1) Duke also has a bye week. Defensively, they play press man and press cover 4 looks almost exclusively, which is tailor made for Ryan Willis's strengths. It will be interesting to see what, if any, adjustments Duke makes. If I was their defensive coordinator, I would use cover 4 but play much softer than the Blue Devils did last season.
2) Defensively, Duke is experienced. Their major drop off will be at linebacker. I was a huge fan of both Joe Giles Harris and Ben Humphrey. Duke looks to spill everything and keep their linebackers clean. If VT can get hats to the second level, I don't think Koby Quansah and Brendon Hill will be as effective getting off blocks.
Duke's defensive line will be a problem. Tre Hornbuckle and Derrick Tangelo are returning senior starters who were effective against VT last year. Victor Dimukeje is a big defensive end who gets penetration- he would have been a difference maker at VT and is at Duke. This will be a really big test for a neophyte offensive line. Despite Alabama blowing out Duke, the Crimson Tide did not put up huge rushing numbers despite playing with a big lead late.
3) I don't know what to expect of Duke offensively. It seems like every year they have a good pain in the ass tailback. Quentin Harris doesn't spark much fear at quarterback but he is very sound at running read option. I don't know if Duke has playmakers at wide receiver- the guys who have been problems in the past have used up eligibility. I don't know if any of the returners had a catch against VT last year. Stop the run, win the game.
Comments
If I were Coach Cut, on defense I'm doing that umbrella/shell thing that Furman did. I'm going to dare Ryan Willis to beat me up the middle.
You are correct, Duke played press last year and made Willis look like Joe Montana because Hokies run faster than Blue Devils. It's science.
On offense. Just run the ball all night long. Our guys on defense get tired. Just watch all three games. It's the same. Our guys on defense ball out in the first qtr, then look gassed with 5 minutes to go in the half. 2nd half - rinse and repeat. Both ODU and Furman got something going with 7 minutes left in the game.
Maybe Officer Kill can pop into Hilgart's office on his way to Corny's.
I've heard a bad news rumor that Willis is having trouble with his shoulder and might be questionable...
While this sucks and I hope he recovers quickly, this could not come at a better time (if it has to happen, you know): two weeks of first team snaps for the backup leading up to a less than daunting conference foe at home.
While I would typically agree, Hooker has shoulder issues of his own. I believe he was wearing a brace during his time in during the Furman game. If he has to go vs. Duke, we'd need to be careful as to not let him get hit too hard.
1. Put in a back up QB
2. Successfully run read option plays
3. Win
Hope Willis is ok. But I wonder if this is really a case of a serious injury or more a 2002 Grant Noel oh geez he's hurt (but not really just not playing well) so let's start Randall situation.
If that was the case, I feel like they would've gone public with it fairly early to justify a surprise non-start. From what I've been told, he was having trouble raising his arm above his head.
Actually if it was the case, I bet Fuente wouldn't mention it until kickoff. Why tip off Duke? Get Duke to prepare for Willis and make them scramble at the last second when we throw HH or QP out there.
That's reminiscent of Baylor having injuries to their top two QBs going in to the Russell Athletic Bowl and breaking out the single wing to stomp UNC.
The single wing will get after ya. Except for this year😧
It feels wrong to praise Art Briles for anything, but that game was a marvel of offensive coaching. He put a WR at QB and rushed for like 500-600 yards over 10 ypc with the single wing. It was amazing to watch.
Sauces I have said the same thing. He apparently can barely lift his arm halfway and Hooker is having shoulder issues too.
How in the hell is hooker's shoulder injured when he plays 3 plays a game and hands off? Seriously?
While I completely agree with your overall sentiment, didn't he come up obviously favoring an arm at the end of the ODU game?
It was hurt in camp and never fully healed and it continues to pop out of joint. He wears one of those shoulder harnesses that's visible under his jersey at times.
Unfortunately, if both are hurt, Burmeister is most game ready...
Same thing I was told. QP isn't ready.
Can't play this year.
I thought he wasn't eligible?
Edit: I'll be leaving work at lunch. I'll drink soon.
That's why I said unfortunately... Our most game ready can't play.
Of course he was hurt in camp. For fuck sake.
Yea it sucks. Personally I think the fan base (at least some of them) would have a different view of the team, coaching staff and lack of offensive production if we knew that the two best QBs had limited throwing ability due to injuries. Obviously don't want the other team knowing but once I heard this a few days ago, it put the team's offensive performance in more perspective. Of course, everything is behind the Fuente stone wall with a moat around it...
Maybe our strength coach could do a little better too. We seem to have more injuries lately
Do you also blame automotive companies for all car crashes as well?
Not the car crashes, but definitely the results of the car crash. If a car is made poorly (and maintained poorly), it becomes less safe.
Maybe his shoulder just sucks?
I said it a week ago in another thread. You can see Hooker is hurt when he comes off the field in the ODU game. Watch the coach in the white shirt next to Hooker point to his shoulder while gesturing to someone off screen.
https://youtu.be/s0Z8G3BhodA?t=8969
You can see his arm get hung up on our center when he starts to run, and he immediately pulls in his arm and pulls up running a bit, I imagine he breaks that run pretty easy if his arm was fine.
