FB: Duke 21, North Carolina 20

He's the absolute least mobile, worst running, worst scrambling QB I think I've ever seen. It is a BIIG issue. I think Jurgenson and Kilmer were better with the George Allen Skins. Okay, maybe not that....but it is tremendously limiting. Where we used to wonder "how did Riley Leonard do that" I know wonder "how did Malik NOT do that?"

I love that we're 5-0 and that we beat the Cheats...but at least four of our wins are against really bad teams. Two terrible quarters in almost every game so far.
How quickly we forget Chase Brice.
 
Good points all, Dr. M.

At one point when a replay showed the Cheater defender holding Jordan Moore all across the field, the announcer said "well, he wasn't impeding Moore". I don't know how you don't "impede" someone when you're holding them.
That was a truly absurd comment from the broadcaster. The trend certainly is to let defenders be very aggressive and handsy, but I thought the no calls in this game got to be pretty ridiculous. Huzzie was daring the refs to throw a flag all night long.
 
Non sequitur, but did anyone else think of Toy Story every time they said Nesbit during the game yesterday? Someone in our room said the “Mrs. Nesbit” line every time he touched the ball
 
Remembering his run against Northwestern where he fumbled the ball, but was ruled down, we should be thankful the coaches are not trying to make him run. His skill is throwing the ball. As previously discussed he doesn’t seem to have the balance to run. The team is doing fine without him running. Only bad coaches would try to make a player do something they’re not good with.

On a different note we seem to have upgraded our program with Manny replacing Elko. This staff is doing more with probably less talent. As Jim Sumner pointed out perhaps our portal additions are actually better than advertised so maybe Manny does have as much talent as Elko although I am still skeptical.
As I mentioned previously in one of the football threads, I like what I see so far in Coach D. Admittedly, I know nothing about his coaching ability in terms of X's and O's or running practices or recruiting, etc., but from what I have seen of him on the sidelines at games and in his press conferences, he seems to have what I call the "right attitude" towards the games and the players. I know it is very early in his tenure and we'll have to see what the future brings but, so far, I think AD Nina King made a very good hire for Duke.
 
The Bad:

- Maalik had by far his worst game. His accuracy was off all night. Thankfully, he avoided any turnovers.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and last night was another prime example. I think Murhpy's accuracy was pretty on target, he threw the ball to where he expected the receiver to be. He really is not good at reading the field, reading the play, and making adjustments. I've called him a robot, because he throws where he's programmed to do so. Thankfully it all worked out in the end, but he has to become more fluid and I'm not seeing that happening.
 
One thing I noticed on re-watch: On the last Carolina possession, Duke was primarily rushing four (once, even just three) and putting loads of pressure on Criswell on every play. I think just the first and last plays of the possession were blitzes. I can't recall a game, since maybe the McGee days, when the D-line could put that much pressure on a standard pass rush. The Duke D-line pretty much owned the second half ... and I don't think the O-line was any too shabby either.
What has become clear is that what Manny calls the "Feeley Effect" is a real thing. Perhaps the best thing Elmo did for us was to bring David Feeley in as strength and conditioning czar, and by all accounts he's doing an amazing job. Those guys (the entire team) are in incredible shape, and as Manny points out, it manifests itself in the fourth quarter. The videos of Feeley exhorting the players in the weight room is very impressive. I know there were also some schematic changes, but the unc lines owned the line of scrimmage in the first half, and Duke's dominated in the second half..they just kept getting better and better.
Spoke to the father of a starting offensive lineman Saturday, and he reports that the lads really really like Manny, his staff, and their teammates, which is a very nice thing.
This team still has flaws, but you can't fault their tenacity and effort....not bad for a team that had to be greatly rebuilt this year.
 
