Today's Football Presser

[jimsumner]

Some notes from today's media day.

Not surprisingly, place-kicking was topic 1, 2, 3.

Duke had open tryouts for place-kicker. 9 or 10 showed up. No soccer players but baseball and lacrosse were represented. The mysterious number 96 made the cut. Seriously, Roof doesn't know his name. The media folks are trying to figure it out, so his identity should hit the public domain soon.

Jones will NOT place kick. Focus on punting.
Maggio asked for a shot and kicked well in practice. In the mix.
TR compared Surgan to a golfer with the yips staring down a three-footer. No physical problems, no mechanical problems.

TR tried to channel his inner teddy bear. "This kids don't go out there trying to miss, they works real hard, and they're more disappointed than anyone when they miss." But "They have a job to do and if they don't do it, we've got to look at other options.

TR indicated that Duke might not decide who's going to kick until they watch everyone warming up before the game.

Roof confirmed the obvious. The kicking woes affect play calling, team confidence, field position.

Other areas of concern? Third downs. Duke is running 20 plays per game less than opponents, resulting in 100 extra yards and 7-10 points per game for the bad guys. Better third-down performance badly needed.

Closing in the 4th. Duke has analyzed its play-calling and feels that the pass-run ratio and defensive sets are the same in the 4th as in the first 3 quarters. Does not feel that fatigue is a factor. Loss of focus or concentration leads to poor execution. No one asked if fatigue could lead to loss of focus.

High praise for Lewis and Riley. Roof on Thad. "When he's protected and given time, he can be very efficient. We're real pleased with him but can't be satisfied.

Roof on Riley. "He's a big-play guy. Really good players have to play good and we expect that from Riley."

Running game still a concern. "None of us are satisfied." Will continue to use bubble screens and other plays to get ball to RBs with room to run.

General feeling that the holding call on Riley late in game was dubious. TR was circumspect, as required by ACC rules, but one didn't have to work real hard to read between the lines.

Lewis and Bailey also talked. Lewis is from the area, homecoming, lots of family and friends. He thinks Miami will put eight in the box, daring Duke to spread the field. Lewis specifically exempted coaches for losses. "We go into games knowing the right reads, the right schemes, where to go in every situation. The players just have to go out and do it."

Highlight? Bailey asked if he had ever kicked. Dissolved into giggles while telling story of trying to place-kick in high school. "The tee went further than the ball."

[Bluedawg]

Senior Bo Carrrington, is the Duke lacrosse player who tried out.

Yes...fatigue does lead to a loss of focus!

[chrishoke]

Great report Jim. Let's hope they find or make a kicker with steel nerves.

[Bluedawg]

#96 has been identified...

Duke had open tryouts for place-kicker. 9 or 10 showed up. No soccer players but baseball and lacrosse were represented. The mysterious number 96 made the cut. Seriously, Roof doesn't know his name. The media folks are trying to figure it out, so his identity should hit the public domain soon.

Duke held open tryouts for kickers on Monday. That no-name guy -- Duke student -- and eight others, including several Duke lacrosse and baseball players, auditioned for Roof and special teams coordinator Danny Pearman.

"No. 96 did a pretty good job," Roof said. "He probably will have a chance to at least make the trip [to Miami] and see what happens."

No. 96, aka Snyderwine, would have to be cleared academically by the NCAA Clearinghouse before that happened.

[cspan37421]

kudos and thanks to the guys who stepped up to try out. Best wishes to Joe S to get through the mind block, because if he has that level of talent, the best long-term answer is not a walk-on, but to get him back in playing condition.

[DukeDude]

BC's current kicker, Steven Aponovicius, walked on to the team last season. It was a great story as the guy made several clutch kicks last season including in their bowl game win.

[riverside6]

kudos and thanks to the guys who stepped up to try out. Best wishes to Joe S to get through the mind block, because if he has that level of talent, the best long-term answer is not a walk-on, but to get him back in playing condition.

just a hint, don't every say "block" to a kicker!

[cspan37421]

just a hint, don't every say "block" to a kicker!

Sorry, sometimes I push myself to finish posting quickly, so I don't get the hook.