FB: Duke 23, Florida State 16

So not to drudge up frustrating memories, but this definitely has the feel of a game that you would hope Cutcliffe and staff would have the team fired up for, only to lay a big egg on the national stage and Cutcliffe to state in bewilderment on how the team had a great week of practice and he just didn't understand why they didn't execute.
This is a big opportunity for Diaz. A win gets Duke to 6-1 and the 1st win over FSU. They also have a much harder opponent next week in SMU. I hope he has the team up to answer the challenge. I guarantee the FSU players are taking the task of not being the first FSU team to lose to Duke seriously, they have nothing left to play for.
I just have a terrible feeling about this game, like a 35-13 FSU victory. Maybe now that I've spoken it into existence it won't happen but I just don't feel great about it.
 
HoKogan said:
So not to drudge up frustrating memories, but this definitely has the feel of a game that you would hope Cutcliffe and staff would have the team fired up for, only to lay a big egg on the national stage and Cutcliffe to state in bewilderment on how the team had a great week of practice and he just didn't understand why they didn't execute.
This is a big opportunity for Diaz. A win gets Duke to 6-1 and the 1st win over FSU. They also have a much harder opponent next week in SMU. I hope he has the team up to answer the challenge. I guarantee the FSU players are taking the task of not being the first FSU team to lose to Duke seriously, they have nothing left to play for.
I just have a terrible feeling about this game, like a 35-13 FSU victory. Maybe now that I've spoken it into existence it won't happen but I just don't feel great about it.
Click to expand...
as a Duke football abusee myself, I can relate. I remember (among dozens of other games) not too many years ago when we played Va Tech at home, Duke was undefeated and nationally ranked, and we laid a monstrous ostrich egg. Got beat in every facet of the game including enthusiasm. Hoping Manny can inspire the lads, it's not going to be an easy game.
 
On a macro level, the FSU opponent that Duke is most like is Cal (defense >> offense), FSU's only win. I would expect a similar game, but I'm crossing my fingers it's Duke on the happy end. FSU's offense hasn't gotten better with limited action under their new QB.
 
I’m not trying to enlighten anyone here as what I am about to say is common knowledge. To win, the offense must execute points scoring, time consuming drives so the defense isn’t on the field too much.
 
Bob Green said:
I’m not trying to enlighten anyone here as what I am about to say is common knowledge. To win, the offense must execute points scoring, time consuming drives so the defense isn’t on the field too much.
Click to expand...
Yep, Duke only has to look back, oh... two weeks to see what badly losing the time of possession battle can do to a team.

That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more creativity in the playcalling. I don't think Duke can beat a team as talented as FSU with the seemingly typical Duke sequence of vanilla run between the tackles for no gain, unnecessary long incomplete pass, third and long I hope we make it pass followed by a punt.
 
azzefkram said:
Yep, Duke only has to look back, oh... two weeks to see what badly losing the time of possession battle can do to a team.

That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more creativity in the playcalling. I don't think Duke can beat a team as talented as FSU with the seemingly typical Duke sequence of vanilla run between the tackles for no gain, unnecessary long incomplete pass, third and long I hope we make it pass followed by a punt.
Click to expand...
Bubble screen, bubble screen, bubble screen - they will never see it coming!
 
azzefkram said:
Yep, Duke only has to look back, oh... two weeks to see what badly losing the time of possession battle can do to a team.

That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more creativity in the playcalling. I don't think Duke can beat a team as talented as FSU with the seemingly typical Duke sequence of vanilla run between the tackles for no gain, unnecessary long incomplete pass, third and long I hope we make it pass followed by a punt.
Click to expand...
I hear what you're saying and largely agree, but it was a game many moons ago vs FSU that taught me that time of possession CAN be an extremely unreliable statistic. In that particular game (which we lost by the usual large margin to FSU) Duke had possession for about 40 minutes, but we got whomped. Duke would grind out a few first downs on the ground, arduously, clock moving, then eventually punt, and FSU would get the ball and score within the next 3-4 plays....
I'm wanting to think we can be a lot more competitive tonight.
 
budwom said:
I hear what you're saying and largely agree, but it was a game many moons ago vs FSU that taught me that time of possession CAN be an extremely unreliable statistic. In that particular game (which we lost by the usual large margin to FSU) Duke had possession for about 40 minutes, but we got whomped. Duke would grind out a few first downs on the ground, arduously, clock moving, then eventually punt, and FSU would get the ball and score within the next 3-4 plays....
I'm wanting to think we can be a lot more competitive tonight.
Click to expand...
Very true. Time of possession doesn't help a whole lot if the team is pooing all over the bed in the other aspects of the game.
 
Agree the time of possession stat in a vacuum is meaningless which is why I said points scoring, time consuming drives. I am confident the defense will show up so it is up to the offense to do their part.
 
arnie said:
I also have no expectations of a win tonight and just hope we’re not embarrassed. If we win I’ll be ecstatic similar to the Guardians fans after the 8th inning last night. Against my Yankees🤬
Click to expand...
As a Yankees fan, that was a rough loss. Luke was one strike away from the Yankees going up 3-0 and Clay was one strike away from sending it to the 11th. Classe had the same situation in the 8th with Judge and Stanton.
 
duke79 said:
Yea, whatever happened to the blue helmet (with either the gothic "D" or "Duke" spelled out); blue jersey (Duke blue) and white pants. Sometimes "classic" trumps all.
Click to expand...
I go back even further and I’m very partial to the helmets worn by Jay Wilkinson when he played !! My first game watching Duke was as a toddler in the 1961 Cotton Bowl!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4747.jpeg
    IMG_4747.jpeg
    765.4 KB · Views: 1
Bob Green said:
I’m not trying to enlighten anyone here as what I am about to say is common knowledge. To win, the offense must execute points scoring, time consuming drives so the defense isn’t on the field too much.
Click to expand...
It's easy: Us'ns have to score more points than them'ns.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top