What has become clear is that what Manny calls the "Feeley Effect" is a real thing. Perhaps the best thing Elmo did for us was to bring David Feeley in as strength and conditioning czar, and by all accounts he's doing an amazing job. Those guys (the entire team) are in incredible shape, and as Manny points out, it manifests itself in the fourth quarter. The videos of Feeley exhorting the players in the weight room is very impressive. I know there were also some schematic changes, but the unc lines owned the line of scrimmage in the first half, and Duke's dominated in the second half..they just kept getting better and better.
Spoke to the father of a starting offensive lineman Saturday, and he reports that the lads really really like Manny, his staff, and their teammates, which is a very nice thing.
This team still has flaws, but you can't fault their tenacity and effort....not bad for a team that had to be greatly rebuilt this year.
Thanks for relaying the gist of his father's comments - that's very encouraging to hear.
 
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and last night was another prime example. I think Murhpy's accuracy was pretty on target, he threw the ball to where he expected the receiver to be. He really is not good at reading the field, reading the play, and making adjustments. I've called him a robot, because he throws where he's programmed to do so. Thankfully it all worked out in the end, but he has to become more fluid and I'm not seeing that happening.
that's fair, but he's just played his seventh game....I think it's fair to expect that he'll have shortcomings, and that he'll (hopefully) improve on them.
 
What has become clear is that what Manny calls the "Feeley Effect" is a real thing. Perhaps the best thing Elmo did for us was to bring David Feeley in as strength and conditioning czar, and by all accounts he's doing an amazing job. Those guys (the entire team) are in incredible shape, and as Manny points out, it manifests itself in the fourth quarter. The videos of Feeley exhorting the players in the weight room is very impressive. I know there were also some schematic changes, but the unc lines owned the line of scrimmage in the first half, and Duke's dominated in the second half..they just kept getting better and better.
Spoke to the father of a starting offensive lineman Saturday, and he reports that the lads really really like Manny, his staff, and their teammates, which is a very nice thing.
This team still has flaws, but you can't fault their tenacity and effort....not bad for a team that had to be greatly rebuilt this year.
I think the "Feely Effect" is maybe the only thing we can read into this team so far with confidence, and I agree with you it certainly seems/feelz like "a thing." I'm also impressed with how they've played three terrible half games, and managed to win them all. Perhaps that resilience mentally is related to the "Feely effect" physically. To my eye, I don't see a lot of talent out there.....but incredible conditioning and resilience is not a bad foundation. Given the bigger forces at play in CFB, I think Manny has an impossible job, but is doing it very well thus far....
 
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and last night was another prime example. I think Murhpy's accuracy was pretty on target, he threw the ball to where he expected the receiver to be. He really is not good at reading the field, reading the play, and making adjustments. I've called him a robot, because he throws where he's programmed to do so. Thankfully it all worked out in the end, but he has to become more fluid and I'm not seeing that happening.
Murphy honestly feels like the most Jekyll-and-Hyde QB I’ve seen in a Duke uniform (and I lived through the Renfree years).

Idk if anyone feels this way, but I see him make some throws that are absolutely stunningly good. Like, hitting targets that make me truly in awe that we have this guy. Now a lot of them, we don’t actually catch because they are fit into such tight windows that they really require an NFL-caliber WR to grab. And I think to myself when I see those that if it was a Sunday, they would be caught and people would talk about the incredible level of accuracy

But then on the other hand, some of the fairly easy passes it’s just terrible. Like I wonder how on earth did he miss it. The entire 1H until the last few minutes were just that on repeat. And this happened at the start of virtually every game we’ve had this year

But then almost every game, he gets going in the 2H, makes the amazing passes, and I’m in awe again.

Then the next game begins and it’s back to how-do-you-miss-that-throw again. Rinse repeat, and scene

I do think the reason for this relates to pressure, which I feel like he’s not great with. It’s like watching Bryce Young. Malik does not often step into the pocket and demonstrate a willingness to take a hit. He will often throw falling away. I don’t want to say he’s afraid of hits, but he does seem to be less comfortable than most standing in there and taking a beating for a big gain. When the defense is tired in the 2H and less quick in reaching him, he is relaxed and picks folks apart. This is a part of his game he really needs to fix if he wants to play on Sundays (which he certainly can). The timing of Bryce Young’s struggles coupled with the similarity IMO will make it difficult for him to find a roster without a change

Biggest difference between Renfree and Malik though, the INTs. When Murphy misses, they are more often incomplete. Sean would throw at least one or two absolute headscratchers it felt like every game. At least so far, that’s not Malik’s problem (he tends to be too conservative on his pass, but it often at least makes it a higher floor play where it either hits the dirt or gets caught by our guy)
 
Murphy honestly feels like the most Jekyll-and-Hyde QB I’ve seen in a Duke uniform (and I lived through the Renfree years).

