jimsumner
08-29-2017, 02:17 PM
Yep. That time of year again.
It even feels like autumn.
Duke's depth chart lists 11 true freshmen!!
Now, some of these are special-teams backups and likely won't play.
Still, that's a lot.
When asked if that suggested good things about the freshmen or bad things about the vets, Cut, not surprisingly backed the former option. The coaches knew that the incoming class was good but didn't know they were going to be that good, that quickly.
The only true freshman listed as first team is DE Victor Dimukeje. Drew Jordan is listed as second-team DE and Derrick Tangelo as second-team DT. DT Axel Nyembwe is not listed on the two-deep but Cut indicated he might play.
Jordan can rush the passer. Cut said true freshman Ben Frye was the quickest DE but he's been banged up in practice.
With Price and Boyce dismissed over the off-season and Morris forced to give up football due to knee issues, there clearly is a need for some true youngsters to step up.
Also on defense, we have Marquis Waters and Michael Carter listed as second team safeties. Derek Jones told me over the summer that Waters was the biggest surprise in the DB contingent.
Offensively, we have Rakavius Chambers (he goes by Rock) as second-team guard, Deon Jackson as fourth-team running back and Noah Gray as third-team tight end. Chambers beat out some upperclassmen and Gray is ahead of Mark Birmingham and Jake Marwede.
Cut did say that Gray would play Saturday.
Jackson is also listed as a back-up kick-off returner.
Freshman Jake Driggers is listed as first team on kick-offs but Cut contradicted that afterwards, saying Austin Parker would kick off.
Jackson Hubbard is listed as back-up punter but Cut said that Parker Boehme was Austin Parker's backup.
True freshman John Taylor is back-up long snapper to redshirt freshman Ben Wyatt but I can't imagine Duke will platoon snappers, so I would expect Taylor to redshirt. (Don't confuse John Taylor with freshman center Will Taylor, who's out for the season following knee surgery).
More on special teams.
Parker and Holmquist 1/2 on Pks. Might see both Saturday. Might not. Couldn't pin him down on this one. Said it's real close.
Boeheme is holder, Shaun Wilson and Lloyd the KOR tandem and T.J. Rahming number one punt returner.
Other notes.
Cut said that DT Mike Ramsay had the best spring of any defensive lineman he's had at Duke. No qualifiers.
He also praised DTs Edgar Cerenord (playing the best he's played at Duke) and Trevon McSwain.
But Quaven Ferguson is still on crutches and won't play this Saturday. Coupled with the aforementioned attrition, at least one of the true frosh has to play.
Speaking of Tangelo and Nyembwe, Cut says both are a rare bread of size (320) and quickness but need to get up to game shape.
Cut says Duke's DL pass rush should be better this season and that's the key to limiting explosives. Says Duke will be able to rotate more DEs and keep people fresh.
Ferguson may be the only key player out for Saturday. Jeremy McDuffie is practicing with a cast and isn't sitting out any drills. Should be good to go.
Mark Gilbert has earned his starting corner spot back. He went into a funk after getting toasted late last season, especially against Miami but re-dedicated himself to his craft. Cut says Gilbert "has every tool, has a chance to be special." Bryon Fields says Gilbert has a chance to be the best cornerback he's seen at Duke and Fields played with Ross Cockrell.
Rock Chambers could be something special. Austin Davis says Chambers is the best true freshman OL he's seen at Duke. And Chambers is huge, 6-3, 325. Cut says Chambers is unusually physical for a young lineman.
Both Fields and Ramsay told us that Duke was a bit complacent last fall, following its bowl win. Hungrier this year.
Cut says there is more completion than ever before and he expects the depth chart to be more fluid.
Defense ahead of the offense at this point. He wants more consistency, especially from the wide receivers, where he would like for someone other than Rahming to start separating themselves. Bracey has been healthy lately and is beginning to show his skills.
Daniel Jones says he and Rahming spent a lot of time together this summer, working on routes and timing. Jones says Duke will take more shots down field this season and is opening up the offense.
Speaking of Jones, the buy-season-ticket-Duke football billboard on the Durham Expressway coming in from Raleigh features Jones. I can't ever remember a non-senior being the face used to sell season tickets.
