The clock is ticking on college football preview stories, so let’s get this one posted before it’s too late. It’s about Duke believing it can surprise people with an improved offense.
The COVID-19 pandemic may end the season before it starts, a view that has been increasingly acknowledged upon the Mid-American Conference’s weekend decision to postpone the 2020 season to the spring. The MAC may be the first domino to tumble.
In the case of Duke football, it may be a moot point to wonder how the Blue Devils’ revamped offense will look with a new quarterback and head coach David Cutcliffe taking over the offensive coordinator role. But until a decision on the season is made, college coaches everywhere are preparing their teams as if the show must go on. Whether it’s one or two games (possible) or a full season (highly unlikely).
Cutcliffe sized up his team after its first workout on Friday with his usual optimism. Unlike many paranoid coaches, he isn’t afraid to say he likes the potential he sees among returning players.
“I think we’ll have an exciting offense,” he said in a Zoom call. “We’ve got skill people, but we have to put them in the best position to be successful.”
Duke’s offensive numbers weren’t good last year in a 5-7 season that missed a bowl game for only the second time in the last eight years. A year ago Duke was 94th in scoring (25.2 points), 114th in total offense (329.7), 79th in rushing (150.3) and 110th in passing (179.3). The easy target to blame is quarterback, but that is as unfair to last year’s starter, Quinton Harris, as it was to the 2018 starter, Daniel Jones.
Jones was an NFL first-round draft pick by the New York Giants, but Duke was ranked only 65th in total offense (405.7), 79th in rushing (150.3) and 52nd passing (246.1).
The Blue Devils’ problems the past two years started up front with a lack of consistent offensive line play. When Duke struggled to establish the run, opponents teed off on Jones.
Cutcliffe is counting on improvement with the return of four starters working under a new offensive line coach, Greg Frey. He most recently served at Florida, Florida State and Michigan.
“It all starts up front,” Cutcliffe said. “I think we can be a competitive circumstance up front. We have some good players; we have some depth. I’m anxious to see how good up front we can be.
“They will dictate what we will do. Greg Frey has done a good job without the benefit of spring practice. He has taught via Zoom. From an assignment and technique standpoint, we really are off to a good start.”
The four returning starters are anchored by fifth-year senior center Jack Wohlabaugh, a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder that earned All-ACC honorable mention. Around him are senior right guard Rakavius Chambers (6-3, 310), redshirt sophomore tackle Casey Holman (6-4, 295) and sophomore tackle Jacob Monk (6-3, 305).
Wohlabaugh was an Ohio State transfer in 2018 that has strengthened the Blue Devils the past two seasons. Duke is hoping for more of the same from Devery Hamilton (6-7, 301), a senior transfer from Stanford with immediate eligibility. He started six games in 2018 and the first four in 2019 before an injury sidelined him.
“We feel good,” Wohlabaugh said. “Our spring ball got cut short, so we’re still getting used to coach Frey, learning and getting more comfortable with his drills. We have a good bond with him. We trust coach Frey. We have depth with Devery coming in and with the new freshmen. I think we’re in a good spot.”
Wohlabaugh has 18 starts in 22 games, Chambers 25 in 38, Holman 12 in 16 and Monk, from nearby Clayton High, started all 12 games as a true freshman, including his varsity debut against Alabama. He beat out Robert Kraeling (6-7, 300), who had started 13 games in 2018. He is now a redshirt senior.
The left guard candidates are led by redshirt sophomore Maurice McIntyre (6-2, 310), redshirt junior Patrick Leitton (6-7, 280) and redshirt freshman Ron Carr (6-4, 255).
No matter who wins the quarterback job among Clemson transfer Chase Brice, redshirt junior Chris Katrenick and redshirt sophomore Gunnar Holmberg, Wohlabaugh says the offensive linemen understand a key to improved QB performance is better offensive line play.
“We trust coach Cut as the head coach and definitely as offensive coordinator,” Wohlabaugh said. “I like what we’re doing. We’re going to go all in for whatever we do. I think it will work well. We want to put more points on the board get more yards be more physical and have less turnovers.”
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Tom Shanahan, Author: Raye of Light http://tinyurl.com/knsqtqu
— Book on Michigan State’s leading role in the integration of college football. It explains Duffy Daugherty’s untold pioneering role and debunks myths that steered recognition away from him to Bear Bryant.
http://shanahan.report/a/the-case-for-duffy-and-medal-of-freedom
Don’t believe the myths at Duffy Daugherty’s expense about Bear Bryant’s motivation to play the 1970 USC-Alabama game or myths about the
Charlie Thornhill-for-Joe Namath trade. Bear Bryant knew nothing about black talent in the South while he dragged his feet on segregation.
http://www.shanahan.report/a/forty-four-underground-railroad-legacy-facts
http://shanahan.report/a/myths-that-grew-out-of-1970-alabama-game-with-usc
http://shanahan.report/a/mystery-solved-in-thornhill-and-namath-myth
David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winner and biographer; “History writes people out of the story. It’s our job to write them back in.”
Raye of Light: Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, The Integration of College Football, and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans
https://www.augustpublications.com/
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