PDA

View Full Version : Duke football notes, 11-12-13



jimsumner
11-12-2013, 02:50 PM
Cut says no decision has been made on the starting quarterback for Saturday. "We'll just keep working through the week. " Likely see both quarterbacks.

The key? "It has to be a premium to take care of the football. That's the most important part of every play. You can't give that lip service. We aren't going to going to keep being successful if we keep turning the ball over."

Injuries? DE Jonathan Woodruff dislocated an elbow against State is in out for at least this week. Ross Cockrell did practice today but Duke is being very careful with him.

Juwan Thompson named fifth captain for the duration of the season.

Senior Day coming up. Cut said that some redshirt juniors will not return next season and will be introduced with the seniors. Anyone given senior treatment will not be back. The decision has been made.

Cut said Duke was "counting on a huge Duke crowd to send them off." He also credited the crowd against State as giving Duke "a winning edge."

We tried to compliment Kelby Brown for the play of the linebackers but he gave credit to the defensive line for handling their blockers and giving the linebackers room to make plays. "

Cut said much of the improvement at the DL can be credited to better health and better depth. Guys aren't being beaten down.

Cut says Duke's biggest problem with Miami over the years has been a "speed deficit. We can challenge them athletically in some places. We can stop that trend."

Dave Harding on the slow start of the running game. "We've been calling a lot of running plays. But Boone has been taught to check off if we have a good throw on the outside, give it to our playmakers on the edge. Some teams have been loading up the box against us and Anthony's read is to throw it out there. It may look like we're not calling running plays. But they've been giving us better looks at other places."

Harding on the accomplishments of the senior class. "I definitely am impressed and pleased with the improvements we've made to this program. Coach Cutcliffe always preaches leave a place better than you found it and there's no doubt that we've done that. But the job is far from over."

Kenny Anunike cited his faith as helping him recover from five knee surgeries. "I feel great out there, running around, I feel even better than last year. I was a pass-rush specialist last year but I've balanced my game so I'm more of an every back end. I can rush the quarterback, stop the run, drop back in coverage and I like that."

Anunike on the defensive line. "Overall, I think we're getting off the ball, we're getting off blocks, we're making tackles and keeping our linebackers clean so that Kelby can have these break-out games, David can have these break-out games, just shooting through the gaps and getting to the quarterback and wreaking havoc. We're all working together. It's like a machine out there and it starts right here on this practice field, and we do it day in and day out and when Saturday comes, we're out there having fun.

Anunike on what went wrong against Miami last season. "A lot of their yards came after the catch, what we call YAC yards . . . so that means we had poor tackling, poor tackling across the board . . . so we need to lock down and make those tackles."

CameronBornAndBred
11-12-2013, 03:54 PM
Senior Day coming up. Cut said that some redshirt juniors will not return next season and will be introduced with the seniors. Anyone given senior treatment will not be back. The decision has been made.

I'm assuming that reflects more talent on the field and better results in recruiting. I'm guessing this is not abnormal, but it is interesting that he brought it up. Any idea who those guys will be yet? Are they mutual decisions, or ones made by the coaches?

jimsumner
11-12-2013, 04:10 PM
I'm assuming that reflects more talent on the field and better results in recruiting. I'm guessing this is not abnormal, but it is interesting that he brought it up. Any idea who those guys will be yet? Are they mutual decisions, or ones made by the coaches?

It's pretty Darwinian. If you're not contributing or likely to contribute, suggestions will be made.

And sometimes it is the player's decision or a mutual decision. If you're smart enough to get into Duke, you should be smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall.

Steven Ingram has played sparingly. I would be very surprised to see him back next season.

He's the most obvious. But I suspect he'll be joined by a handful of others.

Injuries could be a factor. Jamal Wallace's ankle injury was pretty bad. Maybe bad enough to preclude his return.

Let me throw out another variable. It is possible that some redshirt sophomores will graduate and leave, which would leave them in position to play right away at a school and conference a little lower on the food chain. Off the top of my head, I can recall Sean Schroeder and Kevin Rojas graduating as redshirt sophomores.

We may get a list later in the week. If so, I'll share it, assuming it's not highly classified.

BigWayne
11-12-2013, 04:17 PM
Let me throw out another variable. It is possible that some redshirt sophomores will graduate and leave, which would leave them in position to play right away at a school and conference a little lower on the food chain.

Guys could be graduating and planning on getting a job, too. Not everybody wants to get a masters degree.

loran16
11-12-2013, 04:22 PM
Dave Harding on the slow start of the running game. "We've been calling a lot of running plays. But Boone has been taught to check off if we have a good throw on the outside, give it to our playmakers on the edge. Some teams have been loading up the box against us and Anthony's read is to throw it out there. It may look like we're not calling running plays. But they've been giving us better looks at other places."

I think this might be part of the problem. I might go back to rewatch the 1st quarter of the state game, but unless they're really stacking the box against us - and I haven't seen that - I think Boone needs to seriously learn to trust his RBs a little bit more.

