Through the first half of the season, the Blue Devils are off to a fast start with a 5-1 record, including a perfect 2-0 mark in the ACC. No. 25 Duke is currently in the drivers seat for the ACC Costal division crown and a chance to play in the ACC Championship Game. This week, we will break down all three phases of the game starting with the offense. Check back tomorrow for an update on the Blue Devil special teams unit.
Three key numbers:
9.3: The Blue Devils are surrendering just 9.3 points per game—the third lowest mark in the nation. Duke has not given up more than 20 points yet this season and limited Boston College and Army to a combined 12 points in its last two games.
121.7: Duke has limited its opponents to 121.7 rushing yards per game. Despite questions about its size during the offseason, the Duke defensive line and linebackers have relied on their speed to shut down opposing rushing attacks. By stuffing the run, the Blue Devils have forced opponents to throw against the team's talented secondary, resulting in numerous turnover opportunities.
1.6: The Blue Devils have sacked opposing quarterbacks 1.6 times per game. Although Duke has faced mostly run-first offenses, the Blue Devils have simply missed opportunities to register sacks in the first half of the season. With its strong secondary, the Blue Devils can afford to dial up additional blitzes to generate pressure against offenses that are more likely to pass. Look for the team to do just that if they struggle to get pressure with their front four as the season progresses.
Three key players:
Safety Jeremy Cash: The redshirt senior and former Ohio State transfer has picked up where he left off last season when he was a second-team All American. Recently named to the NFL.com/CFB247 Midseason All-America team, Cash is second on the team with 47 tackles and ranks tied for fifth in the nation with 11.5 tackles for loss. His ability to play linebacker and quickly diagnose quarterback reads in option offenses has especially helped the run defense this season. As it stands right now, Cash is the favorite to be named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Linebacker Dwayne Norman: After converting from safety this past offseason, Norman has emerged as one of Duke’s best defenders. The Jacksonville Fla., native leads the team with 51 tackles and has relied on his athleticism to pursue the ball from sideline to sideline. Norman has been one of the leaders and top communicators on a defense that has thrived despite losing linebackers Kelby Brown and David Helton to injury and graduation respectively.
Defensive tackle A.J. Wolf: The box score does not always reflect Wolf’s contributions. Although he has just 22 tackles, Wolf has been the anchor along Duke’s defensive line. At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Wolf—a former linebacker—has relied on his speed to close holes and penetrate through opposing offensive lines. The redshirt junior continues to be one of the unsung heroes of the Blue Devils stout defense.
Three key moments:
Duke vs. No. 23 Northwestern, September 19: After containing Northwestern’s potent rushing attack throughout the first half, the Blue Devils’ defensive front wore down in the third quarter. During the week following the 19-10 loss to the Wildcats, the Duke coaching staff pushed the squad in practice to ensure that it does not wear down again. Since then, the Blue Devil front has maintained its edge and aggression throughout all four quarters.
Duke vs. No. 20 Georgia Tech, September 26: Thanks to the defense, the Blue Devils bounced back from their Week 3 loss with a 34-20 victory against the Yellow Jackets. Defense coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit held Georgia Tech’s triple option offense—which then averaged 355 rushing yards per game—to 173 yards on the ground. Towards the end of the game when the Yellow Jackets had two chances to steal a victory, Duke’s defense forced a turnover on downs and Cash forced quarterback Justin Thomas to fumble once again, leading the Blue Devils to victory.
Duke vs. Boston College, October 3: Despite facing another physical test against a strong Boston College offensive line and rushing attack, the Blue Devil defense stayed hot and limited the Eagles to 164 rushing yards. The performance was even more impressive considering Duke's offense was stuffed all afternoon and only mustered three Ross Martin field goals in the 9-7 victory.
Biggest surprise:
Run Defense: As Duke began its season, there were questions about the defensive line’s size and its ability to stop the run. The Blue Devils allowed 192.9 yards on the ground per game a year ago and with the loss of their linebackers, the outlook was bleak. But six games in, Duke’s defense has emerged as one of the best run-stopping units in the country. The Blue Devils limit opposing running attacks to just 2.9 yards per carry and have surrendered just two rushing touchdowns this season.
Biggest disappointment:
Pass rush: The Blue Devils have only registered 10 sacks. Although Duke’s opponents have featured mostly run-first offenses, the Blue Devils will have to generate a greater pass rush in upcoming matchups against more pass-happy teams. This may require defensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery to get creative with his blitz packages and look to send more defenders.
Key for the last five games: Duke’s schedule becomes tougher with upcoming matchups against Virginia Tech, Miami, and North Carolina. The Blue Devil defense will need to continue to consistently perform at a high level in order to support an offense, which has struggled this season. Duke’s defenders must be ready to face stronger passing attacks in particular against the Hurricanes, who are led by Brad Kaaya—the leader in passing yards in the conference.
Overall grade: A
Duke’s biggest strength this season has been its defense. With an offense that has struggled to find its rhythm, the Blue Devils have relied on Montgomery’s unit, which ranks 10th in the nation in total defense, to make critical stops in close games. In addition to the success of the run defense, Duke’s secondary has been stout behind the strong play of Cash and Devon Edwards. Montgomery has used zone and man coverage schemes to give offenses different looks and limit passing attacks to 131.2 yards per game. If the Blue Devils can sustain their defensive dominance for the remainder of the season, the team has a chance to reach double-digit victories and the ACC Championship game.
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