Fumble mistakes and awful offensive playcalling are destroying duke today. Defense is also garbage today after they had been playing well the last few games. They let go a touchdown with nobody covering a guy for twenty yards and another after a pitiful 4th down we couldn't convert and a large gain with georgia techs 1st play of the drive. We can drive the ball against these guys but we screw it up as soon as we get close to scoring. Duke is just a mess today and this is coming off a bye week
Duke Vs. Georgia tech
- Thread starter Ioliva
- Start date
As much as I hate to say this, I don't think Duke will go bowling this year. The rest of their schedule is harsh. Your right! They just look horrific right now. Duke took a huge blow when Sirk got hurt.
well the defense gives up another huge gain again to lose the game. #44 should've just focused on the tackle instead of just falling to the ground. smh what a joke to come back from 21 down and to lose like this
Offseason coaching changes on the whole, have not paid dividends....Have some holdover assts as well not pulling their weight. Inexcusable to get down like today after week off...
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I wouldn't go that far. Could it have been better, sure, but I think for the most part coaching hasn't been the issue. Our sack totals have went up astronomically. I think our youth is the biggest issue. Even with the ugly losses this season, they aren't the ugly losses from 20 years ago. We haven't gotten blown out, and most of the time, we beat ourselves. That is easier to fix than getting beat by 30.
Disagree on the "youth" thing when it comes to DBs. Please can you refer me to "YOUTH" there??? I think not...Even w/o Edwards thats a veteran crew, and its made far too many average passers look like Tom Brady at times this year....Def Backfield Coach Derek Jones schemes are obviously not working, and we are missing too many tackles in the secondary...
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I was referring to the youth of the team as a whole. When it comes to the secondary, we are the most experienced there but that doesn't tell the whole story. We lost Cash, and we didn't have anyone of his caliber to replace him. We also lost Singleton very early in the year. We do still have experience back there, but it isn't the most talented experience imo. Should it have been better? Probably. Is it a coaching problem? Probably not.
I still think the big runs that we gave up hurt more than anything we gave up through the air. Thomas broke our back on the ground, not in the air. And, for the most part, the runs we give up are what sets up the big pass plays we give up. If Thomas doesn't break containment, and we get a safety on those two plays when he was in the end zone, we aren't having this discussion.
To force a bad throw, or no throw at all in expectation that you can tackle the QB before he runs 15+yards. If you don't stay disciplined and you aren't quite as good athletically, you run the chance of getting burned.
I have been disturbed with the number of breakdowns, offensive and defensive, with this team that seems capable of big things at times. I have come to the conclusion that Duke's schedule is much more demanding now than in past years and Duke isn't sneaking up on anyone. It may take a sizable increase in the quality of our players to get to the "next level", i.e., not only compete with top level opponents but also beat them more than half the time. Our defensive backs are almost always smaller than the receivers. Often times they aren't as fast. Our defensive linemen aren't as big or fast. Eventually you can only "coach up" two and three star players so many times. It's like Duke's b-ball team playing mid majors, we may lose occasionally but not often. Can Cut maintain the same level of quality of young men (not only academically but also character wise) and reach that next level? That's what we'll find out the next few years. If not, well, he's done remarkable things just for us to have this kind of dialogue.
Singleton played Saturday...Cash for all his tremendous qualities was not a great pass defender one on one- he was a kamikaze disruptor, blitzer, tackler and yes OUTSTANDING vs the run!!!
Lookit, thats a vet group back there, all at least 3 stars making the same mistakes in PASS COVERAGE throughout their careers...Heck we were supposed to be BOLSTERED by Fields return this year...Thomas threw for 264 yds Saturday his highest of the year, eclipsing 170 yds he threw for against Ga Southern!!! For him to do it on just 10 completions is abysmal....
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My mistake on Singleton, got him confused with Edwards. I get what you are saying though, and to an extent, I agree. I still say our talent is lacking despite it being improved, and as a team, we are decently young.
Hey no problem- its a frustrating year and to your point we are VERY YOUNG in some areas...Lb,qb, kicking game, and others...Fortunately Humphries and Giles-Harris have had good years at LB!
Jones struggled mightily early on w/TO's and well obviously we have truly missed Ross Martin...I am hoping somehow we can piece together a couple wins rest of year for momentum and keep recruits from bolting....
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