FB: Duke 45, Elon 17 (Week 1 -- Thursday 8/28)

brevity

brevity

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If memory serves, DBR dedicates one thread to pregame, in-game, and postgame discussion for each Duke football game. With the season kickoff just 7 days away, I thought we should start this thread.

The Duke Blue Devils host the Elon Phoenix on Brooks Field in Wallace Wade Stadium next Thursday, August 28, at 7:30pm ET. For those unable to attend, this game is streaming only -- click the following links to watch on ACCNX or ESPN+. If your TV provider carries the ACC Network, you'll be able to use ACCNX. I know that ESPN+ is making some changes to their streaming platform, so for peace of mind, you should be able to see this message right now if you have access:

espnstreamingaccess.jpg

If you can't watch at all, you can listen to the game on Blue Devil Sports Network or follow Sidearm live stats.

With the technical stuff out of the way, let's take an extremely quick look at the opponent. As it so happens, the Coastal Athletic Association has been posting previews for each team in the conference, and the article and video for Elon came out earlier today.

caasports.com

CAA Football Countdown To Kickoff - Elon

Our CAA Football Countdown To Kickoff continues with a look at the Elon Phoenix.
caasports.com caasports.com


Last season Duke beat Elon 26-3 (GoDuke recap) in head coach Manny Diaz's debut. How will the Blue Devils do this season? Discuss here.
 
In last season’s game, Duke rushed for a paltry 2.2 yards per carry so the first thing I desire to see is success running the ball. Of course, I am looking forward to seeing Darian Mensah lead the offense. I believe every Duke fan is excited to see Mensah in action.

The playbook should and will be very vanilla.
 
Fumbles/INTs usually lead to easy points for Duke's offense. Elon's "3" was very late Q4. That's not a criticism of any Elon coach/player. I just wanted the shutout at that point.
 
That game was really uncomfortable last year. It constantly felt like Elon was one score from making it interesting, and the game was something of a bellwether for indicating how good the defense was and how inept the offense could be in any given possession.

And look, you can tell me I was just being paranoid, and I can tell you I saw 2 of the 3 losses to Richmond in person so kindly be quiet. A Duke football fan's confidence is only as strong as the last play the team ran.
 
HoKogan said:
That game was really uncomfortable last year. It constantly felt like Elon was one score from making it interesting, and the game was something of a bellwether for indicating how good the defense was and how inept the offense could be in any given possession.

And look, you can tell me I was just being paranoid, and I can tell you I saw 2 of the 3 losses to Richmond in person so kindly be quiet. A Duke football fan's confidence is only as strong as the last play the team ran.
Click to expand...
I never really felt like the outcome was in doubt but did expect a much more comfortable win. The defense was excellent throughout, but we couldn't run the ball at all and Maalik was very hit or miss with his throws and his immobility was on full display.
 
We've made it to game week!

I'm seeing Duke as a 34-point favorite. Regardless of final score, I'm hoping we can run the ball much better than we did against Elon last year. We really should be able to control the line of scrimmage against an FCS opponent.
 
Got tix for the (I guess) new GA side to the right of the scaffold project. I think its where the band used to sit when my dad and I would go on the regular in 2008
 
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