Most teams would not think a 6-6 regular season record would be called a successful season. Nor would the average college football fan think a coach who went 6-6 deserves to win Coach of the Year in the ACC.
But, when you look at what David Cutcliffe has done over the past six years, it has been nothing short of spectacular, from athletic facilities, to recruiting, to winning. Now Coach Cutcliffe returns for year six with a healthier, more physical and faster team than he has had. But the biggest improvement Duke has made as a team has been gaining the confidence and learning how to win games.
With the departure of Sean Renfree and Conner Vernon the offense will turn to Anthony Boone and Jamison Crowder to become the “dynamic duo” if you will, of this year’s team. Despite their history of a more aerial attack, look for Duke to become more of a running threat than what they were in the past five seasons under Cutcliffe with such an athletic quarterback at the helm.
Running the read option will give Boone the opportunity to “pick his poison”. If the defender runs to him, he can hand it off to the running back, if the defender goes for the running back then Boone will keep it. Duke even can throw out of the read option (Example: First Touchdown vs UVA last year).
Also, look for Braxton Deaver, who is returning after missing all of the 2012 season, to have a good year. Providing size and speed as a tight end makes him a dangerous player in Duke’s “new” offense. All in all, I see the offense picking up where they left off from last year.
Now looking at the defense…where do I begin?
Last year the defense was very ugly as a unit. Teams could run four verticals on Duke every time and beat the secondary with the exception of Ross Cockrell. Sounds like I’m exaggerating right? Wrong.
Duke finished last in the ACC in giving up plays of 20 yards or more. College previews that I have read indicate that the defense will be WORSE than last year statistically but I disagree.
Duke doesn’t face Stanford, FSU, or Clemson and Duke returns a healthy Kenny Anunike and Justin Foxx in addition to the rest of the defensive line, and Kelby Brown, who is Duke’s best linebacker. I also think this inexperienced secondary will be better than last year’s. Breon Borders and Bryon Fields have quicker feet, have more athleticism and are more natural at playing defensive back than their predecessors.
Tony Foster was a wide receiver turned defensive back due to injuries and lack of depth, Lee Butler was a corner, turned safety, then turned back to corner. Both of them combined seemingly couldn’t go a game without a pass interference call or giving up a touchdown.
Border and Fields, however, will have big shoes to fill in the special teams. Butler was an excellent punt returner and Tony Foster made an impact on special teams as a gunner and even had a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Belk Bowl. So, while it is often over looked the loss of those two in the special teams game could prove to be problematic for Duke.
Looking at Duke’s schedule, I see four tough games for Duke, at home against Georgia Tech, Miami and on the road at Virginia Tech, and UNC. Other than those four games, I don’t see why Duke can’t win the other eight.
I have high expectations, sure, but there is an attitude, a swagger about this team that is different, they know what it takes to get to the post-season and I don’t see how they can’t go bowling for just the fourth time since 1970 and reach back to back bowls for the first time in school history.
Jordan Mann is a contributing writer for Duke Sports Blog and long-time Duke fan both football and basketball. He is currently a rising sophomore at Ferrum College in Virginia where he plays basketball. You can follow him on Twitter @FCJordan23
