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Spring Practice will begin this coming Wednesday, February 22.... Ash Wednesday. The new season is about to begin!

Looks like Cut is planning on trying a few faces in new positions.

“We’ve come to the edge over and over again,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve got to take that giant leap.”
In hopes of getting there, Cutcliffe is having rising junior Brandon Braxton move from wide receiver, where he started last season, to safety this spring.
Redshirt sophomore Issac Blakeney, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound player who missed last season due to academic issues, is moving to tight end.
“That will be his best chance to impact our team,” said Cutcliffe, who praised Blakeney’s combination of size, speed and strength.

He also may try Blakeney at defensive end.

http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_stor ... pring-ball

Some big names won't be seen in the spring. Conner Vernon, Kenny Anunike, Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, Kelby Brown, and Braxton Deaver are all recovering from injuries.

CameronBornAndBred wrote:Looks like Cut is planning on trying a few faces in new positions.

“We’ve come to the edge over and over again,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve got to take that giant leap.”
In hopes of getting there, Cutcliffe is having rising junior Brandon Braxton move from wide receiver, where he started last season, to safety this spring.
Redshirt sophomore Issac Blakeney, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound player who missed last season due to academic issues, is moving to tight end.
“That will be his best chance to impact our team,” said Cutcliffe, who praised Blakeney’s combination of size, speed and strength.

He also may try Blakeney at defensive end.

http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_stor ... pring-ball

Some big names won't be seen in the spring. Conner Vernon, Kenny Anunike, Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, Kelby Brown, and Braxton Deaver are all recovering from injuries.

Hopefully, Blakeney can stay outta trouble. He sounds a bit light (not budlite) at 235 lbs for DE. If he can catch the ball, he'd make a helluva target and blocker at the TE position.

devildeac wrote:Hopefully, Blakeney can stay outta trouble.

He better. He likes the painting I did of him. I told him a copy of it could be his AFTER graduation, he was on board with that.

Some thoughts...

1. While we may be a bit short on the roster this Spring, we should have a good stock of TEs come the fall. I think we should be using more 3 TE sets. I'd like to see them use one of the more athletic linemen as a TE. We have more talent on the o-line group than anywhere...we need to find more ways to get the best players on the field. I'll sacrifice some pass plays to get more running production.
2. I still really want to see what Blakeney can do. I was disappointed with the move away from safety. If this guy can run like a WR and has any hops...isn't that the perfect person to take away the long ball from the opponent?
3. I'm looking forward to seeing the redshirt freshman. Tim Burton and Jared Boyd were lauded for play making ability. Following the recruiting review, Coach Cut referred to Sam Marshal as being unblockable at the camps. I'm hoping to see some signs of that in the Spring.
4. At first I thought Coach Cut's comments on Anthony Nash were recruiting bravado. I still think comparing him to Randy Moss was a stretch, but he's moved Brandon Braxton to Safety when we had a few back there...It is rather curious. Lee Butler, Walt Canty, Jordan Byas, August Campbell, Anthony Young-Wiseman all had playing time there at the safety spots. Chris Tavarez and Issac Blakeney would seem to have been good additions to push competition and fill in. Why make that move...It does make me think the play makers in the WR core outnumber those in other spots. Perhaps, they really do believe they have something special in Nash and they want him on the field...day 1. We won't know that answer for sure until the fall and possibly even the first game, but if you think someone has Randy Moss level talent, you don't redshirt him, you put him on the field immediately.
5. Hope the weather's good for the scrimmages.

The Football Fan wrote:Some thoughts...

