Mel Kiper On Duke

[Channing]

I think it was Kiper at least. I got a bit of ESPN radio this morning and they were reviewing the ACC. I think it was Mel said Duke should have won at least the games against UNC, Wake, and UM last year, and that duke has a really special QB in Thad Lewis, adn that FSU wishes they had Thad Lewis right now.

Its not much, but it was the first time I have EVER heard Duke football lauded on the radio - felt kind of good.

[YmoBeThere]

Its not much, but it was the first time I have EVER heard Duke football lauded on the radio - felt kind of good.

It won't be the last.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I think it was Mel said Duke should have won at least the games against UNC, Wake, and UM last year,

And beating Alabama and Richmond should/could/would have made 5...

But what could have been, was.

[4decadedukie]

Some, perhaps most, of the elements are SLOWLY coming together; however, as has been noted in several recent football threads, the team -- coaches, players and, yes, alumni, students, fans -- MUST learn to win. When that happens -- not if, but when -- things will rapidly improve. As always, I am not seeking all-ACC competitiveness, due to probable losses in academic and behavioral stature that Duke should not tolerate. It would be great, however, to split with team like UNC, Wake, UVa annually and occasionally to defeat a Virgina Tech, Miami, and BC.

[Bob Green]

...will be a key element in Duke's success in 2007. Players such as 6'8" 310 lb RT Fred Roland must give Thad Lewis time to throw the ball down the field. Duke has some quality wide receivers but has had excruciating inexperience on the offensive line the past couple of years, resulting in too many sacks and interceptions, but that will not be the case this season. This season the offensive line will get the job done and Thad Lewis & Company will score a lot of points.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[Kewlswim]

...will be a key element in Duke's success in 2007. Players such as 6'8" 310 lb RT Fred Roland must give Thad Lewis time to throw the ball down the field. Duke has some quality wide receivers but has had excruciating inexperience on the offensive line the past couple of years, resulting in too many sacks and interceptions, but that will not be the case this season. This season the offensive line will get the job done and Thad Lewis & Company will score a lot of points.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

Bob,

It would be wonderful if you are right.

GO DUKE!

BACK DUKE OR BACK-OFF!!!

[JDSBlueDevl]

...will be a key element in Duke's success in 2007. Players such as 6'8" 310 lb RT Fred Roland must give Thad Lewis time to throw the ball down the field. Duke has some quality wide receivers but has had excruciating inexperience on the offensive line the past couple of years, resulting in too many sacks and interceptions, but that will not be the case this season. This season the offensive line will get the job done and Thad Lewis & Company will score a lot of points.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

And if maybe our kicker could make a FG to save his life...

[Schleimer24]

And if maybe our kicker could make a FG to save his life...

Oh where have you gone Sims Lenhardt and Brent Garber?

[Dukerati]

And if maybe our kicker could make a FG to save his life...

Oh where have you gone Sims Lenhardt and Brent Garber?

Seriously, if you were a kicker wouldn't you want to go to a great academic school? I don't understand why great kickers do not flock to schools such as Duke or Stanford that have strong sports programs but also gives you quality education. You are kicking a ball! In proceeding onto the next level, it doesn't matter where you kicked or who your teammates were. It is a very singular and individual task.

Someone explain this to me please.

[jimsumner]

"I don't understand why great kickers do not flock to schools such as Duke or Stanford that have strong sports programs but also gives you quality education."

Great high school kickers do flock to Duke. Guys like Garber, Feinberg, and Surgan were top five in high school. Then they end up losing their jobs to walk-ons like Matt Brooks or become mediocre punters, or whatever. Duke's inability to develop an even marginally competent kicking game is a disturbing trend that needs to be rectified and real soon. Duke isn't good enough to blow people out and you can't win many close games if you can't make a point-blank field goal or extra point with the game on the line.

[The Gordog]

Like all football plays there a lot of moving parts in a kick. Maybe our less than stellar O-lines of recent years have been the real culprit here.

[jimsumner]

Sure, the less than stellar line play contributes. But it's not just place-kicking. Duke hasn't had a decent punter since Boomer Morton. Other teams routinely run back kicks for long distances against Duke, while Duke has seemingly perfected the block in the back and the punt-returner-runs-away-from-the-punt-play.

Could the personnel be better? Sure. But the recurring theme is the inability or refusal of Duke to hire a special-team specialist on the coaching staff, someone who can turn special teams into an asset not a debit.