Duke football midseason report: Offense

With the Blue Devils preparing for their next Coastal Division test at Pittsburgh Nov. 1, we break down how Duke's offense has performed this season and keys going forward. This week, The Blue Zone will break down all three phases of the game, so check back tomorrow for the update on the Blue Devil defense.

Three key numbers:

33.6: The Blue Devils are averaging 33.6 points per game, which is good for fifth in the ACC and 44th in the FBS. A balanced offensive attack has allowed them to put points on the board and the team has scored 40 or more points three times this season. The offense benefitted from playing a weak non-conference schedule early in the season, as it has only averaged 20.3 points per game against ACC opponents.

218.0: Led by running backs Josh Snead, Shaquille Powell, Joseph Ajeigbe and Shaun Wilson, the ground game has averaged 218.0 yards per game, paving the way for the Duke offense so far this season. Quarterbacks Anthony Boone and Thomas Sirk have also shown off their running ability out of the pocket, which makes the Blue Devil rushing attack very dangerous going into the second half of the season. One often overlooked part of this number is that the offensive line is tied for first in the nation with only 2.86 tackles for loss allowed per game.

4: That is how many times Boone has been sacked this season. Duke's offensive line, anchored by All-American redshirt senior Laken Tomlinson, has done an excellent job protecting its quarterback. The line was tested this past week against a Virginia defense that was at the top of the ACC in sacks, but did not allow Boone to go down with the ball. Although Boone has been pressured at times, he has for the most part had ample time to make throws to his receivers, which may explain why he only has three interceptions so far this season.

Three key players:

Quarterback Anthony Boone: He has struggled at times this season, but the redshirt senior is the undisputed leader of the Blue Devil offensive unit. He is a whopping 17-1 as a starter in the regular season. Thus far, he has completed 57.2 for 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns, and has thrown just three interceptions after throwing 13 last year. Although his numbers are not as good as they were last year, when Boone boasted a 64 percent completion rate, his key statistic is that he has only thrown three interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio in 2013 was 13:13, and he threw multiple interceptions in losses against Florida State and Texas A&M last season. He may not be playing great, but Boone has done his part to help Duke jump out to a 6-1 start and has played much better in the last two games.

Right guard Laken Tomlinson: His name rarely appears in the box score, but he is the most talented player on a Blue Devil offensive line that has been almost flawless this season. Tomlinson has been selected to multiple midseason All-American midseason teams and is one of the most talented lineman in program history. If he stays healthy and performs well through the rest of the season, he could hear his name called in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in April.

Duke vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech, Oct. 11: Running back Josh Snead rumbles into the end zone early in the third quarter to add to his 102 yard rushing performance and give the Blue Devils a 21-12 lead. Duke would only add to this lead and would go on to upset the Yellow Jackets 31-25.

Biggest surprise:

Shaun Wilson: We quickly found out that the true freshman is going to be a star in Durham. He saw action in the team's first two games, but the Charlotte, N.C., native had a breakout game Sept. 12 against Kansas, rushing for a school-record 245 yards on only 12 carries and three touchdowns. Wilson has since played an integral role in the Duke rushing attack that is one of the best in the ACC, averaging 10.3 yards per carry this season. He has also emerged as a receiving threat and has caught 11 passes for 127 yards through seven games. Look for Wilson to continue to see touches early in contests, as the speedster is bound to break another long run before the season is over.

Biggest disappointment:

Passing game: Since averaging more than 280 yards per game back in 2012, the Duke passing attack has been on a downward trend. The Blue Devils have the 92nd-ranked passing offense in the FBS with 201.7 yards per game, down from last year's 248.1 yards per game. Head coach David Cutcliffe has always boasted a strong passing game, but the air attack has struggled at times this season, especially when Duke has a hard time on the ground. Although the Blue Devils have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation, Virginia and Miami both found ways to stuff the ground game. Boone needs to find ways to elevate and ignite the offense through the air, especially heading into the last month of the regular season.

Key for the last five games:

The Duke offense thrives by capitalizing on turnovers and limiting its own miscues. It has converted the defense's last four turnovers into 24 points during the last two games. The key here is that against Georgia Tech and Virginia, the Blue Devils did not have a single turnover, which kept drives alive and resulted in points. In the loss to Miami, Boone threw two second-half interceptions and Blakeney coughed up the ball on a short pass. Turnovers played a huge role in that game and Duke's margin was minus three. Those three turnovers account for more than half of the Blue Devils' turnovers this season, as they have only turned the ball over twice in six wins.

Overall grade: B+

Duke hasn't been as impressive on offense as it has on defense, but the unit has done its share to reach bowl eligibility for the third straight season. It has proven it can make explosive plays and put up points, but more importantly Boone and the players that surround him form an offense that knows how to manage the game and limit mistakes.