Cutcliffe, Blue Devils driven to improve
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Duke David Cutcliffe (4-8, entering 10th season; 52-61 overall)
4-8, 1-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference, finished sixth in Coastal Division
Duke managed to win at Notre Dame and also out-dueled No. 15 North Carolina by a point to win the Battle for the Victory Bell, but the Blue Devils’ 2016 season was a disappointment by coach David Cutcliffe’s standards. The Blue Devils were not bowl eligible for the first time in five years, causing Cutcliffe to re-evaluate his coaching methods and the way he led his players during the previous season. Duke may have considerable work ahead to return to the Coastal Division glory it attained in 2013, but he is encouraged his team is heading in the right direction after its rough 4-8 campaign.
“I’m more pumped than I’ve ever been,” Cutcliffe told ESPN.com shortly after National Signing Day in February. “I’m more energized, which is exciting. I love our staff. I love our team and so we’re not being negative when I say these things. I’m enthused.” 6
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QB Thomas Sirk, OT Casey Blaser, WR Anthony Nash, TE Erich Schneider, OG Tanner Stone, CB Breon Borders, S Corbin McCarthy, DE Dominic McDonald, S Deondre Singleton, DT A.J. Wolf.
OT Gabe Brandner, C Austin Davis, OG Zach Harmon, QB Daniel Jones, WR Johnathan Lloyd, WR T.J. Rahming, RB Shaun Wilson, LB Joe Giles-Harris, LB Ben Humphreys, CB Bryon Fields, DE Marquies Price, DT Mike Ramsay, S Alonzo Saxton II, P Austin Parker, K AJ Reed.
Daniel Jones, who threw for 2,836 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, is the only quarterback in the Coastal Division to return after starting every game last season.
During the spring, Jones improved on-field chemistry with his receivers while gaining a greater grasp of Cutcliffe’s offensive system.
Duke hopes Jones is able to stay upright and deliver the football downfield as one of the conference’s best pocket passers during his redshirt sophomore season in 2017.
Duke surrendered 31 sacks last season, the most the Blue Devils have ever given up during Cutcliffe’s previous nine seasons leading the team. While the Blue Devils hope to improve their play along the offensive line, Duke hopes Jones will be able to read defenses and hold onto the football less to avoid defensive pressure next season.
The Blue Devils will also have a retooled defense without five starters from the 2016 campaign, but they are encouraged redshirt sophomore LB Joe GilesHarris can assume a greater role after leading the team and finishing fourth in the ACC with 107 tackles last season.
Duke has one of the most favorable schedules in the ACC, hosting FSU, Miami and Baylor from the Big 12 at home next season. The comforts of Wallace Wade Stadium should bode well for the relatively young Duke team, which is pushing to return to the postseason. The Blue Devils may be a year away from contending for the Coastal Division title, but they easily could make some noise in the ACC in 2017.