Originally Posted by
Olympic Fan
Just a couple of disagreements -- (1) Deaver was NEVER healthy last year. He played, but wasn't the same player he was in 2013 -- the last time he was healthy. And The interior tackles combined for four sacks -- (Wolf 3, McSwain 1) -- which more than Duke's tackles managed all last year -- so there was significant penetration without blitzing.
I just got back and I wanted to warn about reading too much into the this game. The first half was ludicrously easy and the second half was like the late innings of a little league game, where the coach has to make sure everybody plays. Believe me -- everybody, including a bunch of walk-ons got significant minutes in the second half.
Jones looked good (10-of-15 for 189 yards and two touchdown passes, no interceptions; 28 yards rushing with one more TD). But to put those numbers into context, please remember that a year ago against NCCU, Thomas Sirk hit 15-of-22 passes for 315 yards and three TDs (and rushed for 83 more yards). The guy that couldn't throw downfield averaged more than 20 yards a reception against NCCU.
That's not to denigrate Jones, who was very sharp in his debut, just to suggest we wait and see him against a real opponent.
Hard to judge the offense, which was spectacular through most of the first half (when the first-team OL was basically intact -- we alternated QBs, RBs and TEs). With 49 points and over 400 yards total offense at the break, we could have put up some spectacular numbers if Cut doesn't take his foot off the gas.
And while I suggest we withhold judgment on the offense, I thought that there were signs than the defense was better than a year ago when we shut them out -- but gave up 9 first downs and 186 yards. This defense gave up four (4!) first downs and just 112 total yards (and much of that came against our third/scrub defense). NCCU returns a third-team all-MEAC QB and a first-team All-MEAC running back. They are not great by FBS standards, but they should be better than they were last year.
A few other observations:
-- As I said, a lot of players played. That includes eight true freshmen: PK AJ Reed, three DEs James Hornbuckle (who looked to be on the second team), Chidi Okonya and Terrell Lucas, CB Mark Gilbert, S Dylan Singletary, LB Koby Quansah and OG Julian Santos. Scott Bracey didn't dress. I was surprised that neither RB Brittain Brown or Elijah Deveaux got in the game. I thought one would play. Santos became the first true freshman OL prospect to play in the Cut era. Brian Morgan, a freshman under Roof, was the last freshman OL starter
-- Quentin Harris was awful. I wish I could say otherwise, but while Jones and Boehme both made plays, all Harris did was hand off ... and he didn't do that well. At least three of our six fumbles (5 lost) were bad exchanges by Harris. Maybe he'll have better days ahead. I hope so.
-- We showed off our depth at TE. Schneider showed the pass receiving skills that he was always touted to have. Helm set up a TD with a nice catch and even Koppenhaver made a couple of nice grabs, including his TD catch. Dan Beilenson did some good work up front. No wonder touted freshman Mark Birmingham didn't play.
-- Hate to second guess Cut, especially in a game like that. But why with two minutes left and a fourth and five inside the 10, did he not let AJ Reed try a field goal? I understand that you don't want to run up the score, but you've got a true freshman kicker here. Why not let him take his first FG try in a no pressure situation?
-- Disappointed that Devon Edwards didn't get a chance to return a kick. He was only out there for the second half kickoff -- and that one went into the end zone. Shaun Wilson got to return the other two.
-- I could be wrong, but I didn't see any Duke injuries. Zach Baker limped off at one point, but I think he came back.
Now get ready for Wake. Keep in mind that they opened Thursday night, so they have two extra days to prepare for us.