Duke vs Virginia

[rockymtn devil]

I didn't get to watch the game, but I did follow the gamecast. Another great win and, more importantly, another type of win for Duke. Against State we pulled away late; against Maryland we held onto a lead; today we had to come back in the 4Q. Three straights wins, all of a different nature. This is a solid football team.

From where I was watching, it looked like the defense was great today. UVA's offense did next to nothing most of the day. On offense Thad continued to shine and perform like the best QB in the ACC (if only he was 6'2 ;) ). He has really embraced Couch Cut's offense and runs it perfectly. I suppose the only concern is still the running game (2.1 yards per carry today), but all it needs to do is be somewhat of a threat to take pressure off the passing game. Even when the running game wasn't working today, Duke kept pounding it and, IMO, it paid off by keeping UVA's defense honest.

Let's keep on marching to Tampa!

[TNTDevil]

I didn't get to watch the game, but I did follow the gamecast. Another great win and, more importantly, another type of win for Duke. Against State we pulled away late; against Maryland we held onto a lead; today we had to come back in the 4Q. Three straights wins, all of a different nature. This is a solid football team.

From where I was watching, it looked like the defense was great today. UVA's offense did next to nothing most of the day. On offense Thad continued to shine and perform like the best QB in the ACC (if only he was 6'2 ;) ). He has really embraced Couch Cut's offense and runs it perfectly. I suppose the only concern is still the running game (2.1 yards per carry today), but all it needs to do is be somewhat of a threat to take pressure off the passing game. Even when the running game wasn't working today, Duke kept pounding it and, IMO, it paid off by keeping UVA's defense honest.

Let's keep on marching to Tampa!

Very good analysis RMD. I was thinking many of these same things. Especially about how we are winning.

After the State game I was worried we would just try to outscore everybody. The Twerp game changed that thought. Now, today we win by playing well on both sides of the ball and the offense shows heart to stay in the game and, eventually, win. Just freakin' awesome.

Duke has forever lost these games because they didn't know how to win. Now that has, apparently, changed.

I think the running game will come. Sooner or later our opponents are gonna' forget we can run and then... BOOM! My guess is that, right now, Cut knows our offensive line just can't quite move their opposites. So, we keep trying, if for nothing more than to keep the linebackers out of coverage and in hopes that one of our RBs gets lucky and gashes our opponent for a big run.

I'm hoping that happens next weekend in Chapa He-ah. Look forward to meeting you @ the GMAC bowl.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I didn't get to watch the game, but I did follow the gamecast. Another great win and, more importantly, another type of win for Duke. Against State we pulled away late; against Maryland we held onto a lead; today we had to come back in the 4Q. Three straights wins, all of a different nature. This is a solid football team.

From where I was watching, it looked like the defense was great today. UVA's offense did next to nothing most of the day. On offense Thad continued to shine and perform like the best QB in the ACC (if only he was 6'2 ;) ). He has really embraced Couch Cut's offense and runs it perfectly. I suppose the only concern is still the running game (2.1 yards per carry today), but all it needs to do is be somewhat of a threat to take pressure off the passing game. Even when the running game wasn't working today, Duke kept pounding it and, IMO, it paid off by keeping UVA's defense honest.

Let's keep on marching to Tampa!

Very good analysis RMD. I was thinking many of these same things. Especially about how we are winning.

After the State game I was worried we would just try to outscore everybody. The Twerp game changed that thought. Now, today we win by playing well on both sides of the ball and the offense shows heart to stay in the game and, eventually, win. Just freakin' awesome.

Duke has forever lost these games because they didn't know how to win. Now that has, apparently, changed.

I think the running game will come. Sooner or later our opponents are gonna' forget we can run and then... BOOM! My guess is that, right now, Cut knows our offensive line just can't quite move their opposites. So, we keep trying, if for nothing more than to keep the linebackers out of coverage and in hopes that one of our RBs gets lucky and gashes our opponent for a big run.

I'm hoping that happens next weekend in Chapa He-ah. Look forward to meeting you @ the GMAC bowl.

One of many smart things that Coach Cutcliffe does is the way he and the staff work with and train the running backs to fill many roles in addition to running with the ball. Those guys and the special teams guys have a lot to do with the offense's success and making it possible for Thad perform as the fine QB he is. We are so fortunate to have such a great football mind at Duke!

[devildeac]

I didn't get to watch the game, but I did follow the gamecast. Another great win and, more importantly, another type of win for Duke. Against State we pulled away late; against Maryland we held onto a lead; today we had to come back in the 4Q. Three straights wins, all of a different nature. This is a solid football team.

From where I was watching, it looked like the defense was great today. UVA's offense did next to nothing most of the day. On offense Thad continued to shine and perform like the best QB in the ACC (if only he was 6'2 ;) ). He has really embraced Couch Cut's offense and runs it perfectly. I suppose the only concern is still the running game (2.1 yards per carry today), but all it needs to do is be somewhat of a threat to take pressure off the passing game. Even when the running game wasn't working today, Duke kept pounding it and, IMO, it paid off by keeping UVA's defense honest.

