2008 Duke Blue Devils Preview

Like the four coaches hired since Steve Spurrier left almost 20 years ago, David Cutcliffe believes he can turn Duke football into a winner. Unlike his predecessors, including Spurrier, Cutcliffe arrived in Durham with a winning record in a previous stop as a head coach. Cutcliffe and Duke are banking on that experience — 44 wins and five bowl games in six seasons at Ole Miss — to elevate what has been the worst program in college football since 1998.

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A Quick Look at the Blue Devils

After former Duke athletic director Joe Alleva fired coach Ted Roof, Alleva said he wouldn’t have to sell its next coach on Duke because “this is Duke University, that’s enough said.” Unfortunately for Alleva, who left in April for LSU, he was right for all the wrong reasons. Duke and football have been synonymous with losing for the better part of 40 years. But with 14 returning starters, seven home games, a palatable schedule and a declining ACC, Duke’s new coach David Cutcliffe has a chance to at least compete for more wins than usual. For that to happen, and to make the leap from a pattern of 1–11 and 0–12 finishes, Duke has to have the confidence to turn “almost” efforts into wins, and the Blue Devils have to do that early with their first four games at home. That confidence has to come from an improved special teams and offense, which is Cutcliffe’s speciality. With Cutcliffe’s help, junior quarterback Thad Lewis, who threw 21 touchdowns in 2007, has the potential to go from good to great and to make the Blue Devils competitive. The schedule is devoid of a big-name non-conference opponent, which has been a guaranteed payday — and a guaranteed loss. With the right improvements and luck, Cutcliffe could make good on his promise to rebuild right now.

Cutcliffe, 53, inherits a program that has gone 17–97 since the Bowl Championship Series was formed in 1998, which is the worst record among Division I Bowl Subdivision teams. The Blue Devils went 1–11 in 2007, ending former coach Ted Roof’s tenure and leading to a beginning for Cutcliffe, who spent the previous two seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator.

“We expect to be different immediately,” says Cutcliffe, who went 44–29 at Ole Miss from 1999 to 2004. “The timetable is now. We’re not going to wait.”

Duke has been mostly waiting for a winner since Spurrier departed for Florida in 1989 after claiming a share of the ACC title. The Blue Devils have had one winning season since, 8–4 in 1994, and six winless or one-win seasons over the same time.

Cutcliffe, for his part, has already brought a new attitude to the program. “Right from out of the gate you could tell the difference in his experience and confidence,” senior linebacker Michael Tauiliili says.

Quarterbacks

Cutcliffe made his name coaching quarterbacks, specifically the Manning brothers — Peyton at Tennessee and Eli at Ole Miss — which is enough to qualify him as quarterback “guru.” At Duke, Cutcliffe and co-offensive coordinator Kurt Roper have two veterans with starting experience and one freshman considered a high school All-American. Thad Lewis, who started every game in 2007, and Zack Asack, who started six games in 2005, will compete for the starting job, with the stronger-armed Lewis in the lead at the conclusion of spring practice. Neither quarterback fits the classic, drop-back definition of the position, which is what Cutcliffe is used to. “We’re going to adjust the offense to what they do well,” Cutcliffe says. “I like both of them.” Lewis’ strength is the deep ball — 10 of his 21 touchdowns covered 25 yards or more — but he has shown a willingness to trade efficiency and consistency for the big play. Cutcliffe wants more discipline from the 6'2" junior. Asack, also a junior, is more of an athlete than traditional quarterback and could get situational snaps even if Lewis remains the starter. Freshman Sean Renfree, the 10th-rated freshman quarterback in the country by Scout.com, is being groomed for the future.

Running backs

Cutcliffe promises Duke’s offense will be very similar in structure and philosophy to the New England Patriots. That means four- and five-receiver sets and throwing the ball all over the field. The Devils will also line up with two tight ends and a blocking back and run the ball. Senior Re’quan Boyette returns as the leading rusher (432 yards) and will be the feature back in an offense that has struggled to run the ball effectively. He will get some help, both blocking and receiving, from fullback/tight end Tielor Robinson, who was granted a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA after missing the final nine games with an ankle injury. The Devils hope Robinson’s cousin, redshirt freshman Cam Jones, and converted safety Tony Jackson can add speed to the running game, which averaged only 64.0 yards per game in 2007 to rank 117th in the country.

