Duke Football Offseason

[Acymetric]

Jela Duncan to Cleveland Browns:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.db...DB_OEM_ID=4200



This makes me happy! When healthy, Jela is a beast.

Not surprising at all that he's been picked up, the guy can play. That said, I see almost no way he sticks with Cleveland...(already having Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson, and now Chubb) but I definitely think he belongs in the league. Hopefully this is a good opportunity for him to show what he's got! He will at least be on a practice squad, but I would bet he lands with another team later in the offseason or preseason.

I was also unfortunately reminded of how he got injured while at Duke (I had forgotten it was a TD celebration, and not even his own TD)...ugh!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Jela Duncan to Cleveland Browns:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.db...DB_OEM_ID=4200



This makes me happy! When healthy, Jela is a beast.

Jela is one of my favorite Duke sports stories. He did wrong, got suspended before the Chic-fil-A bowl, and sat out the entire following season. He didn't give up on the team, nor the university, though, and is now heading for an opportunity as a Duke graduate in the NFL.
I hope it works out for him!

[Tripping William]

An official release of the current depth chart. Discuss.

[Acymetric]

An official release of the current depth chart. Discuss.

There is an awful lot to like on that depth chart...this could be the best defense we have had in a long, long time. Our WR group looks pretty uninspiring (based on past performance), seems like one of the most likely places for a true freshman to make an impact. Disappointed that Bracey hasn't shown enough to get listed as one of four starters. OL is a gigantic question mark. There are a lot of new faces but new isn't always bad, they could gel and play great. Latina gives me some comfort there I think we will at least be ok there event if it isn't a team strength.

The truly frightening stuff is happening on special teams. I like that we have someone other than AJ Reed at the top, but this guy has been with the team for years so there has to be a reason he didn't get a shot previously. No confidence in punting or kicking, and if we keep Rahming as the primary punt returner add punt returns to that list. Combined with a new special teams coach, and I have serious concerns about every phase of our special teams game other than kickoff returns. We absolutely have to figure something out there. If we can at least have a passable special teams and get some production from or receivers, we could be in store for a special season. If special teams is worse than it was last year (which it very well could be, not sure I see any upgrades anywhere) then oh well, maybe next year.

[Bob Green]

Latina gives me some comfort there I think we will at least be ok there event if it isn't a team strength.

Latina is long gone, he was not the OL coach last season Marcus Johnson was. With Johnson gone to Mississippi State, Jim Bridge is coaching the offensive line. Bridge coached the OL during Quick Lane Bowl practices at the end of last season.

The young talent on the OL has a high ceiling. Like you say, if they gel they could be very good.

[Acymetric]

Latina is long gone, he was not the OL coach last season Marcus Johnson was. With Johnson gone to Mississippi State, Jim Bridge is coaching the offensive line. Bridge coached the OL during Quick Lane Bowl practices at the end of last season.

The young talent on the OL has a high ceiling. Like you say, if they gel they could be very good.

No idea what I was thinking...that's what I get for posting while still mostly focused on work! Thanks for the correction.

[devilirium]

There is an awful lot to like on that depth chart...this could be the best defense we have had in a long, long time. Our WR group looks pretty uninspiring (based on past performance), seems like one of the most likely places for a true freshman to make an impact. Disappointed that Bracey hasn't shown enough to get listed as one of four starters. OL is a gigantic question mark. There are a lot of new faces but new isn't always bad, they could gel and play great. Latina gives me some comfort there I think we will at least be ok there event if it isn't a team strength.

The truly frightening stuff is happening on special teams. I like that we have someone other than AJ Reed at the top, but this guy has been with the team for years so there has to be a reason he didn't get a shot previously. No confidence in punting or kicking, and if we keep Rahming as the primary punt returner add punt returns to that list. Combined with a new special teams coach, and I have serious concerns about every phase of our special teams game other than kickoff returns. We absolutely have to figure something out there. If we can at least have a passable special teams and get some production from or receivers, we could be in store for a special season. If special teams is worse than it was last year (which it very well could be, not sure I see any upgrades anywhere) then oh well, maybe next year.

Still hope for Bracey. Spring depth charts are good guideposts, but closer to snapshots. Last year, for instance, Mark Gilbert was 3rd string after spring practice. A few years before that, Anthony Nash was buried way down in the depth chart and he had a solid junior season and was enjoying a really good senior campaign until he sustained a season ending injury.

Will agree though that the WR corps is not collectively eye-popping in terms of separation.

