jimsumner
10-27-2015, 01:54 PM
Duke got back to work this morning following Saturday night's epochal four-overtime win over Virginia Tech.
David Cutcliffe is not dialing back practices after the extra long game. He says these guys are young and healthy and will be fine Saturday night. He said he was pleased with the win but it should never have come down to overtime, Duke needs to fix the problems that kept them from winning in regulation and that he and his staff were not going to talk the team out of those problems. It has to happen on the field.
He also noted that the 7 P.M. start time will give the team extra rest. Jeremy Cash didn't agree. He says he'd rather wake up and play. You get anxious sitting in the hotel waiting for the game.
Cut called Miami's performance against Clemson an "outlier" and expects his team to prepare for a talented Miami team.
Duke is practicing with the expectation that Brad Kayaa will start at QB for Miami. He refused to be drawn into the coaching controversy at Miami, saying there was no typical response to an in-season coaching change. But he did allow that it was not generally a positive. But Duke is concerning itself with Duke.
The team should be able to watch most of Thursday's UNC-Pitt game. Thomas Sirk said he would watch the game as any fan would, while Matt Skura said he'll pay some attention to defensive alignments and such but not to the extent that he'll back up the picture, pause or do anything like that. But Skura did say that when he watched the VT-Ohio State game earlier this season, he took notes and made charts.
Cut called Max McCaffrey's six catch, 94-yard, two-TD performance against VT "absolutely a great game. he's playing like a senior should."
McCaffrey was expected to play a big role this season. But what kind of odds would you have gotten back in August that Anthony Nash and Eric Schneider would be the guys catching touchdown passes in overtime at Blacksburg?
Cut said their development indicated Duke's improved depth and credited both with getting better in practice. He said he wasn't a fan of the concept of playing well when the lights are on. He wants to know how they play when the practice lights come on.
Sirk said of the duo. "They continue to grow and progress as players. The way they prepare in practice gives me confidence in them. They made big-time plays."
Another player who stepped up was DT Mike Ramsay. Carlos Wray played a lot of end, with Kyler Brown out and Ramsay had seven tackles. Cut said Duke has seen this in practice. "He took advantage of the opportunity. He has talent."
Cut said Sirk throwing downfield was partly a result of VT's defensove strategy--which doesn't give up many checkdowns-and Sirk's maturation. "He's much more poised and mature. He's definitely improved."
Cut said Duke would have preferred to win in regulation but "found out a little bit more about ourselves . . . if you're not prepared, it's not going to turn out good."
Cut praised not only the endurance of his players but also of his coaches, who made the right call into the extra periods. He compared being an OC or DC to being an air-traffic controller at O'Hare on a Friday, with thunderstorms all around. And then you've got to keep going.
The two-point conversion was a pass/run option but Cut reminded Sirk that he was a pretty good runner and not to be afraid to run for it. Sirk said he had no idea how many times he was hit on that play. He just saw daylight and went for it. Both Cutcliffe and Sirk had much praise for Shaq Powell on that play. Powell threw a block, got up and threw another, helping Sirk muscle through a 300-pound defender.
Cut said he got a text from an old friend from Alabama, noting that Duke had won conference games by scores of 9-7 and 45-43 and asked "will you make up your mind?"
Jeremy Cash played 106 snaps against VT. He says recovery is "definitely a process. We were able to use Sunday as an active recovering day. We weren't hitting on all cylinders today. We still need to get our legs back. . . . Practice is made hard, so the game comes easy. . . I got back, had a nice little nap and had ice over pretty much every part of my body."
David Cutcliffe is not dialing back practices after the extra long game. He says these guys are young and healthy and will be fine Saturday night. He said he was pleased with the win but it should never have come down to overtime, Duke needs to fix the problems that kept them from winning in regulation and that he and his staff were not going to talk the team out of those problems. It has to happen on the field.
He also noted that the 7 P.M. start time will give the team extra rest. Jeremy Cash didn't agree. He says he'd rather wake up and play. You get anxious sitting in the hotel waiting for the game.
Cut called Miami's performance against Clemson an "outlier" and expects his team to prepare for a talented Miami team.
Duke is practicing with the expectation that Brad Kayaa will start at QB for Miami. He refused to be drawn into the coaching controversy at Miami, saying there was no typical response to an in-season coaching change. But he did allow that it was not generally a positive. But Duke is concerning itself with Duke.
The team should be able to watch most of Thursday's UNC-Pitt game. Thomas Sirk said he would watch the game as any fan would, while Matt Skura said he'll pay some attention to defensive alignments and such but not to the extent that he'll back up the picture, pause or do anything like that. But Skura did say that when he watched the VT-Ohio State game earlier this season, he took notes and made charts.
Cut called Max McCaffrey's six catch, 94-yard, two-TD performance against VT "absolutely a great game. he's playing like a senior should."
McCaffrey was expected to play a big role this season. But what kind of odds would you have gotten back in August that Anthony Nash and Eric Schneider would be the guys catching touchdown passes in overtime at Blacksburg?
Cut said their development indicated Duke's improved depth and credited both with getting better in practice. He said he wasn't a fan of the concept of playing well when the lights are on. He wants to know how they play when the practice lights come on.
Sirk said of the duo. "They continue to grow and progress as players. The way they prepare in practice gives me confidence in them. They made big-time plays."
Another player who stepped up was DT Mike Ramsay. Carlos Wray played a lot of end, with Kyler Brown out and Ramsay had seven tackles. Cut said Duke has seen this in practice. "He took advantage of the opportunity. He has talent."
Cut said Sirk throwing downfield was partly a result of VT's defensove strategy--which doesn't give up many checkdowns-and Sirk's maturation. "He's much more poised and mature. He's definitely improved."
Cut said Duke would have preferred to win in regulation but "found out a little bit more about ourselves . . . if you're not prepared, it's not going to turn out good."
Cut praised not only the endurance of his players but also of his coaches, who made the right call into the extra periods. He compared being an OC or DC to being an air-traffic controller at O'Hare on a Friday, with thunderstorms all around. And then you've got to keep going.
The two-point conversion was a pass/run option but Cut reminded Sirk that he was a pretty good runner and not to be afraid to run for it. Sirk said he had no idea how many times he was hit on that play. He just saw daylight and went for it. Both Cutcliffe and Sirk had much praise for Shaq Powell on that play. Powell threw a block, got up and threw another, helping Sirk muscle through a 300-pound defender.
Cut said he got a text from an old friend from Alabama, noting that Duke had won conference games by scores of 9-7 and 45-43 and asked "will you make up your mind?"
Jeremy Cash played 106 snaps against VT. He says recovery is "definitely a process. We were able to use Sunday as an active recovering day. We weren't hitting on all cylinders today. We still need to get our legs back. . . . Practice is made hard, so the game comes easy. . . I got back, had a nice little nap and had ice over pretty much every part of my body."