Duke Roll Call

I'm going to play the optimist card here and say that the guys are just beat up, and that's why Saturday's game was so ugly and flat.

I will give credit to the defense, though. Duke isn't exactly Georgia Tech or Clemson, but they mostly did a fine job.

Overall, I thought the guys played well here and there. Some of the third down calls blew my mind. Are we not trying to keep drives alive?

The few extra days of rest couldn't be coming at a better time. Everyone better buckle up for next Thursday...

I'll be honest, I had to watch this game in parts, and I had a better time trying to figure out why Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries filed for divorce.

Note: My game feed dropped out between Martin's touchdown and Whitley's personal foul.

1. Antone Exum - Quiet most of the afternoon, except when he absolutely leveled one of the Duke receivers on the sideline. It should be noted that I saw him blanketing his assignment multiple times.

2. Josh Oglesby - Who would have thought his touchdown would be the game winner? He knows how to run tough.

3. Logan Thomas - Well, he certainly threw a lot of interceptions. I thought he was actually OK otherwise, but the first pick was just brutal. These last few games are a good time to start giving him more carries, right? By the way, very nice tackle on his first pick.

4. David Wilson - Wish this guy could find the end zone more. It's nice to have him in the second half have more energy than anyone else on the field. He just collects.

5. Tyler Weiss - Not sure if he's kicking in Atlanta, but if so, he better realize that there's 0 room for error. 29-yarder? Really?

7. Marcus Davis - I understand his block on the Boykin screen where he got planted could have been more effective, but how many times are we going to do the back-to-back WR screens? If I'm looking for it on the next play, you know defensive coordinators are.

8. Dietrick Bonner - I honestly didn't see him much. Once in the red zone. With Jayron back, he'll get fewer snaps, but we know he's very reliable.

9. Cris Hill - He should be credited for 1.5 interceptions. He and Kyle Fuller were two standouts on Saturday.

13. Randall Dunn - The only time I noticed him was on the interception. He tried to make a play on the ball, but it was just too under thrown.

15. Eddie Whitley - The senior did a fantastic job on the pick and had some decent moments. But I caught myself shaking my head at 15 one too many times, including an epic whiff late in the game on a long Dook cary. The personal foul was close, but there can't be any room for error.

17. Kyle Fuller - Another great day for Kyle, including two game changing plays - a touchdown saving tackle and a huge fourth down stop near the end of the game. He's the real deal.

18. D.J. Coles - Didn't get any looks.

19. Danny Coale - Glad he's OK.

20. Jayron Hosley - Even though I thought he had one of his more difficult outings I've seen, I am glad he saw some good action on Saturday, because we're going to need him big time now. Glad he's back on the field.

24. Tariq Edwards - He got lucky on an over thrown ball in the end zone, but otherwise seemed to play decent.

27. Nick Dew - It's a shame we couldn't get him on the field more to get him ready for Georgia Tech. I hardly noticed him for the 8 plays he was on the field.

33. Chris Drager - Beautiful third down catch in the second quarter, and followed it with a crushing block on a huge Oglesby run. I have to eat some crow. I was worried about the move back to tight end, and I was worried for no reason. He has been good weapon. I want more of it.

38. Michael Branthover - You know it's bad when I'd rather see a deep third down interception than punt it. Bad punting could be a primary reason we drop a game down the stretch. It's really painful to watch a scholarship punter not get the job done. I really don't get it. I know he can do it, he did it at the beginning of the 4th quarter. What's so hard about doing that every time? It's his only $(&# job.

42. J.R. Collins - The bull was hungry on Saturday. He was flagged for another bonehead personal foul. I thought it was questionable at best, but please do not put yourself in position to be the goat. Celebrate when you get off the field. That aside, I thought he had a great day and delivered some monster blows. Even though he didn't record one, you can bet Sean Renfree was like "Damn, was I just hit by a sack drone?"

45. Joey Phillips - Started the game with a beautiful block on Coale's end around.

48. Justin Myer - Why can't you kick field goals straight? We could use you with 89 hurt.

52. Barquell Rivers - It's nice to see 52 back on the field -- a very nice story. I noticed him getting chewed up by linemen in the run game, especially on Duke's touchdown. If that happens against Georgia Tech, it could be a long night. But this game was important for him, and the INT at the end was a nice finishing touch.

54. Nick Becton - I actually thought he played a really solid first half. He looked aggressive in the run game. But I noticed him taking his foot off the gas pedal a little in the second half. I screen capped one of the instances.

62. Blake DeChristopher - Seemed to play fine.

66. Tyrel Wilson - Didn't have many snaps, and was quiet on the ones he had.

67. Michael Via - He has been playing well, but Saturday wasn't his best day.

68. Jaymes Brooks - I thought he played much better on Saturday.

72. Andrew Lanier - Another lock down day for the most part.

74. Andrew Miller - He looked to have another nice outing. He's turning into a pretty good center.

75. Greg Nosal - Got a scare when I saw his knee bend awkwardly in the third quarter, but I'm glad he returned and appears to be OK.

81. Jarrett Boykin - He didn't get a ton of targets, but did fine when it came his way. And he was definitely interefered with on the deep 3rd down post ont he first play of the fourth quarter, right?

86. Eric Martin - I'm glad he's healthy and snagged that touchdown. Well done. He's our best option after Drager, but he missed on a key 2nd and short block in the fourth. That can't happen.

92. Luther Maddy - He started the game beautifully with a great play on a screen, then tripping up the back who fumbled. He plays with good speed.

93. Isaiah Hamlette - The only time I saw him was halfway through the fourth quarter, and he didn't do much.

95. Zack McCray - I know he played on Saturday, but I didn't notice him.

96. Corey Marshall - I saw him fighting like hell to shed a blocker on a Duke 4th down in the red zone, and he was two inches from making the stuff. I think he's going to be an animal after a full offseason.

98. Derrick Hopkins - I didn't notice him as much on Saturday, and that's not because he was playing poorly. I think offensive lines know it's absolutely critical to contain him. I think this helps guys like young Luther and elder JR.

99. James Gayle - This defense is much better with him on the field. It was good to have him back on Saturday, he plays with a lot of fire.