Let's keep on marching to Tampa!

Only 2 complaints from me were execution (read: need TDs in the red zone) and 2 long drives given up by the D in the 2nd half for 'hoo TDs. O/W, very little quibbling. Thad threw for 340+ (I think) against the best pass D in the ACC and 5th in the nation at 151 YPG. Darned impressive. He woulda probably had 400+ if he could grow 2-3 inches :roll: ;) .

[CameronBornAndBred]

He woulda probably had 400+ if he could grow 2-3 inches :roll: ;) .

I hear he's wearing lifts next weekend.

[gadzooks]

Great game! I wish I could have watched it; I listened, but it's hard for me to visualize what's happening on the field, plus there are these strange small people who live in my house who incessantly demand my attention. "Mommy's trying to listen to the football game, sheesh!"

I was just reading the WaPo article about how embarrassed UVA was by last year's loss and couldn't wait to get their revenge on Duke. Glad that plan worked out for ya! :lol:

[DukeUsul]

We had our annual pumpkin carving party today.... but I had the game streaming on ESPN360 on a computer during the party. Damn, it feels SOOOOOO good to have our team be able to finish strong in the fourth quarter.

I LOVE IT!

[CameronBornAndBred]

I was just reading the WaPo article about how embarrassed UVA was by last year's loss and couldn't wait to get their revenge on Duke. Glad that plan worked out for ya! :lol:

[devildeac]

From a Bob Green post on the dbr:

In this photo gallery:

http://www.newsobserver.com/gallerie...ry/168888.html

photos 61 through 67 show the play where Conner Vernon was flagged for Unsportsmanlike Conduct after having his helmet ripped off by the UVa defensive back.

unfrakkinbelieveable that those ass acc refs called him for "taunting" on that play and no face mask penalty on the uva DB. What a pile of

[devildeac]

423 to 196 total yards-are you kidding me?!
1 TO vs 2 TO
35.5 minutes possession to 24.5

I didn't think FG would win the game and they didn't technically as the long TD and the D in the 4th Q ultimately sealed the W but they were damned vital. C'mon folks, we got a walk-on kicking very reliably for us this year.

[TNTDevil]

D-squared, your link wouldn't work for me so here's one that should work if DD's doesn't. In this gallery it's pictures 11-14 that show Mr. Vernon getting "de-hatted".

Freakin' unbelievable that a) there was no penalty and; b) he held on to the ball and; c) he wasn't injured. Nice control to only signal "First Down" instead of FU to the ref(s) which, IMO, they deserved.

To penalize Mr. Vernon for that simple gesture is asinine. Hopefully the league steps up and, at a minimum counsels the referees for that silly call and, more importantly, for missing a very vicious face-mask.

[devildeac]

D-squared, your link wouldn't work for me so here's one that should work if DD's doesn't. In this gallery it's pictures 11-14 that show Mr. Vernon getting "de-hatted".

Freakin' unbelievable that a) there was no penalty and; b) he held on to the ball and; c) he wasn't injured. Nice control to only signal "First Down" instead of FU to the ref(s) which, IMO, they deserved.

To penalize Mr. Vernon for that simple gesture is asinine. Hopefully the league steps up and, at a minimum counsels the referees for that silly call and, more importantly, for missing a very vicious face-mask.

Thanks. Link worked for me from the dbr in a copy and paste. Sorry. I made some comment on the dbr about it and I'd imagine some argumentative bastard will comment the refs can't see everything or he shoulda just gone back to the huddle and done nothing. Vicious illegal tackle that coulda broken his neck.

[DukieInKansas]

I can't believe UVA didn't get flagged for that.

OT - the kid in the "Eat Mor Hokies" Chick-fil-a costume was cute.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I can't believe UVA didn't get flagged for that.

OT - the kid in the "Eat Mor Hokies" Chick-fil-a costume was cute.

Yeah, that's a great pic.

[gadzooks]

Holy crap, that was a BLATANT face mask that could have hurt him very badly, but they called Vernon for a (very restrained, IMO) first-down signal? That goes down in the book of truly horrible bad calls.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Holy crap, that was a BLATANT face mask that could have hurt him very badly, but they called Vernon for a (very restrained, IMO) first-down signal? That goes down in the book of truly horrible bad calls.

Horrible and dangerous

[devildeac]

Just yet another reason for me to continue to disrespect/hate/despise acc officials, no matter what sport. Goes right along with the TD rewarded to vt for Leon Wright's INT and their imaginary step outta bounds call on CV last week against md and then change it to down on the 1 yard line. Forgot to mention the series of late hits on Thad at hokey-pokey land his freshman year (I think), only one of which was flagged and that was the one that was several yards OOB and gave him his concussion. Scumbags.