Football 2015

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

ESPN has Duke #7... in the ACC.

[CameronBornAndBred]

ESPN has Duke #7... in the ACC.

I'm ok with starting out without lofty expectations since we are going to be led by a QB that nobody has seen in a true leadership role yet. If you look at in terms of division standings, they are saying we'll be third, behind GT and VT. I'm ok with that, too. It's a good place to start the season, and I'm quite confident that we can move up that list once we get our season under way and once again battle for a championship.

[CameronBornAndBred]

P.S. I love their intro for the Heels.

Forget the usual preseason hype. It is time to start seeing results from the Tar Heels.

[Bob Green]

ESPN has Duke #7... in the ACC.

As the article pointed out there are serious questions to be answered at quarterback, wide receiver and on the offensive line. I'd add defensive end as creating a pass rush hasn't been a strength except via the blitz and our best defensive ends, Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Dezmond Wallace are now UDFA in the NFL. I am extremely optimistic the players in the queue are as good or better than the players that have departed, but the folks who vote in preseason polls are not going to give Duke the benefit of the doubt. I'm fairly certain all these polls are conducted in Missouri. Wide receivers Chris Taylor, Trevon Lee, and company are going to show people a thing or two come September.

Looking at the rankings, Duke is 3rd in the Coastal behind Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. I'm not sold on the Hokies as Virginia Tech appears to be a program in decline, but Georgia Tech could be formidable with Justin Thomas having a year's experience as the starting quarterback.

Bottom line is I believe Duke should be #2 in the Coastal behind Georgia Tech coming out of Spring practice. As far as the Atlantic goes, I'll limit my comments to pointing out Duke's 2015 opponents are ranked #11 (Boston College) and #13 (Wake Forest). We need to take advantage of fortuitous scheduling.

[sagegrouse]

Here's what's scary for Hokie fans, from the same article --

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

2014 record: 7-6

Previous ranking: 5

Virginia Tech ended spring with its offense ahead of its defense, with enough progress to make us feel optimistic about the Hokies’ ability to compete for an ACC championship this season.

Offense ahead of defense? At VPI? -- Sounds like a disastrous season in the offing.

[Olympic Fan]

As far as the Atlantic goes, I'll limit my comments to pointing out Duke's 2015 opponents are ranked #11 (Boston College) and #13 (Wake Forest). We need to take advantage of fortuitous scheduling.

Interesting that Georgia Tech has to play Clemson and Florida State from the Atlantic ... they could be better than Duke, but still finish with a worse ACC record.

I agree that we need to take advantage of our schedule. This is the last time for a while that the schedule works in our favor. Starting in 2016, we get Louisville, Clemson and FSU in consecutive years from the Atlantic (Wake is our permanent partner, so we get them every year from the Atlantic).

And the non-conference is manageable too. Northwestern in Durham is not a gimmie, but it's a winnable game. At Tulane and at Army are also games Duke should win. NCCU at home is the one gimmie on the schedule.

This is also the last time we get it easy with our OOC schedule. Starting in 2016, we played either Baylor or Notre Dame OOC ever season through 2020.

[Bob Green]

A picture is worth a thousand words:

https://twitter.com/Duke_FB/status/5...270784/photo/1

[jimsumner]

P.S. I love their intro for the Heels.

Duke? We've seen the results. Now it's time for some pre-season hype.

[yancem]

P.S. I love their intro for the Heels.

Sorry, I'm confused. I thought we were talking about football not basketball

[uh_no]

A picture is worth a thousand words:

https://twitter.com/Duke_FB/status/5...270784/photo/1

i don't think the seats were there during the basketball banquet. makin progress!

[duke blue brewcrew]

I'm actually Ok with this ranking. I think it's pretty accurate given the Blue Devils will be breaking in new starters at QB, both WRs, multiple OL/DL positions & LB. I agree with other posters that I believe Duke will climb once the season starts and the team starts clicking together. Assuming they preform as we the fans hope, it should be another fun year to watch Duke football! GO DUKE!

[jimsumner]

I'm actually Ok with this ranking. I think it's pretty accurate given the Blue Devils will be breaking in new starters at QB, both WRs, multiple OL/DL positions & LB. I agree with other posters that I believe Duke will climb once the season starts and the team starts clicking together. Assuming they preform as we the fans hope, it should be another fun year to watch Duke football! GO DUKE!

Sure. But everybody is breaking in new starters.

And I understand the show-me skepticism of any team breaking in a new QB.

But Duke gets back Deaver, Duncan and Kelby Brown, returns four of its top six OL, has tremendous talent at RB, LB, DB and special teams and more than a few promising youngsters. I'm particularly excited about the young talent at WR and defensive line.

And the coaching staff seems to know its way around a clipboard.

It seems like last season should have demonstrated that 2013 was not a fluke and that Cut has established a quality program, not just one quality team. The kind of program that replaces talent with talent and keeps on keeping on.

Anyway. We'll find out soon enough.

[duke blue brewcrew]

Sure. But everybody is breaking in new starters.

And I understand the show-me skepticism of any team breaking in a new QB.

