2011 Duke Blue Devils Football Preview

When David Cutcliffe took over at Duke three years ago, few wondered if he knew just what he was getting himself in to. Duke has long been one of the black holes of college football having reached a bowl just five times in the past 60 years of football. Cutcliffe had been viewed as one of college football’s best men and brightest minds that was unfairly and unceremoniously dumped by Ole Miss. Many in the college football community hoped that he would be shown patience and slowly build the Duke football program into something respectable. Sadly, even the best of coaches, like Cutcliffe, has failed to truly move the meter at Duke. After posting a 3-9 record in 2010, it appears that the task may in fact be too big for Cutcliffe as 2011 looks to be yet another long year in Durham.

Cutcliffe has long had a reputation as a good offensive mind and a great teacher of quarterbacks dating back to his time mentoring both Peyton and Eli Manning. He had some success with Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and last season showed his skill again, shepherding sophomore Sean Renfree to a 3131 yard, 14 touchdown season. Renfree is a tall, strong armed passer that will be even more dangerous when he can cut down on some of his interceptions (17 in 2010). He should post big numbers once again as he returns his top two receivers from last season in receiver Desmond Scott and tight end Cooper Helfet. The tight end has always been an integral part of a Cutcliffe offense and Helfet fits the mold. This collection of targets for Renfree should make Duke a respectable passing team again in 2010.

The challenge for the Duke offense is in being able to establish the line of scrimmage and run the ball. The team’s top five leading rushers return, led by senior Desmond Scott. Scott, Brandon Connette, and Josh Snead shared carried often in 2010 but you get the sense Cutcliffe would love to see one of the backs truly grab the job and be an every down back. The bigger question for the running game is along the offensive line. Both starting guards must be replaced from a line that is perennially undersized and overmatched up front. If the Blue Devils cannot run the ball any better than they did in 2010, it will be another long season for Cutcliffe’s offense.

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The challenge for Cutcliffe has been to field a competent defense. Just six starters are back from last season’s defense that gave up points in bunches. While Duke would often score well into the 30s, the defense would not be able to take advantage of the support and would allow even more points. The defensive line has two experienced interior players in Sydney Sarmiento and Charlie Hatcher. Both are seniors that played in every game in 2010. Cutcliffe hopes they’ll be good enough to make up for needing to break in two new defensive ends. Linebacker isn’t much better as only sophomore Kelby Brown returns at outside linebacker. The unit was particularly hurt by the dismissal of Tyree Glover in the offseason.

The secondary might be the best hope of the defense. Three of the four starters from last year are back, led by the pair of senior safeties Lee Butler and Matt Daniels. Cockrell tied for the team lead with three interceptions last year. Ross Cockrell started every game as a freshman last year and also intercepted three passes. By year’s end he was a reliable cover man. This group is experienced and should improve on last season’s abysmal pass defense numbers.

The schedule is about as easy as one could hope for, and has an outside shot at sending Duke to a bowl game. Richmond, Tulane, and FIU are winnable out of conference games. The week two matchup with Stanford will be a rough one. The Blue Devils get Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech at home and face Boston College, Miami, Virginia, and North Carolina on the road. If they can swing a 3-1 out of conference record, it’s possible they could improve on last season’s 4-8 record and might sneak into a bowl with an upset or two.