FB: GT 38, Duke 31

[devildeac]

Last home game of the year. Anyone have enough energy left to discuss FB? Will we have enough guys healthy to play this game? What do we do to stop their running game? Any updates to what appears to be a significant injury list from yesterday?

[OldPhiKap]

This will be a challenge to state the obvious.

Gotta fight hard, boys. Close the home season off with a win, then take the Heels!

[uh_no]

my favorite halftime stat from last weeks game

passing: 11/22 11+ yds/att
rushing 21 att, 22 yds, 1.0 yds/att

I couldn't watch the game, but am under the impression that the passing numbers contained several drops

but how many drives were wasted rushing 21 times for 22 yds? just boggles my mind.

Again, I have zero confidence in our OC. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over expecting different results?

when our defense AGAIN turns it on late in the game and starts forcing punts, and we accomplish nothing?

[mkline09]

my favorite halftime stat from last weeks game

passing: 11/22 11+ yds/att
rushing 21 att, 22 yds, 1.0 yds/att

I couldn't watch the game, but am under the impression that the passing numbers contained several drops

but how many drives were wasted rushing 21 times for 22 yds? just boggles my mind.

Again, I have zero confidence in our OC. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over expecting different results?

when our defense AGAIN turns it on late in the game and starts forcing punts, and we accomplish nothing?

I thought the play calling on the whole was better. Took a lot of shot downfield and moved the ball. However, mistakes killed Duke again. Lots of key drops. Varner had at least three. Helfet had one too. Again it goes without saying missed field goals were bit of a problem. Still you are right running game isn't working. And the kinds of run to me seem to be so generic and pretty much the same play just run to different sides of the line. Seemingly no concept of how to design running plays from my perspective.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I agree regarding the improved play calling. .... much better than previous games.

Execution was a central problem as were injuries, both before the game and during it. Injuries played havoc with the OL, defensive side, our runners and some of the receivers. The team finally has enough depth that those injuries didn't cause the team to quit. Before anyone jumps on that comment about depth, my point is that it's much better than we've had in quite a while.

[Bob Green]

Anyone have enough energy left to discuss FB?

Yes! I have the energy so a big thank you to DD for starting this thread.

I agree regarding the improved play calling. .... much better than previous games.

I also agree the play calling was improved. We just made too many mistakes to overcome:

1. Sean Renfree throws a Pick 6 interception when he is under duress because our left tackle Jacoby Cofield (playing due an injury to Kyle Hill) cannot handle Virginia's defensive end.
2. Donovan Varner drops two passes, which could have resulted in touchdowns.
3. Brandon Braxton drops a pass, which could have resulted in a touchdown.
4. Will Snyderwine has a field goal blocked and misses a second one.

Our Red Zone offense is pathetic and a major contributing factor is the inability to run the football. The injury list will probably be ugly this Thursday.

[uh_no]

I thought the play calling on the whole was better. Took a lot of shot downfield and moved the ball. However, mistakes killed Duke again. Lots of key drops. Varner had at least three. Helfet had one too. Again it goes without saying missed field goals were bit of a problem. Still you are right running game isn't working. And the kinds of run to me seem to be so generic and pretty much the same play just run to different sides of the line. Seemingly no concept of how to design running plays from my perspective.

I think in the end you have to ask, is calling these running plays allowing us to open up the passing game? So in essence, would we be more or less successful on the whole if we had useed those 21 downs to throw instead? Obviously the defense could drop more into coverage, and this would likely lessen our yds/att, but with 22 extra attempts could we make up that difference? Obviously that's an extreme case, and like anything else, its likely a parabolic curve at which there is a given run/pass ratio that maximizes yards/play and I think our current ratio is non-optimal...that more passes would do better in the end, especially seeing as the runs are so enormously futile.

Mistakes are obviously a huge problem...and I think the dropped passes indicate even MORE that we should passing more than running....(and that our receivers shouldn't be dropping the ball)...Either way, even if the playcalling HAS gotten better lately, it shouldn't take 10 games into the season to realize how to gameplan for a given team...

[-bdbd]

Sigh...

Got to watch the whole thing on TV here in Northern VA. Keep in mind that this is a really improved UVA team this year who really took it to Miami in Miami. They will very possibly be in a 1 game "playoff" with VPI to determine the winner of their division. So a 10-point loss, on the road to a Division leader is nothing to be down about, especially given all of the injuries.