[Reilly]

I came *this* close to starting a new thread with the above title. Bob, do your thing if you're believing in the boys and we're now a football school.

http://www.espn.com/college-football...-bowl-schedule

[OldPhiKap]

^^ I think the quality of our special teams will determine whether we are competing for a warm-weather bowl, or fighting just to make bowl eligibility,

[jimsumner]

Still hope for Bracey. Spring depth charts are good guideposts, but closer to snapshots. Last year, for instance, Mark Gilbert was 3rd string after spring practice. A few years before that, Anthony Nash was buried way down in the depth chart and he had a solid junior season and was enjoying a really good senior campaign until he sustained a season ending injury.

Will agree though that the WR corps is not collectively eye-popping in terms of separation.

I was going to use Mark Gilbert as an example. He got thrown into the deep end of the pool as a true freshman, after Breon Borders went down with an injury.

And he got toasted by Pitt and Miami. Just mauled.

He drown.

And he carried that over into spring, playing cautiously, without confidence, without the swagger a DB needs.

So, his demotion to third team was based on merit. But it was also a motivational ploy. Duke knew this would get his attention.

And Gilbert responded the right way, turning into an All-ACC performer, hopefully on the way to becoming an All-America performer.

So, yes, spring depth charts are just a snapshot of a point in time and can mean lots of things.

[Reilly]

An official release of the current depth chart. Discuss.

^^ I think the quality of our special teams will determine whether we are competing for a warm-weather bowl, or fighting just to make bowl eligibility,

Both the listed starting P and listed starting K have not seen college game action. Maybe we will lead the country in going for it on 4th down. Not a bad thing.

[devildeac]

Both the listed starting P and listed starting K have not seen college game action. Maybe we will lead the country in going for it on 4th down. Not a bad thing.

But, looks who's listed 3rd on the depth chart as P...

[Bob Green]

I came *this* close to starting a new thread with the above title.

It is a wee bit early to start talking bowl games, okay it is way too early, but I definitely believe this team will go bowling in 2018. Winning three of four non-conference games (Army, @Northwestern, @Baylor, NCCU) and three of four conference home games (Virginia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina, Wake Forest) will get you to six.

There are a couple of winnable conference road games on the schedule (Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami, Clemson). Clemson is a tall task and Miami has handled us pretty easily the past couple seasons.

My way too early prediction says somewhere between 6-6 to 10-2.

[Reilly]

But, looks who's listed 3rd on the depth chart as P...

He's no Anthony Dilweg, or Steve Spurrier.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

He's no Anthony Dilweg, or Steve Spurrier.

Leo Hart?

[bedeviled]

Maybe we will lead the country in going for it on 4th down. Not a bad thing

Here's a timely Yahoo! Dan Wetzel interview of maverick high school coach, Kevin Kelley. Kelley has won 7 of last 15 Arkansas State Championships, has had a personal invitation by Bill Bellichek to discuss tactics, and has given presentations at MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. He argues that the traditional football kicking game is not statistically advantageous.

The article linked above is focused on kickoffs, for which “We attempt onside kicks 100 percent of the time.” "Kelley’s reasoning is that turnover margin is among the most predictive stats when it comes to determining a game’s outcome. [SNIP] The downside of failing to recover is the opponent is given better field position, but Kelley’s numbers show field position is an overrated variable, especially when considering most failed onside kicks wind up in the mid-field area."

For discussion about punting, here's a 2013 Grantland article on Kelley, "The Coach Who Never Punts". Some highlights from links within the Grantland article:

Every single serious study of 4th-down decisions has found that, in most situations, teams would be better off by going for the conversion attempt rather than kicking

the paper shows that the behavior of National Football League teams on fourth downs departs systematically from the behavior that would maximize their chances of winning. The departure is large and overwhelmingly statistically significant, and it cannot be explained by rational risk aversion, information known to teams that is omitted from the analysis, or other complications

In addition, Kelley notes that his team has a variety of plays designed for the kicking game and specialty scenarios for which opposing teams are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time in preparation.

Might be frustrating as a fan at first, like fouling a basketball opponent in the closing seconds when your team is up by 3. On the other hand, it could make for exciting times in Wallace Wade Stadium, AKA "Four Down Territory"

[jimsumner]

Leo Hart?

Leo didn't punt at Duke.

But Wes Chesson did.

Back in the old days, before specialists, guys like Steve Jones and Bob Grupp punted. Not only position players but darn good position players.

And pretty good punters.

[devildeac]

He's no Anthony Dilweg, or Steve Spurrier.

Harruummph. He averaged 45 yards/punt in 2017.

(yea, yea, I know, small sample size )

[CameronBornAndBred]

A few of the #DukeGang will be heading south for the break between semesters. Wayyyy south.

https://www.wralsportsfan.com/thirte...itat/17534425/

[kmspeaks]

Interesting chart.

Attachment 8334

Huh.

Not sure what that indicates.

But yes, interesting.

I like anything that has Duke at the top and uNC near the bottom...even if it doesn't really mean anything.