jimsumner
11-26-2013, 02:32 PM
Duke was able to practice outside this A.M. before the bad weather manifested itself.
Connette was banged up last week and didn’t practice much. Cut said Connette was much better today and told him he was the healthiest he had been all year.
That said, Cut was very complementary of Boone. Two-QB rotation Saturday? Why not keep them guessing?
Switzer is a big concern. He’s returned four punts for TDs this month and Duke has allowed two punt returns for scores. Cut says everybody-not just the gunners—has to account for Switzer and once he’s cornered, tackle him. He has a knack for avoiding tackles and breaking loose.
Eric Ebron? A great player. You don’t contain great players. You try to minimize the damage.
The key to stopping a high-tempo offense? Quick and precise communication, both from the sideline to the field and among the players on the field. Cut notes that Duke runs a high-tempo offense, which means Duke’s defense has practiced against it. Of course, it works the other way.
Slow starts? Duke has drills designed to get out of chute in a hurry. Cut says the most important part of slow starts is responding well. “No panic button.” But he also acknowledges that “we can’t continue to do that.”
Duke is undefeated on the road this season (4-0). Cut says he loves playing on the road and says that the best competitors love the challenge of winning on the road. Cites Duke's poise and maturity.
I asked Dave Harding about the slow starts. “We can’t keep doing that it we’re going to win a championship. We have to get out early. . . . We definitely are not concerned but conscious of the fact that we can’t continue to do that.”
Harding says the veterans’ message to the youngsters is that “none of the sub-plots matter if we lose. Winning is our only focus. We’re just telling them to stay focused on the task at hand, which is winning and to stick to our fundamentals, discipline and winning and coming to work every day.”
Kelby Brown on Ebron-“He’s a great athlete and a great blocker. So, when he’s out on the perimeter, a guy like me has to decide if he’s going to block or is he going to run a route? Because he’s really good at both. He’s a guy who can get out in space and block linebackers or run out in the open field."
Connette was banged up last week and didn’t practice much. Cut said Connette was much better today and told him he was the healthiest he had been all year.
That said, Cut was very complementary of Boone. Two-QB rotation Saturday? Why not keep them guessing?
Switzer is a big concern. He’s returned four punts for TDs this month and Duke has allowed two punt returns for scores. Cut says everybody-not just the gunners—has to account for Switzer and once he’s cornered, tackle him. He has a knack for avoiding tackles and breaking loose.
Eric Ebron? A great player. You don’t contain great players. You try to minimize the damage.
The key to stopping a high-tempo offense? Quick and precise communication, both from the sideline to the field and among the players on the field. Cut notes that Duke runs a high-tempo offense, which means Duke’s defense has practiced against it. Of course, it works the other way.
Slow starts? Duke has drills designed to get out of chute in a hurry. Cut says the most important part of slow starts is responding well. “No panic button.” But he also acknowledges that “we can’t continue to do that.”
Duke is undefeated on the road this season (4-0). Cut says he loves playing on the road and says that the best competitors love the challenge of winning on the road. Cites Duke's poise and maturity.
I asked Dave Harding about the slow starts. “We can’t keep doing that it we’re going to win a championship. We have to get out early. . . . We definitely are not concerned but conscious of the fact that we can’t continue to do that.”
Harding says the veterans’ message to the youngsters is that “none of the sub-plots matter if we lose. Winning is our only focus. We’re just telling them to stay focused on the task at hand, which is winning and to stick to our fundamentals, discipline and winning and coming to work every day.”
Kelby Brown on Ebron-“He’s a great athlete and a great blocker. So, when he’s out on the perimeter, a guy like me has to decide if he’s going to block or is he going to run a route? Because he’s really good at both. He’s a guy who can get out in space and block linebackers or run out in the open field."