Off Season Discussion

[Bob Green]

I'm way behind in my football posting...

Duke in the running for Clemson transfer QB Hunter Johnson

Johnson transferring to Northwestern.


Athlon has ranked the 130 projected starting quarterbacks for 2018:

https://athlonsports.com/college-footba ... kings-2018

Here are the relevant names for Duke:

19. Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech (if he is eligible)
20. Kelly Bryant, Clemson
32. Charlie Brewer, Baylor
37. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
38. Daniel Jones, Duke
39. Malik Rosier, Miami
40. TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech
62. Kenny Pickett, Pitt
65. Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest (suspended first three games of the season)
74. Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
98. Bryce Perkins, Virginia
105. Kelvin Hopkins, Army

[Bob Green]

CBS Sports ranks Duke quarterbacks at #17 in their Top 25:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... 18-season/

And 4th in the ACC behind Clemson, Florida State and N.C. State.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Duke redshirt sophomore center Jack Wohlabaugh, who transferred into the Blue Devil football program from Ohio State in January, will be eligible for competition this fall after the NCAA approved a waiver request for immediate eligibility.
-----

Coming out of Walsh Jesuit High School, Wohlabaugh was charted as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and rated as the No. 4 center in the nation by Scout.com.

Excellent news. http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... =211734546

I'm assuming the team is under a month away from practice starting up.

[Bob Green]

Brittain Brown on Doak Walker Award watch list:

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

Brown enters his redshirt sophomore year having played in 13 career games and rushed 130 times for 701 yards (5.39) and seven touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 161 yards (11.50). Brown has lost just one fumble in 145 career touches.

[Bob Green]

Duke voted 4th in Coastal:

http://www.theacc.com/news/2018/7/23/cl ... -poll.aspx

1. Miami
2. Virginia Tech
3. Georgia Tech
4. Duke
5. Pitt
6. North Carolina
7. Virginia

Joe Giles-Harris named to Butkus Award watch list:

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

Mark Gilbert named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... =211735761

[CameronBornAndBred]

Duke voted 4th in Coastal:

http://www.theacc.com/news/2018/7/23/cl ... -poll.aspx

1. Miami
2. Virginia Tech
3. Georgia Tech
4. Duke
5. Pitt
6. North Carolina
7. Virginia

Joe Giles-Harris named to Butkus Award watch list:

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

Mark Gilbert named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... =211735761

I totally want to know who gave the Heels a #1 vote, and hear their rationale.

[devildeac]

Duke voted 4th in Coastal:

http://www.theacc.com/news/2018/7/23/cl ... -poll.aspx

1. Miami
2. Virginia Tech
3. Georgia Tech
4. Duke
5. Pitt
6. North Carolina
7. Virginia

Joe Giles-Harris named to Butkus Award watch list:

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

Mark Gilbert named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list:

http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml? ... =211735761

I totally want to know who gave the Heels a #1 vote, and hear their rationale.

I'd venture a guess but I'm gonna keep it under my "Hat" for now.

[Bob Green]

This Coach Cutcliffe interview is from after the Spring Showcase back in April. Between the 4:30 mark and the 5:30 mark, Cut has some really exciting comments on RB Deon Jackson's route running and pass catching abilities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us66MRryQuY

1. The best route running receiving running back that I've been around
2. He separates naturally
3. His hands are as good as our receivers

Jackson, who is a big guy at 6' 215, and Brown (6'1" 210) gives us two big, physical running backs to pound away at the opponents defense and both of them can catch the ball coming out of the backfield. My excitement level is ramping up!

34 days!!!

[CameronBornAndBred]

3. His hands are as good as our receivers

If memory serves me, our receivers weren't so hot last year. Hoping that is a compliment to both parties!

[Bob Green]

If memory serves me, our receivers weren't so hot last year. Hoping that is a compliment to both parties!

I'm sure it was meant as a compliment to all but you are correct our receivers struggled to separate and win 50/50 balls last season.

[lawgrad91]

Dear Duke Football,
I got my season tickets yesterday. Thank you for the email explaining what the little T-shirt thing in the packet is. (I would have preferred a real T-shirt in that size, because Kerry would look STUNNING in it, but that's another story.)

Um, we fans "WAVE" rally jerseys, we do not "WAIVE" them, unless we want to cede ownership of same to another.

Thanks,
Lawgrad the Geek

P.S.

[Bob Green]

Dear Duke Football,
I got my season tickets yesterday. Thank you for the email explaining what the little T-shirt thing in the packet is.

I'm not waving that thing around in the air at a football game because I'll be busy doing important stuff like yelling at the refs or high fiving people I don't know. However, I guarantee that some family will come sit behind me with a little kid who desires to wave that thing around in the air constantly, repeatedly hitting me in the head with it in the process.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I don't see why they shipped them out with tickets vs giving them away at a game.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Duke gets 5 votes in the first Coaches Poll of the season.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings

[wolfpackdevil]

It's been a while!!!!

So excited for our Friday night game to kick off the season! Hoping for the healthiest camp possible, and for our receivers to start learning how to create some separation ;) Really excited to see this defense in action. If healthy, could be the best Cut has ever had. Looking forward to more discussion as we get closer to 8/31!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Every day that goes by without an injury in practice reported is a good day.

[Bob Green]

Really excited to see this defense in action. If healthy, could be the best Cut has ever had.

Lots of different things to keep an eye on but the three big ones for me are:

1. Defense - I agree wholeheartedly with Sam. The defense has the potential to be a dominant force. They have to set the tone in games. A big unknown is whether or not Jeremy McDuffie will be back at his pre-injury level. He was playing superb football before going down with the torn ACL.

2. Daniel Jones - can he be consistent? He is going to be a 3rd year starter so he has to be consistent for Duke to take the next step. He was thrust into the starting role with no warning as a freshman, he was injured middle season as a sophomore but, as a junior there can be no more caveats Jones has to perform week in and week out. If Jones is clicking, the offense will click.

3. Special Teams - can we kick field goals and extra points? Can someone (anyone) field punts? I really hope T.J. Rahming is on a short leash. If he messes up even a little bit, put someone else back there (Josh Blackwell) and give them a chance. Rahming was HORRIBLE last year.

[Bob Green]

Following up on above post I would go next with:

4. Offensive line - I'm much more bullish on the OL than most Duke football fans. I can't point to any data points to back up my beliefs but there is a lot of young talent available and just enough senior leadership to meld the pieces into a cohesive unit. They are going to be fine.

5. Running game - Brittain Brown is going to be a star, mark it down on your calendar and circle it in red! The question is who steps up into the role of 2nd running back. There are lots of options with Deon Jackson being the leading candidate. I'm certain the running game will be fine.

[Bob Green]

Steve Wiseman posted on DBR that DT Trevon McSwain is working at OT this week in practice. Coach Cutcliffe stated they are not sure if the move is permanent.

There is lots of depth on the DL while OT is thin so this move makes sense. McSwain is a big guy at 6'6" 300 and has game time experience, which gives him an advantage over some of the youngsters even though his experience is on the DL.

[Bob Green]

On my list of things to keep an eye on (I could keep going and going), I started with a big positive (defense) so I'm going to end with a big positive:

6. Tight ends - there is a tremendous amount of tight end talent on the roster. Seniors Daniel Helm and Davis Koppenhaver will see the most action but Noah Gray, Mark Birmingham and Jake Merwede are all talented players.

With the TE talent available, I really hope we see a lot of two TE sets.