1. While we may be a bit short on the roster this Spring, we should have a good stock of TEs come the fall. I think we should be using more 3 TE sets. I'd like to see them use one of the more athletic linemen as a TE. We have more talent on the o-line group than anywhere...we need to find more ways to get the best players on the field. I'll sacrifice some pass plays to get more running production.
2. I still really want to see what Blakeney can do. I was disappointed with the move away from safety. If this guy can run like a WR and has any hops...isn't that the perfect person to take away the long ball from the opponent?
3. I'm looking forward to seeing the redshirt freshman. Tim Burton and Jared Boyd were lauded for play making ability. Following the recruiting review, Coach Cut referred to Sam Marshal as being unblockable at the camps. I'm hoping to see some signs of that in the Spring.
4. At first I thought Coach Cut's comments on Anthony Nash were recruiting bravado. I still think comparing him to Randy Moss was a stretch, but he's moved Brandon Braxton to Safety when we had a few back there...It is rather curious. Lee Butler, Walt Canty, Jordan Byas, August Campbell, Anthony Young-Wiseman all had playing time there at the safety spots. Chris Tavarez and Issac Blakeney would seem to have been good additions to push competition and fill in. Why make that move...It does make me think the play makers in the WR core outnumber those in other spots. Perhaps, they really do believe they have something special in Nash and they want him on the field...day 1. We won't know that answer for sure until the fall and possibly even the first game, but if you think someone has Randy Moss level talent, you don't redshirt him, you put him on the field immediately.
5. Hope the weather's good for the scrimmages.

Comments/some insight from a certain FB manager I know regarding Blakeney:

Might have the best speed on the team. Didn't react quickly enough on the defensive side of the ball-not like Daniels or Tauiliili did. Still might be used at DE but probably better at set plays from the TE position. Amazing athlete.

Your thoughts/questions are good ones. Cut did say that a few frosh will get snaps. We still have quite a core of WR so it makes some sense to move Braxton to safety, though the Johnny Williams thing did not work out that well.

We have a rather difficult schedule and I'd love to see 5-1 to start and then the ncaa hammer the holes and canes and steal a W from one (both?) of those cheaters.

Spring break takes over for a while. Next spring practice session will be March 14.

Did they do any scrimmage work today/yesterday?

The Football Fan wrote:Did they do any scrimmage work today/yesterday?

There was a practice yesterday (Friday).

Spring practice resumed yesterday with Conner Vernon participating.
http://bluedevilnation.net/2012/03/two- ... -with-bdn/

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Spring practice resumed yesterday with Conner Vernon participating.
http://bluedevilnation.net/2012/03/two- ... -with-bdn/

Excellent news! I saw a few shares of Donovan Varner holding his diploma yesterday on Facebook, also excellent!

Brandon Connette is also practicing well after his rehab. Brandon and Anthony Boone are throwing the ball and running with it as they have during the past seasons. The new twist is that they are also learning to be good receivers. I've heard that we may have more than QB on the field at a time.... could be a clever way to confuse defenses......who's throwing and who's catching?

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Brandon Connette is also practicing well after his rehab. Brandon and Anthony Boone are throwing the ball and running with it as they have during the past seasons. The new twist is that they are also learning to be good receivers. I've heard that we may have more than QB on the field at a time.... could be a clever way to confuse defenses......who's throwing and who's catching?

But, if Connette is in, we know who's running .

Second spring scrimmage report:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... EM_ID=4200

Renfree was 14-17 with 3 TDs. I don't know whether to be excited that Sean is clicking or worried our defense is porous. You can't win in a scrimmage.

Here is a Brandon Braxton interview where he discusses his move to Safety:

http://bluedevilnation.net/2012/03/bran ... to-safety/

Bob

Video from today's press conference:

http://bluedevilnation.net/2012/03/coac ... ring-game/

Well I heard some less than encouraging news about the game via texts, but wasn't there to witness it. Did Duke win or lose today?

hmm...after reading about the scrimmage, I can't say I'm super excited. Still, I wish I could've been there to watch the action unfold. I'd love to hear any first hand commentary.

CameronBornAndBred wrote:Did Duke win or lose today?

Both.

The Football Fan wrote:I'd love to hear any first hand commentary.

I wasn't there but these comments are from knowledgeable sources:

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/for ... post567887
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/for ... post568121
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/for ... post568153
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/for ... post568182