After Duke's loss to Navy Oct. 1, head coach Ted Roof and several defensive players were quick to point part of the blame for the defeat at the high-yardage plays the Midshipmen made on offense.
The Blue Devils (1-4, 0-2 in the ACC) make the trip to Miami to play the No. 9 Hurricanes, tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. The Hurricanes (3-1, 1-1) are more than just a threat to make big plays, they have been doing it all year.
Miami has broken off nine runs of more than 15 yards this season and six pass plays of more than 25 yards.
"Every team makes big plays, just with our margin for error, they're such daggers," Roof said. "We don't have that margin for error, so we've got to be perfect in what we do."
Linebacker Brendan Dewan said Miami had a fast team, but that renowned team speed would not make it any more difficult for the Blue Devils to prevent the Hurricanes from making big plays.
"It just comes down to the fundamentals," Dewan said. "In the past, teams haven't beat us because they were faster than us, it was because a person was in the wrong spot or did something wrong or missed a tackle. So it's on us to do it.
"Everybody's got speed. Miami's not what they used to be, but they're a fast team and we can play with fast teams."
Redshirt freshman Kyle Wright quarterbacks the Hurricanes' offense, but his protection has not been as dominant as the Miami offensive lines of year's past. It has allowed eight sacks over the team's last three games. Roof and Dewan said getting to the quarterback would be key to disrupting the Hurricane offense.
"One of the best things on our defense is our d-line, and they'll give it to him," Dewan said. "When [Wright is] pressured, just like any other young quarterback, he won't always do the right things or put it in the right place."
On offense, the Blue Devils will be playing an inexperienced quarterback of their own. Roof said freshman Zack Asack would start against Miami, but that he also expected backup quarterbacks Marcus Jones and Mike Schneider to see time.
Asack will be without many of Duke's most important weapons Saturday. The first three running backs on the Blue Devil depth chart-Cedric Dargan, Justin Boyle and Re'quan Boyette-will all likely miss the game, as will top wide receivers Jomar Wright and Ronnie Elliot.
Ronnie Drummer, used mainly for a change of pace in the backfield in Duke's first five games, will start at running back, with freshman Clifford Harris and fullback Malcolm Ruff also getting their share of carries. The Blue Devils will look to freshmen wide receivers Eron Riley, Ryan Wood and Raphael Chestnut to contribute in the passing game.
"Somewhere down the road all this is going to pay off to create some more depth," Roof said. "You can't walk around and mope about [the injuries]. It's just an unfortunate part of the game."
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