jimsumner
09-27-2016, 03:22 PM
DeVon Edwards update.
He has to rehab his MCL before he can have ACL surgery.
Cut said Duke has timed Edwards at 21.2 miles per hour in kickoff returns, getting to the 20.
He also praised Joe Ajeigbe’s lead blocking on kick returns. Says his assignment is to find and block the MDM, e.g. Most Dangerous Man.
Ben Humphries on Edwards. “DeVon’s presence made you want to be better. He made you better just by being out there. I’m sad that I didn’t get to finish out his last year. Just playing with him was one of the highlights of my career. That’s a big puzzle piece and it’s going to take a lot of smaller puzzle pieces to replace him.”
Edwards and Sirk are both co-captains and are out for the season. They are still co-captains but Duke might add an additional co-captain down the road. Still under consideration.
Shaun Wilson will be the special-teams captain against Virginia.
Duke is “working different combinations” at the safety spot. The current depth chart lists DeAndre Singleton, Corbin McCarthy and Alonzo Saxton II as the starters. But look for Jordan Hayes to get a long look.
Key to beating Virginia? Limit explosives and pressure the quarterback [Kurt Benkert].
Cutcliffe concerned about special teams. Says Duke almost gave up two long kick-off returns for scores against Notre Dame.
Asked when he thought Duke could beat Notre Dame, Cutcliffe responded “when we got on the bus.”
Duke has 17 sacks this season, equaling last season’s 13-game total. Cutcliffe says Duke has prioritized improving pass-rushing techniques and varying defensive schemes.
Improved running game? Duke “narrowed the plan to focus on execution against Notre Dame.” Duke moved Zach Harmon from backup center to starting left guard after determining he was one of Duke’s five best offensive linemen. Cut would like enough depth to substitute an entire second-team offensive line as a unit. Not there yet.
You probably saw most of the team pumping up A.J. Reed before his game-winning kick. Cut says you can’t fool football players and they all recognize that Reed is smart, focused and working hard on overcoming his early difficulties.
Daniel Jones’ improvement? “He played better before the ball was snapped.” He has a good plan before the ball is snapped and is seeing the ball better.
Quay Chambers earned his playing time with great practices, “working hard, playing at a much higher level.”
Humphries says Duke found its identity at Notre Dame. “As a team, you feel comfortable in your toughness and your ability to go into other places and play at your best. Our identity is as a touch, gritty football team. We’re going to hit you in the mouth. Our confidence level is high.”
Austin Davis on Duke’s final drive. “Our mindset is just finish them. We had been moving the ball all night. It’s the final drive. Let’s give it all you have. We know our defense is going to get a stop, so we need to get some points and finish it off, just seal this win. We put in the work all day. Just finish it. With five or so minutes left, might as well run it and run down the clock. It just worked out that drive and it was great."
Bryon Fields on Edwards’ absence. “The veterans have to really step it up and continue to be veterans and the younger guys are going to have to step it up, not only on the field on Saturday but also in the film room, understanding what other teams are going to do.”
Fields on forcing a fumble. “I felt like I had pretty good coverage on the ball. Once he caught it, I wasn’t really thinking tackle, I was thinking ‘get it out of there.’ Luckily, my teammates just held him up until I could get it out of there.”
He has to rehab his MCL before he can have ACL surgery.
Cut said Duke has timed Edwards at 21.2 miles per hour in kickoff returns, getting to the 20.
He also praised Joe Ajeigbe’s lead blocking on kick returns. Says his assignment is to find and block the MDM, e.g. Most Dangerous Man.
Ben Humphries on Edwards. “DeVon’s presence made you want to be better. He made you better just by being out there. I’m sad that I didn’t get to finish out his last year. Just playing with him was one of the highlights of my career. That’s a big puzzle piece and it’s going to take a lot of smaller puzzle pieces to replace him.”
Edwards and Sirk are both co-captains and are out for the season. They are still co-captains but Duke might add an additional co-captain down the road. Still under consideration.
Shaun Wilson will be the special-teams captain against Virginia.
Duke is “working different combinations” at the safety spot. The current depth chart lists DeAndre Singleton, Corbin McCarthy and Alonzo Saxton II as the starters. But look for Jordan Hayes to get a long look.
Key to beating Virginia? Limit explosives and pressure the quarterback [Kurt Benkert].
Cutcliffe concerned about special teams. Says Duke almost gave up two long kick-off returns for scores against Notre Dame.
Asked when he thought Duke could beat Notre Dame, Cutcliffe responded “when we got on the bus.”
Duke has 17 sacks this season, equaling last season’s 13-game total. Cutcliffe says Duke has prioritized improving pass-rushing techniques and varying defensive schemes.
Improved running game? Duke “narrowed the plan to focus on execution against Notre Dame.” Duke moved Zach Harmon from backup center to starting left guard after determining he was one of Duke’s five best offensive linemen. Cut would like enough depth to substitute an entire second-team offensive line as a unit. Not there yet.
You probably saw most of the team pumping up A.J. Reed before his game-winning kick. Cut says you can’t fool football players and they all recognize that Reed is smart, focused and working hard on overcoming his early difficulties.
Daniel Jones’ improvement? “He played better before the ball was snapped.” He has a good plan before the ball is snapped and is seeing the ball better.
Quay Chambers earned his playing time with great practices, “working hard, playing at a much higher level.”
Humphries says Duke found its identity at Notre Dame. “As a team, you feel comfortable in your toughness and your ability to go into other places and play at your best. Our identity is as a touch, gritty football team. We’re going to hit you in the mouth. Our confidence level is high.”
Austin Davis on Duke’s final drive. “Our mindset is just finish them. We had been moving the ball all night. It’s the final drive. Let’s give it all you have. We know our defense is going to get a stop, so we need to get some points and finish it off, just seal this win. We put in the work all day. Just finish it. With five or so minutes left, might as well run it and run down the clock. It just worked out that drive and it was great."
Bryon Fields on Edwards’ absence. “The veterans have to really step it up and continue to be veterans and the younger guys are going to have to step it up, not only on the field on Saturday but also in the film room, understanding what other teams are going to do.”
Fields on forcing a fumble. “I felt like I had pretty good coverage on the ball. Once he caught it, I wasn’t really thinking tackle, I was thinking ‘get it out of there.’ Luckily, my teammates just held him up until I could get it out of there.”