A few loose thoughts:
1. Wow - look at all of those injuriues. They were just dropping like flies! I don't know what was said between the two head coaches at mid-field after the game,in a reportedly heated exchange, but I'm guessing it had something to do with that topic and whether UVA was trying to play "overly aggressive" or injure.
2. Why does it seem to take about 40 minutes each game for the D to get it in gear? They seem like they are capable of playing well for 4 whole quarters.
3. Renfree wasn't without fault, but the receivers have GOT to make plays when given the chance. WAAAAY too many dropped balls, even if some of them were tough catch opportunities (though to be fair a WR has a much better chance of catching a ball thrown hard into his bread basket than one through high and well ahead for a receiver crossing the middle....).
4. Given all of the injuries, for the last two games, do we play some of the redshirts, or let em hang on to the extra year of eligibility and build for the long-term?
5. Is it just me or do we still seem undermanned on the two front lines? The D line doesn't seem to get nearly enough penetration on runs or passes. And the O line can't assert itself even on very short-yardage situations - hence tons of "bubble screens" out into the flat, etc. I know we have had some OL recruiting success recently, and am guessing we have some help coming next year from current red-shirts. But what is that picture like on the D-line side? Any hope, especially given that our star there is a senior?

[Bob Green]

5. Is it just me or do we still seem undermanned on the two front lines? The D line doesn't seem to get nearly enough penetration on runs or passes. And the O line can't assert itself even on very short-yardage situations - hence tons of "bubble screens" out into the flat, etc. I know we have had some OL recruiting success recently, and am guessing we have some help coming next year from current red-shirts. But what is that picture like on the D-line side?

We have had significant success with OL recruiting and currently have some potential studs red-shirting this season. The situation with DL recruiting isn't as clear.

[devildeac]

my favorite halftime stat from last weeks game

passing: 11/22 11+ yds/att
rushing 21 att, 22 yds, 1.0 yds/att

I couldn't watch the game, but am under the impression that the passing numbers contained several drops

but how many drives were wasted rushing 21 times for 22 yds? just boggles my mind.

Again, I have zero confidence in our OC. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over expecting different results?

when our defense AGAIN turns it on late in the game and starts forcing punts, and we accomplish nothing?

Our "rushing game" improved in the 2nd half if those 1st half stats are correct (and I believe you) as we rushed 8 times for 12 yards, improving our average that half to 1.5 yds/carry. Our final game stats were 29 rushes for 34 yds, working out to a 1.2 yards/carry average. Yea, I know Sean was 7 for -13 so that affects the calculations but so does the 64 yd TD grab and 2 other receptions of 40+ yds when figuring yds/catch or yds/attempt. There were also a bunch of "screen" that gained little to no yardage. So, to be clear, I am really not arguing with you. Play calling was better but still mind boggling at times as several (many?) of us in chat screamed at our keyboards, monitors and TV screens. Several key drops, routes run too short to get the 1st downs, the pick 6, multiple injuries and missed tackles and FG all contributed to yet another gut-busting loss. Cut was visibly disturbed (and audibly, too, I'd bet) on multiple occasions yesterday at our players, the refs and, at the end, at London, who continued to shout at Cut as he was escorted away. I'd love to know what that was about.

[uh_no]

Several key drops, routes run too short to get the 1st downs, the pick 6, multiple injuries and missed tackles and FG all contributed to yet another gut-busting loss.

Pretty much sums it up. I partially think the OC is just an easy target, and though I generally try to be as objective as possible, eventually I want to blame someone. I don't know how to fix dropped passes (having never played fball) but the running routes short of teh first down seems to be something that hurts us all the time and seems to be something so easy to fix...is the OC calling plays with routes short hoping to pick up YAC (and honestly, how often do we pick up 5 YAC?...40-50 yd catches aside...) or are the receivers just not running the routes far enough? I have no idea...I kind of miss when cut had film sessions with students so you could ask questions like that...and get honest reasonable responses. Now (and maybe its because i'm not on campus anymore) it seems that we have this issues, but no concept of what's being done to address them.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I thought the play calling on the whole was better.

