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Duke Blue Devils - 2008 Season Preview

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

The Duke Blue Devils have arguably the worst football program among the BCS conferences, so there’s nowhere to go but up for new coach David Cutcliffe. The former Ole Miss head coach and Tennessee assistant replaces Ted Roof, who went 6-45 in four and half seasons. The Blue Devils haven’t even beaten an ACC opponent since 2004.

Cutcliffe is the best strategist in Durham since Steve Spurrier, and he brings credibility. He was 44-29 in six seasons as a head coach at Ole Miss and didn’t deserve to lose that job. So he went back to Tennessee, where helped turn Peyton Manning into a star years ago, and made Erik Ainge one of the nation’s best QBs last year. Cutcliffe also was Eli Manning’s coach in college, so current Blue Devils QB Thaddeus Lewis, a relatively unknown talent, could have a big season.

Coach: David Cutcliffe (first season at Duke)

2007 record: 1-11 (0-8 ACC)

Returning starters: 19 (offense: 7, defense: 10, kicker/punter: 2)

Top returnees: WR Eron Riley, QB Thaddeus Lewis, TB Re'quan Boyette, DT Vince Oghobaase, LB Michael Tauiliili, LB Vincent Rey

Key losses: WR Jomar Wright, C Matt Rumsey, G Zach Maurides, TE Nick Stefanow, FS Chris Davis

2008 schedule

Aug. 30 James Madison
Sept. 6 Northwestern
Sept. 13 Navy
Sept. 27 UVa
Oct. 4 @ Ga. Tech
Oct. 18 Miami
Oct. 25 @ Vandy
Nov. 1 @ Wake
Nov. 8 N.C. State
Nov. 15 @ Clemson
Nov. 22 @ Va. Tech
Nov 29 UNC

Key game: Sept. 27 vs. Virginia – With the first four games at home, the Blue Devils conceivably could be 3-0 when the Cavs come to town. That’s assuming Duke beats JMU, Northwestern (Duke’s only win last year) and a rebuilding Navy team. A four-win start and an opening victory in the ACC could speed up the players buying into Cutcliffe’s program.

2008 overview

Cutcliffe plans to install a faster paced, no-huddle offense, while still adapting to the personnel he inherits. The ultimate goal will be to achieve balance and to keep defenses guessing. That should benefit third-year starter Thaddeus Lewis, who could become an All-ACC passer. Lewis was 199-of-360 for 2,430 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 picks last season, but he should improve by leaps and bounds under Cutcliffe. The coaching staff also wants to find some time, somewhere, for backup Zack Asack.

The Blue Devils ran for an ACC-low 64 yards a game on the ground last year but have a solid back in Re'Quan Boyette, who led the team with 432 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in 2007. He reportedly showed up for spring ball lighter, quicker and maybe more explosive than he has been since his freshman season. He's finally healthy after a nagging knee injury that limited him last year. Duke had just one run of more than 20 yards last season.

The Blue Devils do have a top-level receiver in senior Eron Riley. In the last two seasons, he has led the ACC in yards per reception. His career average of 20.7 yards a catch is currently the fourth best in ACC history. His 14 career touchdown catches are the sixth best total in Duke history. A year ago, Riley earned second-team All-ACC honors after pulling down 40 passes for 830 yards and nine touchdowns.

The main problem for Duke’s offense troubles has been the offensive line. Last year that unit struggled to find holes for Boyette and also allowed 45 sacks. The Blue Devils have three starters back, including both tackles -- Fred Roland and Cameron Goldberg -- and guard Rob Schirmann. Goldberg was suspended during spring workouts because of an unspecified violation of team rules, but was expected back in time for the fall.

On defense, the Blue Devils bring 10 of 11 players back, and the entire defensive line is back. Junior tackle Vince Oghobaase is the best of the bunch, as he had 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. He will play in the NFL. Other starters back are defensive ends Greg Akinbiyi and Wesley Oglesby, and defensive tackle Ayanga Okpokowuruk.

 

The Blue Devils’ top two tacklers are back from last year in LBs Michael Tauiliili and junior Vincent Rey  are back to patrol the middle. Tauiliili will be starting for the fourth straight year. He already has 294 tackles in his career, including 33 for loss. Both Tauiliili and Rey have lost weight and say that added speed will add a dimension to their games.

The secondary was a weak spot last year, as the Blue Devils finished last in the ACC in pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks completed more than 64 percent of their passes and averaged over 12 yards a completion in 2007. Junior Leon Wright and senior Jabari Marshall will be the cornerbacks who hope to benefit from a strong front seven.


Duke was terrible on special teams last season, as it missed eight of 11 field goal attempts in 2007. Both kickers, Joe Surgan and Nick Maggio are back. That a good thing?

So, the Blue Devils still have a ways to go. But they should begin to grow under Cutcliffe, and this team had chances the past two seasons – a total of 12 times in 2006 and 2007, the Devils entered the fourth quarter with a chance to win. They only did so once. Look for them to still finish in the bottom of the ACC but to be much more competitive and win at least one conference game this season.

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