But Duke gets back Deaver, Duncan and Kelby Brown, returns four of its top six OL, has tremendous talent at RB, LB, DB and special teams and more than a few promising youngsters. I'm particularly excited about the young talent at WR and defensive line.

And the coaching staff seems to know its way around a clipboard.

It seems like last season should have demonstrated that 2013 was not a fluke and that Cut has established a quality program, not just one quality team. The kind of program that replaces talent with talent and keeps on keeping on.

Anyway. We'll find out soon enough.

If I had to honestly answer where I stand on the up-coming season, I would say I'm cautiously optomistic and largely for the reasons you state. In Cut & Company I trust, there is no doubt about it. Duke has a wealth of talent coming back, I absolutely agree. The questions the Blue Devils have coming into this season are at DL & QB. Does Duke have the depth and talent to finally pressure the opposing QB and stuff the run? How does Duke build experience at QB? A position where they are as young as I can ever remember...Thad Lewis' freshman year maybe?

[Jim3k]

Sure. But everybody is breaking in new starters.

And I understand the show-me skepticism of any team breaking in a new QB.

But Duke gets back Deaver, Duncan and Kelby Brown, returns four of its top six OL, has tremendous talent at RB, LB, DB and special teams and more than a few promising youngsters. I'm particularly excited about the young talent at WR and defensive line.

And the coaching staff seems to know its way around a clipboard.

It seems like last season should have demonstrated that 2013 was not a fluke and that Cut has established a quality program, not just one quality team. The kind of program that replaces talent with talent and keeps on keeping on.

Anyway. We'll find out soon enough.

Another thing: The defensive tackle cadre looks awesome. Two redshirt freshmen, Cerenord and Ferguson make their debut: 6-2, 300. What's not to like? They will be led by senior Wray and three others with significant game experience. Altogether this is six big, powerful defensive dudes. (Not counting a seventh who saw only limited playing time in 2013.) I dunno if Cut will play all six regularly, but this position is a team strength. It has the potential to dominate any offensive line facing it. Prognosticators would be wise to note that.

[devildeac]

Another thing: The defensive tackle cadre looks awesome. Two redshirt freshmen, Cerenord and Ferguson make their debut: 6-2, 300. What's not to like? They will be led by senior Wray and three others with significant game experience. Altogether this is six big, powerful defensive dudes. (Not counting a seventh who saw only limited playing time in 2013.) I dunno if Cut will play all six regularly, but this position is a team strength. It has the potential to dominate any offensive line facing it. Prognosticators would be wise to note that.

I dunno about dominating any offensive line facing them. Have you seen some of the beef up front for f$u and Clemson in the last few years? Those dudes are ginormous.

[OldPhiKap]

Once again, respect won't be given. It will be earned.

In other words -- We Are Duke. Play Duke ball.

I'm okay with it.

Rip 'em up, Tear 'em up, Give'm Hell DUKE!!!!!!

[Indoor66]

Rip 'em up, Tear 'em up, Give'm Hell DUKE!!!!!!

You old goat. You probably remember the sound baffles and smoke in Duke Indoor Stadium.

[loran16]

Sure. But everybody is breaking in new starters.

And I understand the show-me skepticism of any team breaking in a new QB.

But Duke gets back Deaver, Duncan and Kelby Brown, returns four of its top six OL, has tremendous talent at RB, LB, DB and special teams and more than a few promising youngsters. I'm particularly excited about the young talent at WR and defensive line.

And the coaching staff seems to know its way around a clipboard.

It seems like last season should have demonstrated that 2013 was not a fluke and that Cut has established a quality program, not just one quality team. The kind of program that replaces talent with talent and keeps on keeping on.

Anyway. We'll find out soon enough.

I think 7 shows it has demonstrated that Jim - that suggests they expect us to be at least an average acc team and a bowl team in a rebuilding year. That's pretty incredible!

And duke loses a ton of it's offense in the line, qb and crowder , even if blakeny comes back. 7 seems fair to me. And they rightfully have unc not high so I'm good

[duke blue brewcrew]

Another thing: The defensive tackle cadre looks awesome. Two redshirt freshmen, Cerenord and Ferguson make their debut: 6-2, 300. What's not to like? They will be led by senior Wray and three others with significant game experience. Altogether this is six big, powerful defensive dudes. (Not counting a seventh who saw only limited playing time in 2013.) I dunno if Cut will play all six regularly, but this position is a team strength. It has the potential to dominate any offensive line facing it. Prognosticators would be wise to note that.

Let's let the new starters and freshman get some actual snaps under their belts with real bullets flying before we crown them dominant. The potential is there for sure, but they've done nothing that secure them the title of dominant to this point. I hope they prove to be a position of strength, that would be a very refreshing change.

[Dev11]

I dunno about dominating any offensive line facing them. Have you seen some of the beef up front for f$u and Clemson in the last few years? Those dudes are ginormous.

Good thing the only way we play Clemson or FSU is in an ACC championship game, which would be the mark of a successful season.

None of these rankings matter. None. Ever.