Our theory was that the team had tied Roper up in a closet somewhere and he had escaped after halftime.

[uh_no]

Our theory was that the team had tied Roper up in a closet somewhere and he had escaped after halftime.

they had roper roped up?

[mkline09]

Our theory was that the team had tied Roper up in a closet somewhere and he had escaped after halftime.

Well that certainly makes more sense. Why else would the guy who basically failed to do what Duke does best offensively change his ways in the third to the last game? Makes sense to me.

[devildeac]

Preliminary forecast: 64 and sunny

[Acymetric]

Hope I can get off work in time...would like to be at the last home game this year even if I'm pretty much out of real enthusiasm for the season.

[killerleft]

How many of you are taking advantage of the two free tickets for season ticketholders deal for this game? I'd love to, but have run out of friends that I can even dream might go to the game.

email:

"As a sincere thank you to all of our season ticket holders, Duke Athletics will be celebrating "Season Ticket Holder Appreciation" by offering (2) two additional complimentary general admission (GA) tickets to the Georgia Tech football game on November 19 for each season ticket account holder.

Season ticket holders are encouraged to use these two tickets to help create a new Blue Devil fan out of family, friends and neighbors. Let them come enjoy a great afternoon of football at Wallace Wade Stadium!

To order your complimentary tickets, please call the Ticket Office at (919) 668-9235. Complimentary "Season Ticket Holder Appreciation" tickets must be ordered no later than Thursday, November 17 at 4:30 p.m. The tickets can be picked up on the day of the game at the Will Call line at the North Gate of Wallace Wade designated as "Season Ticket Holder Appreciation."

On second thought, I'll canvas the usual suspects again, our team certainly deserves much more support than they get.

[Acymetric]

*sigh*

Don't really like what it says about our program that we're having to give away tickets and beg people to come to the final home game of the year.

[Olympic Fan]

We have had significant success with OL recruiting and currently have some potential studs red-shirting this season. The situation with DL recruiting isn't as clear.

Cut has had some terrible luck recruiting the DL -- how different would our D-line look with junior John Drew alongside Charlie Hatcher at DT and with a healthy Kenny Annunike at DE (and throw in Trent Mackey as a fourth year starter at LB and Brandon Putnam as redshirt soph at DE ... those knuckleheads!)?

As it is, I give them credit for redshirting everybody they've recruited up front -- that's where the extra year pays off. Aside from Hatcher, Sarmiento and Foxx -- and Sarmiento and Foxx are just redshirt sophomores -- we're playing with a bunch of redshirt freshmen up front. Sure they're getting pushed around. But I think they showed against Virginia Tech that they do have potential. It would be great if Cut could recruit the kind of guys K gets in basketball -- kids who can be studs from day one -- but that's not going to happen very often in football (Drew was that kind of kid). We're going to have to be patient -- but kids like Bruce, Sink, Dez Johnson, Jamal Wallace and Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo will get bigger and stronger as they get older.

I thought the OL was ahead of the DL. We went into the season with seven ACC-quality OL -- only Hill and Moore were upperclassmen and Moore was hurt most of the year ... now Hill is gone. That leaves three quality redshirt sophomores -- Harding, Simmons and Coleman (still waiting on Finison) and two quality redshirt freshmen -- Tomlinson and Cofield. It doesn't help that Cofield and Harding are playing hurt.

We do have four redshirt freshmen with GREAT potential. Lucas Patrick is going to be a great one. Marcus Apahamin and Cody Robinson are huge tackle prospects. Matt Skura will be our 2013 starter at center.

If our injury problems (beyond Moore) on the OL had come up earlier, I think we'd see Patrick, at least, in action this year. But not this late. Duke can't salvage a bowl ... save them or next year. We lose Hill on the OL and return six quality veterans. We add four very promising redshirt freshmen (plus Finison may grow into it). We'll have better depth -- and the best thing is that Brian Moore will be on the only senior.

[duke09hms]

*sigh*

Don't really like what it says about our program that we're having to give away tickets and beg people to come to the final home game of the year.

We're 3-7 with so many self-inflicted mistakes and penalties, plus we killed any forward momentum of hooking in new fans at the start of the season with the Richmond loss.
I don't like it either, but honestly should anyone be surprised?