Idk if anyone feels this way, but I see him make some throws that are absolutely stunningly good. Like, hitting targets that make me truly in awe that we have this guy. Now a lot of them, we don’t actually catch because they are fit into such tight windows that they really require an NFL-caliber WR to grab. And I think to myself when I see those that if it was a Sunday, they would be caught and people would talk about the incredible level of accuracy

But then on the other hand, some of the fairly easy passes it’s just terrible. Like I wonder how on earth did he miss it. The entire 1H until the last few minutes were just that on repeat. And this happened at the start of virtually every game we’ve had this year

But then almost every game, he gets going in the 2H, makes the amazing passes, and I’m in awe again.

Then the next game begins and it’s back to how-do-you-miss-that-throw again. Rinse repeat, and scene

I do think the reason for this relates to pressure, which I feel like he’s not great with. It’s like watching Bryce Young. Malik does not often step into the pocket and demonstrate a willingness to take a hit. He will often throw falling away. I don’t want to say he’s afraid of hits, but he does seem to be less comfortable than most standing in there and taking a beating for a big gain. When the defense is tired in the 2H and less quick in reaching him, he is relaxed and picks folks apart. This is a part of his game he really needs to fix if he wants to play on Sundays (which he certainly can). The timing of Bryce Young’s struggles coupled with the similarity IMO will make it difficult for him to find a roster without a change
I know what you are talking about. My theory is because he refuses to run, he has a mental clock or maximum number of progressions he is willing to go through. When he is not able to throw to his primary target, he just gets sped up and throws kind of impulsively.

Or maybe I’m someone who never played QB and has no idea. Probably that one…
 
Murphy honestly feels like the most Jekyll-and-Hyde QB I’ve seen in a Duke uniform (and I lived through the Renfree years).

Idk if anyone feels this way, but I see him make some throws that are absolutely stunningly good. Like, hitting targets that make me truly in awe that we have this guy. Now a lot of them, we don’t actually catch because they are fit into such tight windows that they really require an NFL-caliber WR to grab. And I think to myself when I see those that if it was a Sunday, they would be caught and people would talk about the incredible level of accuracy

But then on the other hand, some of the fairly easy passes it’s just terrible. Like I wonder how on earth did he miss it. The entire 1H until the last few minutes were just that on repeat. And this happened at the start of virtually every game we’ve had this year

But then almost every game, he gets going in the 2H, makes the amazing passes, and I’m in awe again.

Then the next game begins and it’s back to how-do-you-miss-that-throw again. Rinse repeat, and scene

I do think the reason for this relates to pressure, which I feel like he’s not great with. It’s like watching Bryce Young. Malik does not often step into the pocket and demonstrate a willingness to take a hit. He will often throw falling away. I don’t want to say he’s afraid of hits, but he does seem to be less comfortable than most standing in there and taking a beating for a big gain. When the defense is tired in the 2H and less quick in reaching him, he is relaxed and picks folks apart. This is a part of his game he really needs to fix if he wants to play on Sundays (which he certainly can). The timing of Bryce Young’s struggles coupled with the similarity IMO will make it difficult for him to find a roster without a change

Biggest difference between Renfree and Malik though, the INTs. When Murphy misses, they are more often incomplete. Sean would throw at least one or two absolute headscratchers it felt like every game. At least so far, that’s not Malik’s problem (he tends to be too conservative on his pass, but it often at least makes it a higher floor play where it either hits the dirt or gets caught by our guy)
I don't think our coaches are doing him any favors with the play calling. Some quick hitting first fown passes could help him get going instead of putting him in so many third and longs in the first half.
 
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