This would explain the shift when Boone came back btw. But our Running game has been very effective this year - Boone should trust in it more unless there's clearly 8 men in the box. State was worst in the conference against the run - we had like 3 RB rushes in the 1st quarter.

jimsumner
11-12-2013, 04:27 PM
Guys could be graduating and planning on getting a job, too. Not everybody wants to get a masters degree.

Oh, absolutely. But keep in mind, we're talking about taking graduate courses on someone else's dime. And anyone who graduates from Duke in three years would seem to have the academic profile one would see in a grad student.

Schroeder did play at Hawaii after leaving Duke, even starting some. I don't recall Rojas playing anywhere else but don't know for sure. I do believe there are some other examples.

The 85-scholarship limit it pretty tight and Duke's recent success has put them in a situation where they can replace departing players with more talented newcomers, in many cases. So, there is an opportunity to upgrade the talent base.

Don't get me wrong. We're not clubbing baby seals here. It's a pretty decent bunch running the football program. But a Duke scholarship is a sizeable investment and it would be disingenuous to ignore that big-time college football is partly a huge business that expects a return on its investments.

budwom
11-12-2013, 04:57 PM
I think this might be part of the problem. I might go back to rewatch the 1st quarter of the state game, but unless they're really stacking the box against us - and I haven't seen that - I think Boone needs to seriously learn to trust his RBs a little bit more.

This would explain the shift when Boone came back btw. But our Running game has been very effective this year - Boone should trust in it more unless there's clearly 8 men in the box. State was worst in the conference against the run - we had like 3 RB rushes in the 1st quarter.

Furthermore, a lot of Boone's swing passes and passes out to the flat have been poorly thrown in recent weeks. Syracuse ran all over State and I was surprised we ran as little as we did, too.

OldPhiKap
11-12-2013, 05:02 PM
Furthermore, a lot of Boone's swing passes and passes out to the flat have been poorly thrown in recent weeks. Syracuse ran all over State and I was surprised we ran as little as we did, too.

I do not follow State closely, but I was under the impression that the front defensive line was probably the best thing they've got going for them.

If the check is to swing to the outside and get the advantage, there's nothing wrong with the play. If it is poorly executed, it is poorly executed.

Devil in the Blue Dress
11-12-2013, 05:07 PM
It's pretty Darwinian. If you're not contributing or likely to contribute, suggestions will be made.

And sometimes it is the player's decision or a mutual decision. If you're smart enough to get into Duke, you should be smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall.

Steven Ingram has played sparingly. I would be very surprised to see him back next season.

He's the most obvious. But I suspect he'll be joined by a handful of others.

Injuries could be a factor. Jamal Wallace's ankle injury was pretty bad. Maybe bad enough to preclude his return.

Let me throw out another variable. It is possible that some redshirt sophomores will graduate and leave, which would leave them in position to play right away at a school and conference a little lower on the food chain. Off the top of my head, I can recall Sean Schroeder and Kevin Rojas graduating as redshirt sophomores.

We may get a list later in the week. If so, I'll share it, assuming it's not highly classified.
I think of Alex King who graduated from Duke with a year's eligibility left. As a graduate student, he became the punter Texas greatly needed.

BigWayne
11-12-2013, 05:28 PM
Oh, absolutely. But keep in mind, we're talking about taking graduate courses on someone else's dime. And anyone who graduates from Duke in three years would seem to have the academic profile one would see in a grad student.

Schroeder did play at Hawaii after leaving Duke, even starting some. I don't recall Rojas playing anywhere else but don't know for sure. I do believe there are some other examples.

The 85-scholarship limit it pretty tight and Duke's recent success has put them in a situation where they can replace departing players with more talented newcomers, in many cases. So, there is an opportunity to upgrade the talent base.

Don't get me wrong. We're not clubbing baby seals here. It's a pretty decent bunch running the football program. But a Duke scholarship is a sizeable investment and it would be disingenuous to ignore that big-time college football is partly a huge business that expects a return on its investments.
Don't disagree with anything you said. The original post specifically mentions redshirt juniors, which are guys graduating in 4 years, i.e. "normal" Duke academic speed.

jimsumner
11-12-2013, 05:28 PM
I think of Alex King who graduated from Duke with a year's eligibility left. As a graduate student, he became the punter Texas greatly needed.

Alex was a redshirt junior, who graduated on time.

Dev11
11-12-2013, 06:17 PM
He also credited the crowd against State as giving Duke "a winning edge."

He loves that expression.

Also, anybody else thinking that maybe Kenny doesn't come out for senior appreciation and we get another year out of him? That would be fantastic.

Devil in the Blue Dress
11-12-2013, 07:37 PM
Alex was a redshirt junior, who graduated on time.
You're right!

Merlindevildog91
11-12-2013, 09:21 PM
Schroeder did play at Hawaii after leaving Duke, even starting some.