Also notice him completely avoid putting any pressure on his left arm when he is getting up from the tackle - completely avoids the natural motion of using his left hand/arm to stand up. That and the staff seems familiar/aware with the injury proving it's been lingering since camp.
Maybe it's just me, but damn I wish we could see what this offense could do with a fully skill-developed player at the QB position but athleticism more like Hooker. He just seems faster and more explosive. I am only referencing the one play prior to the clip above, but to me it is a huge difference than Willis. Did the injury happen in the ODU game? Fall camp? Is the injury what is keeping Hooker out? If not injury, what are his shortcomings? Not yet ready could mean a lot of things. Passing game? Reading the option?
Edit: clarified my first sentence (see below)
Is Hooker really "fully QB-skill-developed"? I didn't think his decisions in the passing game were up to par in the spring game and fall camp.
I wasn't trying to say he is. What I was trying to say is it would be awesome having someone who IS fully developed as a P5 QB with the athleticism closer to Hooker than Willis.
I realize my wording was less than clear. My apologies.
Ah, phrasing - got it.
Can't tell if it's Hilgart or somebody else, but the bald headed guy that goes to pound his shoulder with a "keep it up" sentiment shortly after the start of the clip definitely pauses at the top to think about if that is the good or bad shoulder he's about to hit lol
Soup I heard the same thing from a former player who knows a former teammate on the staff. He said Willis could barely lift his right arm vertically and in major pain and that Hooker has a possible ac joint issue that could lead to surgery. I pray these guys are ok and get healthy during the bye week but yes I heard the same thing.
If Hooker injured the shoulder in camp, why didn't he get the surgery then, instead of being a handicapped backup QB for the season? Should have taken care of it when it happened if it is that serious.
As for Willis, the same reasoning should apply if it's a situation that he cannot play through, and requires surgery to correct. I'm assuming his injury is from the Furman game?
Also, if QP is not ready, might be time to break out KK and see what he's got.
French, you forgot no. 4
FTFY
I am flying from Saudi Arabia to Montana, with stops in Germany, DC, and San Francisco on the way on game day. I will be on an IV of water, I hope.
Geesh man - I assume work in Saudi Arabia and Fishing in Montana for vacation?
I hope Duke is not better than Furman
Bad newz
Duke anagrams to "better than Furman".
Les Diables Bleus, a group of French soldiers fighting in World War I, wore blue uniforms and a blue cape. They were great at fighting in the French Alps...but it's 2019. By now their weapons are outdated. They've got a problem. Now the Gobbler...this guy is harder to see. You can hear him, but you can't always see him. He's got his eyes on the ladies - and he'll do anything to find her. He's fast when he needs to be...and he can fly. The Blue Devils can try, but they won't see the Gobblers coming, dropping sacks and touchdowns from the sky.
via GIPHY
You need to see the video of the recent Mike Leach press conference and you'll understand. It's gold.
Also, if Fuente ever leaves, would love to have Mike Leach as the next HC.
Just gotta be sure that no one gets confined to a closet. Other than that...he's a great coach.
Mike Leach used a less than standard concussion protocol and the whole thing got spun b/c it was ESPN guy's kid.
Was it a good idea? Probably not, but he wasn't put into a closet to be punished. He was told to stand, stay awake, and the closet was to get out of the light.
I'd be thrilled to get Mike Leach as a HC
Not to mention the 2.5 million he was due the day after he was fired.
Said ESPN guy was an overbearing helicopter dad with an axe to grind because he thought his kid should get more playing time despite his clear lack of talent. He got butthurt because Leach ignored his constant phone calls threatening to bury Leach if he didn't do what he said, so he susequently set out to ruin Leach, even hiring a PR firm to attempt to smear Leach.
Said ESPN guy also once killed five hookers, allegedly.
While I dont like leech for other reasons, Craig James is an asshole of the highest degree and I fully on the side of Mike Leech on that issue. The closet thing wasnt a coaching staff decision, Craig's genius son thought his dad would laugh at that so he told him that.
I've thought about this a lot. He'd be a great culture fit, his system would be fun, and he's great at evaluating and developing players (and coaches). The downside is that he (historically) has a low ceiling; he's never won anything more than his division.
idk man, Derrick Tangelo's production has no choice but to regress now that i'm revealing to the world that his name anagrams to Eroding Tackler. You can imagine his embarrassment when he finally does manage to beat a block only for King to be like "Derrick Tangelo? More like Tackler Ignored!" as he runs right by him
Science!
English!
Semantics!
What kind of a tic?
If I was in the coach's room for Duke, I would look to attack Ladler as much as possible. He has struggled to contain the edge a number of times.
Hopefully Bud and J-Ham can coach him up on that.
Or we keep starting Connor over Ladler.
I thought Connor was one of the corners and Ladler the rover...but that's a product of drinking too much during BC, distracting myself during ODU and the first time being able to pay attention uninterrupted being in the stands against Furman.
Conner took about 75% of the reps. When Ladler has been in, he has not been good.
If Hoyt can go, it sounds like Vice is taking a serious look at Darrisaw-Smith-Hoyt-Dzansi-Tenuta
So were Dzansi's issues last week that he was simply out of position as a R-Tackle?
I think it was more that he just had a bad game. He's more suited for guard anyways IMO
Quincy right now: