Duke vs Miami (7:30PM Kickoff, ESPN2)

[CameronBornAndBred]

Huge test going in to Miami. We are now ranked, and Miami will be thinking a lot about their day in Durham last year. For an excellent honest assessment of where this team is right now, check out Adam Gold's writeup on WRAL.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/the-good-a ... /14002299/

[Bob Green]

That was an excellent assessment of our success to date. The competition is about to stiffen so we need to play better.

[Bob Green]

Miami has opened as a 5.5 points favorite:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-foo ... las-vegas/

[devildeac]

Miami has opened as a 5.5 points favorite:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-foo ... las-vegas/

Good. Hope it's posted prominently in our locker room. Gotta earn respect. Time to go out and beat the spread.

[CameronBornAndBred]

If we go down there, play a solid game, and win, we'll be legitimately ranked. We are going to get the U's best shot; we are going to get everyone's best shot this season, so we better be well prepared. I'm honestly worried, I haven't been thrilled about our play so far and wish we had gone up against at least one decent team before getting into ACC games.
Our run defense has GOT to improve, and our offense needs to become more consistent. I fear Duke Johnson is going to have a field day against us. That is ok as long as he is the only one we allow to move the ball; some players are just unstoppable and he is one of those guys. Time of possession is going to be big in this game, as well as ball control. We can't afford to turn it over and it would be nice to see them cough it up at least once. Special teams play might be a big factor in this game too. Make our field goals, get some excellent punts, and put ourselves in great positions with some nice returns.
This is going to be a tough game, but we can do it. We simply need more consistency.

[devildeac]

If we go down there, play a solid game, and win, we'll be legitimately ranked. We are going to get the U's best shot; we are going to get everyone's best shot this season, so we better be well prepared. I'm honestly worried, I haven't been thrilled about our play so far and wish we had gone up against at least one decent team before getting into ACC games.
Our run defense has GOT to improve, and our offense needs to become more consistent. I fear Duke Johnson is going to have a field day against us. That is ok as long as he is the only one we allow to move the ball; some players are just unstoppable and he is one of those guys. Time of possession is going to be big in this game, as well as ball control. We can't afford to turn it over and it would be nice to see them cough it up at least once. Special teams play might be a big factor in this game too. Make our field goals, get some excellent punts, and put ourselves in great positions with some nice returns.
This is going to be a tough game, but we can do it. We simply need more consistency.

Hopefully Dez Johnson will be back in the line-up at 100%. That would certainly help quality and depth on the DL in the heat and humidity of the south Florida air.

[wolfpackdevil]

This one should be interesting....

Even after four blowout wins, I have no idea how this team will do in conference play starting this weekend. Almost everyone figured Duke would start 4-0, and the four teams they played were even worse than I expected them to be. Just like Adam Gold wrote, I have seen many problems with this team. Boone has been very inconsistent, the D-Line has struggled mightily to stop the run, and our linebackers still seem tentative getting to the ball. I would not be surprised if this team goes 6-2 or 3-5 in ACC play.

At the beginning of the season I said this game At Miami would be the toughest of the year. Even though the Hurricanes have opened the season with a 2-2 start, I still believe this will be the hardest win for our boys to get. If Duke comes out and plays well, even a close loss still has me confident that they have a good chance to win the division. My belief is that if they can manage to go 3-1 in their four road ACC games, they will win this division. Duke Johnson is really really really really good, and our rushing defense has not been that. If Johnson gets going and their freshman QB plays the way he did at Nebraska, it is going to be very tough for us to get a win.

Boone has to play well. Like REALLY well. No more overthrown balls to wide open guys, no more passes in the dirt, and no more head hanging like a freshman would do. He is a fifth-year senior with all the tools and weapons to have a huge year. He needs to step up, grow some cajones and lead this team to a big win. If the offense does what it needs to do against a poor Miami defense, I think we will win a close game. But if Boone throws and interception or two, and the offense struggles to get the ball in the end zone, we will lose.

I expect a very close game on Saturday and I can't wait to see how this team performs on the road in a huge game. Should be fun!!

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

One intangible is the effect of playing against better competition. We talk about this in basketball in terms of bringing out better play... I expect to see that Saturday. Well coached teams rise to the higher level of play when they go against tough opponents.

It may be that where there is depth, whoever is hot will get the green light. This game may produce some interesting developments at the QB position.

The first four games gave lots of players opportunities to gain some live game experience under conditions almost like practice.

[Bob Green]

Two comments in regard to our run defense:

1. Coach Cutcliffe stated we had issues with gap integrity. Players not being where they were suppose to be at the right time. He seemed to imply this was something that would be addressed and corrected this week in practice.

2. Tulane is a strong running team. Their yards per carry was higher against Georgia Tech than against Duke.

I am concerned about Duke Johnson pounding away at us play after play, which is why it is so important to get off to a fast start and get a lead or at least stay even on the scoreboard to force Miami to throw the ball. They have fast, talented receivers (Stacy Coley/Phillip Dorsett) but our secondary is a team strength.

