The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Duke – INSIDE SLANT
The Blue Devils are adamant on almost a weekly basis about finding ways to jump-start the rushing attack on offense.
Perhaps that will fall to running back Jela Duncan, who showed flashes of a burst in his step against North Carolina Central and then did it again in a bigger outing against Memphis. He gained 88 yards on nine carries as Duke beat Memphis 38-14 Saturday.
“We have got to try and get the running game started so we can feed off the passing game,” Duncan said. “Coach (David Cutcliffe) stressed that we have to get the ball downhill.”
Duncan’s performance might be more noteworthy depending on the injury status of running back Josh Snead.
Duncan has been third on the depth chart, but his 88-yard outing is more than in one game in the careers of Snead, a redshirt sophomore, and junior Juwan Thompson. So giving Duncan more carries is something that’s bound to be considered as the true freshman continues to show an ability to pick up yards.
———————————————–
NCAAF Team Report – Duke – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Blue Devils open their conference schedule with a game at Wake Forest, which has won the last 12 games in the series. It will mark the fourth game within the state’s boundaries of the month for Duke.
–Coach David Cutcliffe has an 18-34 record with the Blue Devils in five seasons, and that’s the most for any of the past four Duke coaches, covering more than two decades. Fred Goldsmith tallied 17 wins. Cutcliffe’s 10-year overall record as a head coach stands at 62-63.
–Duke converted on 8-of-9 second-half third-down situations, contributing to the team’s 21 second-half points against Memphis. This came after the Blue Devils went 0-for-7 on third downs in the first half. Third-down situations were troubling for Duke’s offense in its previous game against North Carolina Central, so the breakthrough might have been the end of a trend.
“And third downs, I’m finally going to say something positive,” coach David Cutcliffe said. “It was great to see us convert some third downs.”
KEEP AN EYE ON: DE Jonathan Woodruff was part of 1 1/2 sacks against Memphis. Those were the first sacks of the sophomore’s career. The defensive front has started to develop some depth and Woodruff is an example of that.
LOOKING GOOD: WR Conner Vernon returned as the go-to receiver after a couple of games when the Blue Devils had trouble getting him the ball. He had eight receptions for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He became the fifth ACC player all-time to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark in receiving.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The Blue Devils need better ball security after committing four turnovers in the game against Memphis. Duke won by 24 points, so it proved that it has come so far that such mistakes were a total disaster. But it’s only the first time in seven games under coach David Cutcliffe that the Blue Devils won while committing so many turnovers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s been a while for Duke to have such a great start. It’s a great feeling, but we want to maintain it.” — DE Kenny Anunike, on the Blue Devils’ 3-1 record going into the ACC portion of their schedule. Duke was also 3-1 in 2008.
———————————————–
NCAAF Team Report – Duke – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–QB Brandon Connette continued to be used in a variety of situations, including at the goal-line. He added another line to his accomplishments by making his first career touchdown reception on an 8-yard play in the fourth quarter against Memphis. In the second quarter, he ran for a 4-yard touchdown.
–OT Perry Simmons contributed to the sudden surge in the rushing attack. The redshirt junior also became the third active player on the team to reach the 2,000-snap mark for his career.
–S Brandon Braxton, the converted receiver, is second on Duke’s team with 28 tackles through four games, giving more evidence that the switch in positions is paying off. His eight tackles against Memphis were the most on the team.
ROSTER REPORT
–S Jordon Byas returned after missing the first three games following preseason knee surgery. He was in the starting lineup against Memphis and made six tackles.
–S Corbin McCarthy underwent season-ending surgery to repair a labral tear in his left shoulder. The freshman played in the first two games of the season, taking part in four tackles.
–LB Kyler Brown was back from an injury for practices during the past week and he was used as a reserve in the game against Memphis. He was credited with one tackle.
==
———————————————–