Receivers

Duke will use a lot of receivers, but only Eron Riley is a proven college player. Riley, a 6'3" senior, led the ACC in yards per catch (20.8 yards) and ranked second in the conference with nine touchdown receptions. Riley caught 40 passes for 830 yards, good enough for second-team All-ACC — the only Duke player on either side of the ball to make the conference all-star list. “He’s on track to have a big-time senior year,” Cutcliffe says. Beyond Riley, there are question marks. Senior Raphael Chestnut, with 53 career receptions, is recovering from knee surgery. Sophomores Austin Kelly and Sheldon Bell will also be a part of the rotation. Tight ends Brandon King and Brett Huffman could help on short and intermediate routes.

Offensive linemen

Roof’s 6–45 record can directly be traced to chronic problems on the offensive line. The unit was rebuilt three times during Roof’s first three seasons, and even when an established rotation emerged, the Devils’ line wasn’t strong enough or fit enough to compete with ACC defenses. Cutcliffe and line coach Matt Luke have taken a systematic, fundamental approach to building Duke’s offensive line. Footwork, body position, technique and fitness were all points of emphasis in spring practice to a group that returns three starters. Basically, they were re-taught how to line up and block and ordered to cut weight. Guard Rob Schirmann and tackles Fred Roland and Cameron Goldberg return from a unit that cleared the way for only 2.0 yards per carry. Goldberg was suspended in the spring for a violation of team rules, but he will have an opportunity to earn his way back onto the team.

Defensive linemen

It’s tough to rank 92nd in total defense and have a strong suit, but if the Devils have one, it’s the defensive line. All four starters and the top two reserves return on the defensive front, where coordinator Mike MacIntyre will run a straight 4-3 scheme with multiple zone blitzes. Junior tackle Vince Oghobaase, at 6'6" and 310 pounds, is in the best shape since he came to Duke. Injuries continue to be a problem for Oghobaase, who has yet to live up to his five-star pedigree out of high school. Duke needs to get more pressure out of ends Greg Akinbiyi and Wesley Oglesby, who combined for one sack.

Linebackers

Tauiliili was suspended for the season-opener but still finished the season second on the team with 108 tackles and added four sacks and three interceptions. The middle linebacker dropped 20 pounds in the offseason and should be stronger and faster for his senior season, his fourth as a starter. “Mike’s a very good player,” Cutcliffe says, “(but) I want to see Mike do it every day on every play. I’ve challenged him to do it consistently.” Outside linebacker Vincent Rey led the Devils with 111 tackles and could have another big season with blockers focusing on Tauiliili and as an active blitzer in MacIntyre’s scheme.

Defensive backs

Duke’s secondary has experience and speed in corners Leon Wright,  Jabari Marshall and Glenn Williams, but the unit missed the playmaking ability of departed corner John Talley in 2007. Wright tied for the team lead with three interceptions, but the big plays seemed to leave with Talley’s expired eligibility. If a playmaker is to emerge this season, it will likely come from the same group. Eddie Morgan is expected to slide into a starting spot at safety next to senior Adrian Aye-Darko. Cutcliffe says he needs more speed, which could mean that freshman corner Randez James, who enrolled in January, could break into the rotation.

Specialists

Duke’s kickers combined to miss 8-of-11 field goal attempts in 2007, including a 40-yarder by Nick Maggio against North Carolina in the season-finale that would have won the game. When Cutcliffe was hired in December, he promised he would win with special teams. That might mean a change at kicker or going with no kicker at all. “I’ve thought about going for it on fourth down and going for two,” Cutcliffe says. “I’m not kidding.” Returnees Maggio and Joe Surgan are talented and making progress, Cutcliffe says, but “I’m not sold yet that we have the right people in place.” That could mean Paul Asack, a freshman whose older brother Zack plays quarterback, will get a chance to be the No. 1 kicker. Wright and Marshall, who had a 94-yard touchdown return against UConn, are capable return men, and Cutcliffe likes the leg strength of incumbent punter Kevin Jones.

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