On offense, look for Coach Cutcliffe and Scottie Montgomery to introduce a wrinkle or two with the playbook. Some misdirection to use Miami's team speed against themselves would be nice. I want to see MORE Shaun Wilson. We need to involve him in the offense EARLY and OFTEN!

[CameronBornAndBred]

One intangible is the effect of playing against better competition. We talk about this in basketball in terms of bringing out better play... I expect to see that Saturday. Well coached teams rise to the higher level of play when they go against tough opponents.

It may be that where there is depth, whoever is hot will get the green light. This game may produce some interesting developments at the QB position.

The first four games gave lots of players opportunities to gain some live game experience under conditions almost like practice.

Very true..good point. We did get to dig deep into our bench often, so lots of players got some experience.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

A motivational video is prepared for the team to view before each game. Each video skillfully weaves scenes from the previous game with sound clips of Coach Cutcliffe, individuals players and music. The result is a visualization of what they want to do on the field. Here's a link to the motivational video for the Tulane game.

Watch out Miami!

http://vimeo.com/106864981

[CameronBornAndBred]

A look at Miami's run defense from a local paper's perspective.

After the Hurricanes struggled against the run in their loss to Nebraska this past Saturday, Miami coach Al Golden says his team—especially his defense—has to move forward quickly, especially with Duke and its run-heavy offense coming to Sun Life Stadium on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils, the reigning Coastal Division champions, are averaging 261 rushing yards per game, thanks in part to a solid start from Shaun Wilson. Wilson, a freshman, has totaled 404 yards in Duke’s first four games and averages 14.4 yards per carry.

The Hurricanes gave up 343 rushing yards in their 41-31 loss to Nebraska, and Golden says his team has to learn from that experience and its struggles to contain Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-h ... 1222.story

[Bob Green]

Do you desire to understand Duke's running game? First, check out this webpage and watch the 12 minute video clip:

http://fishduck.com/the-chip-kelly-oreg ... zone-read/

Then go watch Duke game highlights at ESPN. Like Coach Weiss stated in his post game comments, "All they are running is an Inside Read."

1. Kansas game videos. Scroll down to the 4th video clip of Shaun Wilson's 69 yard TD run. That is an Inside Zone Read (IZR):

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=400547753

2. Now go to the Tulane game videos. Scroll down to the last video clip of Thomas Sirk's 50 yard run. That is an IZR with the QB keeping the ball:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=400547753

3. If you have access to ESPN3, you can see Duke run an Outside Zone Read (OZR) in the Tulane game replay. On Duke's first possession, Thomas Sirk scampers for 43 yards on an OZR.

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/l ... 400547673/

[Bob Green]

Kansas videos:

http://espn.go.com/ncf/video?gameId=400547753

Scroll down to 5:23 in the 4th quarter, Shaun Wilson runs for 32 yards on an Outside Zone Read (OZR).

I visited the fish duck dude's website prior to last season to learn about the Zone Read Option and when you watch his explanations and then immediately go watch the Duke video clips it is obvious what we are running. The fish duck dude has spent a lot of time and energy understanding and explaining the Zone Read running game!

[Bob Green]

On offense, look for Coach Cutcliffe and Scottie Montgomery to introduce a wrinkle or two with the playbook.

I'd love to see Coach Cutcliffe and Montgomery expand the Zone Read running game to include the Triple Option:

http://fishduck.com/the-chip-kelly-oreg ... le-option/

Yep, it's that fish duck dude again. I really like his website.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I would like to see us first beat GT's triple option. (Wrong thread..coming soon!)

[Bob Green]

Changes to Injury Report:

Add: Thomas Sirk (Questionable)

Remove: Lucas Patrick

Unfortunately, Dezmond Johnson is still out. DT Jamal Wallace has been seeing snaps at DE in practice. Wallace played DE earlier in his Duke career. Parker Boehme will be the back-up QB. Sirk must have been hurt in practice because he was certainly okay at the end of the Tulane game when he rambled for 50 yards.

[devildeac]

Changes to Injury Report:

Add: Thomas Sirk (Questionable)

Remove: Lucas Patrick

Unfortunately, Dezmond Johnson is still out. DT Jamal Wallace has been seeing snaps at DE in practice. Wallace played DE earlier in his Duke career. Parker Boehme will be the back-up QB. Sirk must have been hurt in practice because he was certainly okay at the end of the Tulane game when he rambled for 50 yards.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Dear coaches, please let Boone play like he's not on a toddler's leash.

[wolfpackdevil]

Dear coaches, please let Boone play like he's not on a toddler's leash.

I have been preaching this for weeks! I like Thomas Sirk, but you can visibly see from the stands how angry Anthony gets when they put him in when they are at the 5 yard line. Anthony deserves to run this offense and finish drives like he has the talent to do.