I've been a vocal supporter of David Cutcliffe since his arrival at Duke, especially after his decision to spurn advances from the University of Tennessee to return to coach the Blue Devils this season.
But for the first time in his tenure here, a decision by Cutcliffe on Saturday left me shaking my head.
Duke had played a sloppy and lethargic game of football for three quarters against Boston College, but somehow found themselves down less than a touchdown with less than five minutes to go. Sean Renfree, who finished the game completing 35 of 49 passes for 285 yards, quickly put the Blue Devils on his shoulders, driving Duke down to the Boston College four yard-line without any help from a non-existent running attack.
It was one of Renfree's best drives of the season, on which the redshirt-sophomore was 6-for-8 for 44 yards through the air.
So why, then, would Cutcliffe insert his backup quarterback into the game when faced with 3rd and goal and under a minute remaining?
Freshman Brandon Connette has shown flashes of potential this season in his few snaps a game as a running quarterback. But throughout the season, the story with Connette has always been the same—once opposing defenses recognize that he is little threat to throw the ball, they are able to consistently stuff him in the backfield.
And while Connette had success rushing the ball in Duke's last two victories, including rushing for 78 yards and two scores against Virginia, the freshman struggled mightily against an Eagle defense that stuffed all of Duke's rushing threats. Connette finished the day with five rushes for a net loss of eight yards, and was furthermore only 2-for-5 passing for 22 yards.
Taking out one's starting quarterback in the midst of a fourth-quarter drive in itself seems inadvisable. Replacing that hot quarterback with a struggling freshman is even more incomprehensible.
And it probably cost Duke a winnable football game.
Connette entered the game and missed an open Cooper Helfet in the end zone, leaving Renfree with one down to get the final four yards. His last attempt was batted down at the line, and the Blue Devils were faced with another heartbreaking defeat.
Now, Connette has a bright future at Duke, perhaps as a Tim Tebow-esque backup to Renfree's more Chris Leak style game. But Renfree is still Cutcliffe's cornerstone recruit, possibly the Blue Devils' future star, and, most importantly, Duke's starting quarterback. And it makes little sense to remove a team's successful starting quarterback in the middle of an important drive in favor of a struggling freshman backup.
Hopefully Cutcliffe's first major coaching mistake at Duke will show him that.
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