2015 Virginia Tech Opponent Q&A Preview: Duke

Between now and fall practice, we're going to take a walk through the 2015 Hokies schedule and preview each opponent with the people that follow them every day. We will be taking a look back at last season and spring practice, as well as attempting to forecast the year ahead.

After years and years of ACC doormat status, the Duke Blue Devils have steadily transformed into an annual contender for the ACC Coastal crown under Head Coach David Cutcliffe. Despite losing a number of key playmakers during the offseason, Cutcliffe's bunch enter the 2015 season with a number of talented units that could help steady the ship until the fresh faces get their sea legs. In an effort to better understand how the Blue Devils offseason has gone and learn about the newcomers in Durham, I had the pleasure of speaking with Laura Keeley of the Raleigh News & Observer.

For the first season in quite some time, the Blue Devils will open with a relatively green quarterback. What can people expect to see from the expected starter redshirt junior Thomas Sirk and how does he fit into Coach Cutcliffe's offensive system?

I don't think there will be any drop off from last year's starter, Anthony Boone, to this year's starter, Thomas Sirk — in fact, I expect that Sirk will be able to do everything Boone did and more. By all accounts, he has a stronger arm, and he is certainly a better runner. Sirk threw some nice deep balls in a scrimmage Saturday, and I'm starting to see why the coaching staff really isn't concerned about the transition at quarterback. Cutcliffe has decided that the best way to win at Duke is to have a dual-threat quarterback that must be accounted for in the run game — every quarterback recruited after Sean Renfree has fit this mold. And with Sirk, Duke has the best athlete it has ever had at that position.

The loss of former standout swiss army knife Jamison Crowder cannot be overstated. How might the offense change in the absence of Crowder and are there any players with the ability to come close to matching the dynamism Crowder provided?

I fully expect Duke to rely more on its running backs and tight ends to help make up for the loss of Crowder, because there is not a 1-for-1 replacement for him at wide receiver (though junior Johnell Barnes will be the one who attempts to do that). Tight end Braxton Deaver missed all of last year with a torn ACL, but he's back healthy now, and I expect him to be one of Sirk's main targets. There's also been talk of using two tight end sets, but I'll wait and see if that idea makes it from the drawing board to the playing field. There are a few players in the running for the third receiver position (behind Barnes and slot man Max McCaffrey), including Chris Taylor and T.J. Rahming.

As far as the running back position goes, on paper, it's by far the best backfield Duke has ever had. But right now, three of the four are dealing with injuries, including a partially torn pectoral muscle for Jela Duncan, who led Duke in rushing yards during the 2013 regular season before being suspended for the Peach bowl and all of last season for an academic issue. That leaves Shaquille Powell, who is certainly capable of doing damage, but we'll see how many carries Cutcliffe wants him to handle.

Speaking of Crowder, true freshman receiver T.J. Rahming was impressive in the U.S. Army All-America Game last winter and has drawn early comparisons to Jamison. Some say he is a bit undersized at the moment and could benefit from a redshirt year to bulk up and prepare himself for a full season of major college football. Is the Crowder comparison accurate, and how big of a role (if any) do you see Rahming playing this season?

I think Rahming will force his way onto the field this year. He's too athletic and quick not to, really. Don't be surprised to see him have an impact at punt returner, replacing Crowder there. Duke isn't shying away from the comparisons — they gave him Crowder's old No. 3, for instance — but I do think it's too early to say if he will be able to replace Crowder's production and play-making ability, at least this year. Crowder was incredibly reliable and steady, and Rahming hasn't even been hit in a game yet. But yes, I expect him to play.

All-ACC linebacker Kelby Brown suffered his fourth knee injury during the offseason, reportedly ending his football career. With the graduation of last year's Brown fill-in, David Helton, how are the Blue Devils planning to address the loss of such a key leader to their defensive unit? On the same side of the ball, the Duke secondary is arguably the strength of this team, returning each starter, including safeties Jeremy Cash and DeVon Edwards. Is the secondary's talent level enough to make up for a questionable front seven?

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles spoke to us earlier this week, and he pointed out that, even without Brown and Helton, Duke's linebackers are more athletic this year. And that's true. Now, if the new guys will be as consistent as Helton and Brown were is the real question. Sophomore Zavier Carmichael takes over at mike linebacker in Duke's 4-2-5 defense, and he will be the one asked to go out and make plays. He showed a knack for that last year in his reserve role, picking off passes in the red zone against Georgia Tech and Tulane. His fellow starter at the Will position will be senior Dwayne Norman, who began his career at safety and started to make the transition last year. As a safety, Norman had an unfortunate knack for getting beat for big yardage — the kind of plays easy for even a press box hack to pick out — but the coaches have always been high on him and believe his role is a better fit for him.

But don't sleep on freshman Ben Humphreys, Duke's other participant in last year's Army All-America game. Teammates have raved about his abilities thus far, with multiple people saying he had picked off four passes in the first week in a half of camp. They also say he doesn't shy away from contact, which is slightly unusual for a freshman. I expect him to play. Another young sleeper at linebacker: freshman Joe Giles-Harris.

So I think the linebackers, in some combination, will be fine. The back five will undoubtedly be the strength for the defense. Jeremy Cash and DeVon Edwards are all-American candidates at safety. Corner Breon Borders might be the most freakish athlete on the team, and you'll certainly see teams stay away from his side of the field.

As long as the front four can be neutral, and not a minus on the plus-minus scale, the defense should be fine.

Duke's specialists are top-notch, with all three earning Preseason All-ACC Second Team honors (Kicker Ross Martin, Punter Will Monday and Returner Edwards). Will the universe implode when Beamer Ball meets Cutcliffe's Kickers on October 24th?

It might. Or it might implode due to a third horrendously ugly game between the two teams (Let's recap: Eight total interceptions in Duke's 14-10 win at Lane in 2013, and then last year's free-for-all with gross fake punts and missed field goals that ended with the score 17-16 in favor of the Hokies, who scored all their points off of Duke turnovers). Yikes. Anyhow, yes, Duke's specialists are top-notch. David Cutcliffe placed a high emphasis on special teams when he started his resurrection project at Duke, and it has paid off in terms of wins. ESPN's David Hale, a must-follow for any ACC fan, dug into the Worldwide Leader's fancy stats box and reported that Duke had a plus-6.3 margin in starting field position, the seventh-best mark in the nation, and that's thanks to Martin's accuracy and Monday's skills at punter.

Last question: Duke Football has proved the naysayers wrong over the past few years by finishing at or near the top of the ACC Coastal. Is this the year that the Blue Devils return to their historical middling form, or are their recent performances the new normal?

I think the new normal is Duke being competitive in the Coastal Division. And why not? What team in this division scares you? There are no Florida States or Clemsons where you go, 'Yeah, we're not at that level.' The talent and athleticism level continues to climb in Durham, and Cutcliffe and Co. clearly know what they're doing.

Previously in this series:

Ohio State
Purdue
East Carolina
Pittsburgh
Miami
Pittsburgh
NC State