jimsumner
09-08-2015, 02:21 PM
Best news? No major injuries. Cut said that he expects everyone who played against Tulane to be healthy for NC Central.
RB Shaun Wilson injured a hand and is wearing a precautionary wrap but is expected to be fine for Saturday.
Cut says he thinks Tulane is better than last season but he thinks Duke is to.
Duke played five true freshmen against Tulane; T.J. Rahming, Marquies Price, Ben Humphries, Brandon Boyce and Jeremy McDuffie. Cut said he does not expect that number to increase this week. Duke played five true freshmen last year and that might be the total for this season, although injuries could change that.
Duke also played 11 redshirt freshmen, meaning 16 players made their college debut, on the road, in a 30-point win against a BCS opponent.
Matt Skura attributed nerves to mistakes made on the offensive line by the younger players.
Duke was penalized an uncharacteristic eight times, for 78 yards. Cut attributed a lot of these to “cadence” issues, for which he took responsibility and noted the distinction between mental errors and errors of aggression. “Definitely” need to cut down on the first.
Cut wants to see the mental errors diminish, the wide receivers take a step up and the offensive line be more consistent this week. He says Sirk was very good but can be better and wants Duke to continue to tackle well.
In case you think these kids aren’t human, here’s what LB Zavier Carmichael said about getting his first start in the Tulane game. “It’s such a huge relief. My stomach was turning in knots. I was unsure if I was going to mess up, do something crazy, do something great.”
Carmichael is in a curious position. He’s a true sophomore and should be learning from the vets. But there are no vets. Dwayne Norman is a senior but he moved from safety in the spring. Chris Holmes is another converted safety, Tinashe Bere is a redshirt freshman, Humphries a true freshman.
Carmichael notes that Kelby Brown is helping as student assistant but adds “I kind of have more experience than everybody else , so they’re asking me questions but I’m still learning. We’re all learning together. It’s kind of weird.”
Bere had five tackles in his first game. He says he had to fight off nerves. “I was really nervous but really excited at the same time. But all the nerves went away when I made that first tackle.”
At 230 pounds, Bere is the biggest linebacker and says he loves to play “run-stuffer in the middle.”
Guys who didn’t play against Tulane? OG Cody Robinson dressed out and could have played in an emergency. But his back continues to bother him. RB Joe Ajeigbe and CB Zach Muniz were healthy but both missed a lot of fall ball and are still catching up. TE Davis Koppenhaver likely will be redshirted. DT Keilin Rayner appears to have been by-passed by the younger talent.
Kick off in the newly refurbished Wallace Wade Stadium at 6 of the clock this Saturday. I’m told all the cool people will be there.
RB Shaun Wilson injured a hand and is wearing a precautionary wrap but is expected to be fine for Saturday.
Cut says he thinks Tulane is better than last season but he thinks Duke is to.
Duke played five true freshmen against Tulane; T.J. Rahming, Marquies Price, Ben Humphries, Brandon Boyce and Jeremy McDuffie. Cut said he does not expect that number to increase this week. Duke played five true freshmen last year and that might be the total for this season, although injuries could change that.
Duke also played 11 redshirt freshmen, meaning 16 players made their college debut, on the road, in a 30-point win against a BCS opponent.
Matt Skura attributed nerves to mistakes made on the offensive line by the younger players.
Duke was penalized an uncharacteristic eight times, for 78 yards. Cut attributed a lot of these to “cadence” issues, for which he took responsibility and noted the distinction between mental errors and errors of aggression. “Definitely” need to cut down on the first.
Cut wants to see the mental errors diminish, the wide receivers take a step up and the offensive line be more consistent this week. He says Sirk was very good but can be better and wants Duke to continue to tackle well.
In case you think these kids aren’t human, here’s what LB Zavier Carmichael said about getting his first start in the Tulane game. “It’s such a huge relief. My stomach was turning in knots. I was unsure if I was going to mess up, do something crazy, do something great.”
Carmichael is in a curious position. He’s a true sophomore and should be learning from the vets. But there are no vets. Dwayne Norman is a senior but he moved from safety in the spring. Chris Holmes is another converted safety, Tinashe Bere is a redshirt freshman, Humphries a true freshman.
Carmichael notes that Kelby Brown is helping as student assistant but adds “I kind of have more experience than everybody else , so they’re asking me questions but I’m still learning. We’re all learning together. It’s kind of weird.”
Bere had five tackles in his first game. He says he had to fight off nerves. “I was really nervous but really excited at the same time. But all the nerves went away when I made that first tackle.”
At 230 pounds, Bere is the biggest linebacker and says he loves to play “run-stuffer in the middle.”
Guys who didn’t play against Tulane? OG Cody Robinson dressed out and could have played in an emergency. But his back continues to bother him. RB Joe Ajeigbe and CB Zach Muniz were healthy but both missed a lot of fall ball and are still catching up. TE Davis Koppenhaver likely will be redshirted. DT Keilin Rayner appears to have been by-passed by the younger talent.
Kick off in the newly refurbished Wallace Wade Stadium at 6 of the clock this Saturday. I’m told all the cool people will be there.