Actually, he is playing, and starting, this year for a 0-9 Hawaii team. He didn't begin the season as the starter, but I think he replaced an ineffective QB fairly early in the season. http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/482756/sean-schroeder

roywhite
11-13-2013, 08:08 PM
The Va Tech kicker who missed a FG attempt that would have tied our game in the 4th Quarter has been dismissed.

Va Tech K Journell kicked off team (http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/virginia-tech-kicker-cody-journell-dismissed-from-team-violating-team-policies-111313)


Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has dismissed kicker Cody Journell from the team. Beamer announced the senior's dismissal Wednesday, citing a violation of team policies. Beamer declined further comment.

loran16
11-13-2013, 09:05 PM
I think this might be part of the problem. I might go back to rewatch the 1st quarter of the state game, but unless they're really stacking the box against us - and I haven't seen that - I think Boone needs to seriously learn to trust his RBs a little bit more.

This would explain the shift when Boone came back btw. But our Running game has been very effective this year - Boone should trust in it more unless there's clearly 8 men in the box. State was worst in the conference against the run - we had like 3 RB rushes in the 1st quarter.

Yep, I rewatched the 1st quarter and the drive afterwards....State basically was playing 6 men in the box the entire time, only on rare occasions bringing another man up to the line.

If they're calling runs and Boone is "reading" them into passes, Boone is not reading particularly well.

Bob Green
11-14-2013, 05:20 AM
Steven Ingram has played sparingly. I would be very surprised to see him back next season.

He's the most obvious. But I suspect he'll be joined by a handful of others.

Injuries could be a factor. Jamal Wallace's ankle injury was pretty bad. Maybe bad enough to preclude his return.



Will there be a big surprise here? When I look at the roster I see three redshirt juniors I don't expect back. A badly injured Jamal Wallace makes it four (if that is the path he chooses), but I am hard pressed to come up with a handful, which I guess should be defined as a half dozen or more.

budwom
11-14-2013, 09:25 AM
Ingram weighs over 300 lbs, Bob, so if he's in the hand there is less room for others, perhaps four would be a handful.
(there are always a few surprises on a roster each year, guys not invited back or guys choosing to go elsewhere or quit football)...

loran16
11-14-2013, 10:37 AM
Oh, absolutely. But keep in mind, we're talking about taking graduate courses on someone else's dime. And anyone who graduates from Duke in three years would seem to have the academic profile one would see in a grad student.

Schroeder did play at Hawaii after leaving Duke, even starting some. I don't recall Rojas playing anywhere else but don't know for sure. I do believe there are some other examples.

The 85-scholarship limit it pretty tight and Duke's recent success has put them in a situation where they can replace departing players with more talented newcomers, in many cases. So, there is an opportunity to upgrade the talent base.

Don't get me wrong. We're not clubbing baby seals here. It's a pretty decent bunch running the football program. But a Duke scholarship is a sizeable investment and it would be disingenuous to ignore that big-time college football is partly a huge business that expects a return on its investments.

If I may but in here: Why is this necessary if Duke isn't maxed out on scholarships? Mind you, it's not that objectionable if all the players in question have graduated (even though some schools will not even let players finish graduating before "revoking" (not reoffering really) their scholarships). But is there some hurt by having additional guys with experience on the team?

nocilla
11-14-2013, 11:00 AM
If I may but in here: Why is this necessary if Duke isn't maxed out on scholarships? Mind you, it's not that objectionable if all the players in question have graduated (even though some schools will not even let players finish graduating before "revoking" (not reoffering really) their scholarships). But is there some hurt by having additional guys with experience on the team?

I don't even know who the players are, but I would guess it is more that the players themselves are ready to move on and not the other way around. These are kids that know they aren't going to play in the NFL, they have completed their 4 year degree from Duke, and are ready to move into the next phase of their life. Some guys will choose to enroll in post-graduate classes and play another year but not all.

loran16
11-14-2013, 11:08 AM
I don't even know who the players are, but I would guess it is more that the players themselves are ready to move on and not the other way around. These are kids that know they aren't going to play in the NFL, they have completed their 4 year degree from Duke, and are ready to move into the next phase of their life. Some guys will choose to enroll in post-graduate classes and play another year but not all.

Yeah no problem with this - I just got the impression from Jim that for some guys it was less voluntary.

Reilly
11-14-2013, 11:19 AM
If I may but in here: Why is this necessary if Duke isn't maxed out on scholarships? ...

I got the impression Duke is maxed out, or close to being. All of this raises a question: when an athlete is given a full ride to Duke, does the athletic department write a $50K (or whatever it is) check to the bursar's office for tuition, room, board?

So for example, the Iron Dukes raises $10m per year, and then are they writing checks to the Bursar's office off of that amount raised? I'm guessing that may be how it works.

Or, is the $50K cost just counted as part of the $13m subsidy that the university as a whole gives the athletic department?