday on 620 The Buzz. "I don't know who's the maddest, we'll find out."

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/duke/story/8437460/

[DevilWearsPrada]

We NEED a Win!!! Its Iron Dukes/Varsity Game Day. So come out and enjoy the barbeque, and great weather. Be early for the Blue Devil walk through Blue Devil Alley. The team really likes the support.

I have 3 extra tickets, as I have 4. I have attended football games, since a young girl, in grade school. I go early, and sit through the entire game. AS, students leave early, and most other Season holders leave at half time or early 3rd quarter.

I have been a season holder forever, as my Dad was, also.

I have respect enough for the coaching staff and players to sit in Wallace Wade for the entire game. I would be there, if that were my brother, boyfriend, cousin, friend, son, or the parent of sister, etc of a cheerleader or dance team member, and support them. I Buy a program at every game.

So I support Duke Football.

Do we stand a chance againest the Hurricanes? The mental toughness has yet to set in, thus far. Perhaps with a bye week, the team did Regroup.

I am cheering loud in the stands, and shouting "Don't mess with Miami connection" (Connor and Donovan).

[bluepenguin]

It is time to end this losing streak and turn the season around. Duke has seven football games left in 2010 and our winning streak starts on Saturday.

I wear blue colored glasses like many of the folks posting on this board. But, after many years of getting my hopes up for football (This is the year!), I find it very hard to generate a whole lot of enthusiasm.
I know the guys are putting forth 100% and I have no criticism of the team. I just don't think they have the artillery to compete. I don't think they will beat Miami, and I really don't think they will win even half of the remaining games they gave.
I sure hope I'm wrong, but judging from the past...

[DevilWearsPrada]

I wear blue colored glasses like many of the folks posting on this board. But, after many years of getting my hopes up for football (This is the year!), I find it very hard to generate a whole lot of enthusiasm.
I know the guys are putting forth 100% and I have no criticism of the team. I just don't think they have the artillery to compete. I don't think they will beat Miami, and I really don't think they will win even half of the remaining games they gave.
I sure hope I'm wrong, but judging from the past...

I will be there early for the Walk and Iron Dukes Barbeque. Weather will be great. I don't think Duke has the Weapons of Destruction, yet. And the kids need Mental Toughness. October is a new season. I will be there for the entire game.

[budwom]

Our chances of winning are just about zero. The one ray of hope is that their QB, Harris, has a groin injury. It's possible they'll rest him for the Duke game. If so, we might somehow find a way to prevail. But it's overwhelmingly unlikely. Our defense is porous, to put it nicely. I'll be there nonetheless, just in case.

[OldPhiKap]

C'mon, boys -- time to plant the flag in the ground and defend our home field.

Let's start the back half of the season with something thats pleasing.

Go Duke!

[Bob Green]

Our chances of winning are just about zero.

In order to win, we will need to play mistake free football and have Miami cough up the ball a couple of times. We've had a serious case of the turnover bug so far this season so perhaps it is time for the tables to turn in our favor. I'm flying in to see the game and intend to focus some serious karma toward Miami having five turnovers and Duke zero.

[Olympic Fan]

It's amazing how people get locked into a percention and refuse to be swayed be facts.

Is our defense porous or is it evolving?

It was certainly pretty awful early this season -- giving up 116 points and more than 1,000 yards in total offense in the losses to Wake Forest and Alabama. No excuses -- no defense -- even though we could have won the Wake game without a couple of turnovers and a botched punt, the defense was still pitiful.

But a fair person would have to admit that the defense has shown improvement in the last two games. I know that Army scored 35 points, but 21 of those were the direct result of turnovers -- a 2 yard scoring drive, a 4 yard scoring drive and a 29 yard scoring drive. The Cadets got just 333 yards total offense and had to punt six times.

Against Maryland, the defense took another step. The Terps got one TD on a 85-yard punt return, but scored just twice against the defense. They had 294 yards total offense and punted eight times.

Now, I know that Army and Maryland aren't offensive juggernauts and that the defense had breakdowns in both games, but even so, you have to see that there is progress.

Duke is still losing largely because of the turnover battle. Duke has committed seven turnovers in those two games and gotten none. Throw in a couple of breakdowns in the kicking game and it explains why we lostv two games to teams that we outgained 771 yards to 627 yards.

Miami's offense is certainly better than Army or Maryland. We'll see how far they come, but I agree with the posters who suggest that to have a chance, we'll have to win the turnover battle. Plus two and I'd rate our chances as 50-50 ... if we finish plus three or better, we win ... anything less than plus two and we lose.

As for our chances being "just about zero: ... I don't know. For some reason, we've played Miami tough in recent years. Last year's team lef 16-13 in the fourth quasrter in Miami ... the year before, Duke was up 17-14 at the half and up 24-21 late in the third quarter. And two years before that, we were at the Miami 10 with a chance to win on the game's final play.

Miami will be tough, there are hardly the invincible giant that Alabama was.

[jimsumner]

FWIW,

Cut said today that Banks, Glover and Thornton practiced. Too early to tell if they'll play Saturday. We'll know more Thursday.

[devildeac]

In order to win, we will need to play mistake free football and have Miami cough up the ball a couple of times. We've had a serious case of the turnover bug so far this season so perhaps it is time for the tables to turn in our favor. I'm flying in to see the game and intend to focus some serious karma toward Miami having five turnovers and Duke zero.

Is this the serious karma to which you refer:

http://thefullpint.com/events/avery-...-release-party

[Bob Green]

Jacory Harris will play against Duke:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/1...on-jacory.html

Hopefully he throws a couple of more interceptions.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Jacory Harris will play against Duke:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/1...on-jacory.html

Hopefully he throws a couple of more interceptions.

Hell yeah, he is one of Duke's best advantages! It was fun watching him suffer against FSU.