That's enough for now.
Cheers.
It even feels like autumn.
Duke's depth chart lists 11 true freshmen!!
Now, some of these are special-teams backups and likely won't play.
Still, that's a lot.
When asked if that suggested good things about the freshmen or bad things about the vets, Cut, not surprisingly backed the former option. The coaches knew that the incoming class was good but didn't know they were going to be that good, that quickly.
The only true freshman listed as first team is DE Victor Dimukeje. Drew Jordan is listed as second-team DE and Derrick Tangelo as second-team DT. DT Axel Nyembwe is not listed on the two-deep but Cut indicated he might play.
Jordan can rush the passer. Cut said true freshman Ben Frye was the quickest DE but he's been banged up in practice.
With Price and Boyce dismissed over the off-season and Morris forced to give up football due to knee issues, there clearly is a need for some true youngsters to step up.
Also on defense, we have Marquis Waters and Michael Carter listed as second team safeties. Derek Jones told me over the summer that Waters was the biggest surprise in the DB contingent.
Offensively, we have Rakavius Chambers (he goes by Rock) as second-team guard, Deon Jackson as fourth-team running back and Noah Gray as third-team tight end. Chambers beat out some upperclassmen and Gray is ahead of Mark Birmingham and Jake Marwede.
Cut did say that Gray would play Saturday.
Jackson is also listed as a back-up kick-off returner.
Freshman Jake Driggers is listed as first team on kick-offs but Cut contradicted that afterwards, saying Austin Parker would kick off.
Jackson Hubbard is listed as back-up punter but Cut said that Parker Boehme was Austin Parker's backup.
True freshman John Taylor is back-up long snapper to redshirt freshman Ben Wyatt but I can't imagine Duke will platoon snappers, so I would expect Taylor to redshirt. (Don't confuse John Taylor with freshman center Will Taylor, who's out for the season following knee surgery).
More on special teams.
Parker and Holmquist 1/2 on Pks. Might see both Saturday. Might not. Couldn't pin him down on this one. Said it's real close.
Boeheme is holder, Shaun Wilson and Lloyd the KOR tandem and T.J. Rahming number one punt returner.
Other notes.
Cut said that DT Mike Ramsay had the best spring of any defensive lineman he's had at Duke. No qualifiers.
He also praised DTs Edgar Cerenord (playing the best he's played at Duke) and Trevon McSwain.
But Quaven Ferguson is still on crutches and won't play this Saturday. Coupled with the aforementioned attrition, at least one of the true frosh has to play.
Speaking of Tangelo and Nyembwe, Cut says both are a rare bread of size (320) and quickness but need to get up to game shape.
Cut says Duke's DL pass rush should be better this season and that's the key to limiting explosives. Says Duke will be able to rotate more DEs and keep people fresh.
Ferguson may be the only key player out for Saturday. Jeremy McDuffie is practicing with a cast and isn't sitting out any drills. Should be good to go.
Mark Gilbert has earned his starting corner spot back. He went into a funk after getting toasted late last season, especially against Miami but re-dedicated himself to his craft. Cut says Gilbert "has every tool, has a chance to be special." Bryon Fields says Gilbert has a chance to be the best cornerback he's seen at Duke and Fields played with Ross Cockrell.
Rock Chambers could be something special. Austin Davis says Chambers is the best true freshman OL he's seen at Duke. And Chambers is huge, 6-3, 325. Cut says Chambers is unusually physical for a young lineman.
Both Fields and Ramsay told us that Duke was a bit complacent last fall, following its bowl win. Hungrier this year.
Cut says there is more completion than ever before and he expects the depth chart to be more fluid.
Defense ahead of the offense at this point. He wants more consistency, especially from the wide receivers, where he would like for someone other than Rahming to start separating themselves. Bracey has been healthy lately and is beginning to show his skills.
Daniel Jones says he and Rahming spent a lot of time together this summer, working on routes and timing. Jones says Duke will take more shots down field this season and is opening up the offense.
Speaking of Jones, the buy-season-ticket-Duke football billboard on the Durham Expressway coming in from Raleigh features Jones. I can't ever remember a non-senior being the face used to sell season tickets.
That's enough for now.
Cheers.