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Duke Football Notebook: Season Opener Looms
DURHAM, N.C. – Head coach David Cutcliffe will open his 11th season as Duke’s head football coach Friday against Army West Point. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with a live television broadcast on ESPNU.
FRIDAY IS DURHAM NIGHT
Friday will be a celebration of Durham Night inside Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Throughout the evening, accomplishments of many Durham workers and the partnership between Duke University and the Durham community will be celebrated.
“What a great opportunity to start a holiday weekend,” Cutcliffe said. “It will be Durham Night. We’ve been very appreciative with how Durham has embraced us. We have a lot of friends in this community. I’m counting on a home-field advantage.”
Until 5 p.m. Thursday, Durham residents can take advantage of two ticket package options, both of which also include FREE parking in our general public lots.
- Option 1 (1-3 Tickets)
- Tickets for only $8 each
- FREE food and drink combo voucher with each ticket (Hot Dog or Veggie Burrito, Chips and a Drink)
- Option 2 (4+ Tickets)
- 4 tickets for only $27 (Only $6.75 each)
- Additional tickets only $6.75 each
- FREE food and drink combo voucher with each ticket (Hot Dog or Veggie Burrito, Chips and a Drink)
SPECIAL EVENTS ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Fans for the 7 p.m. kickoff are encouraged to be in their seats early to enjoy the ceremonial multi-aircraft flyover, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. A Bandit Flight Team of CJ-6 and Yak-52 Aircrafts will fly in formation.
At halftime, following a performance by the Duke University Marching Band, national recording country artist Ryan Weaver will take the stage.
New for the 2018 season, complimentary wifi will be available for fans at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium on the “GoDuke” network.
FOUR ELECTED TEAM CAPTAINS
Last week, Duke announced the selections of redshirt junior linebacker Joe Giles-Harris, senior linebacker Ben Humphreys, redshirt junior quarterback Daniel Jones and redshirt senior wide receiver Johnathan Lloyd as team captains for the 2018 season. The four returning lettermen were elected by their teammates.
“It was an honor to be selected by my teammates and peers,” Lloyd said of the accolade. “I appreciate the honor and I respect it to the utmost.”
Giles-Harris, a preseason All-America pick, also will be a first-time team captain.
“It’s very special,” he said. “It’s an honor that my teammates vote on it and felt I was a guy they can look to and depend on. I’m joined by three other guys who I look up to, so I’m very happy for the opportunity.”
WIDE RECEIVERS EXCITED FOR 2018 SEASON
Duke returns nearly every pass catcher from a year ago, bringing back 83.08 percent of its receptions. Of the 14 Blue Devils who caught a pass last fall, only Shaun Wilson (36 receptions) and Quay Chambers (nine) do not return to the squad.
The experience has brought a healthy level of competition to the position room this fall.
“There is a lot of competition and a lot of talented guys in one room,” Lloyd said. “It makes the group elevate as a whole. Guys are making plays. So when you see that, you want to go make a play. You know who is behind you and who is ahead of you. It brings out that competitive edge in each person and it makes the room better as a group.”
Cutcliffe is also looking to an experienced wideout group to help the Blue Devil offense this season.
“We’re going to see a number of guys who will play and play effectively,” Cutcliffe said. “Aaron Young is back and he had a great camp. T.J. [Rahming] can play all over the place. We have to get T.J. the ball. Johnathan Lloyd will also start. Johnathan Lloyd has had the best camp of everyone. We have a lot of backups behind them and you’re going to see them. We may see one of the true freshman, Jake Bobo, in this game as well.”
ENDURING THE ARMY WEST POINT OFFENSE
With Army West Point running a triple option offense, ball control is key for the Black Knights. Balance will be a focus for Duke on Friday, managing the clock on both offense and defense.
“The thing that pops into everyone’s mind is the defense,” Cutcliffe said. “If you go out there and go three-and-out offensively, that’s playing right into their hands. We stayed on the field a year ago offensively, we just didn’t produce as many points as we would’ve liked.”
Preparing to play Army West Point for the third time in his career, Giles-Harris knows the mental sharpness it takes to face the Black Knights.
“You have to be physically and mentally prepared,” he said. “I think we do enough of that at practice, focusing on those seven, eight or nine play drives. It’s just staying true to yourself, while trusting yourself and trusting the ten other guys around you. I think that’s the biggest part about that. That’s what we’ve been preaching all camp.”
Jones also believes the Army West Point offense makes an impact on Duke’s offense.
“It makes each possession that much more valuable,” Jones said. “We’re aware of that. Maybe it puts a little more pressure on you, but they have fewer possessions, too. It just shortens the game overall.”
DANIEL JONES PUTTING OFFENSE IN SUCCESSFUL SITUATIONS
For the first time since 2009, Duke will break in three new starters along the offensive line, replacing the graduated Gabe Brandner (left tackle), Austin Davis (center) and Evan Lisle (right tackle). Filling those shoes will be redshirt senior left tackle Christian Harris, redshirt senior center Zach Harmon and redshirt sophomore right tackle Robert Kraeling. Harmon shifts from right guard, where he started the last two years, to center with sophomore Rakavius Chambers sliding in at guard.
Jones is looking to what Army West Point did on defense last year and knowing he can put the offense into a good situation.
“With Army, the pressures are not as much a one-on-one battle,” Jones said. “They’re going to bring different pressures and different looks. They’re going to try to confuse you or get you to go the other way. That’s on my shoulders, to make sure we’re in the right situation and right protection to be successful. Like I said, I think we have a good plan this week as far as handling those pressures and those different looks.”
LOOKING TO BE MORE PHYSICAL THIS TIME AROUND
A year ago, Duke suffered a 21-16 setback at Army West Point on November 11. The loss was the final in a string of six consecutive defeats before the Blue Devils rallied and won the final three games of the year.
Duke is making a concerted effort to be more physical this time around against the Black Knights.
“Every time you play Army West Point, Navy, Georgia Tech or the Air Force, you have to try to match up physically,” Cutcliffe said. “Hopefully we can do that better than we have before.”
Giles-Harris agreed physicality was going to be a key for Duke’s defense on Friday night.
“I think we didn’t play as physical as we wanted to and that was a big problem late in the game as there were a couple of stops we couldn’t get,” he said. “We have a lot of stuff to improve on from last year. Yes, we held them to 21 points, but at the same time we want to get some more stops while playing a more physical brand of football.”
McDUFFIE ON THE MEND, MULTIPLE DBs TO PLAY
Duke senior safety Jeremy McDuffie underwent surgery on November 27, 2017, to repair ligament damage in his right knee suffered against Georgia Tech in week 11. He has been progressing well, but Cutcliffe noted he is not back to 100 percent yet.
“There are some things Jeremy can do and hopefully he will be able to play in this game,” Cutcliffe said. “We just can’t count on him being 100 percent yet, but he will be soon.”
With McDuffie not fully back, the Blue Devils will have multiple defensive backs play on Friday evening.
“Josh Blackwell, Leonard Johnson and Marquis Waters have all been here a couple years and they are extremely well prepared,” Cutcliffe said. “Leonard is going to play a role in this game. He is big and he can run. Marquis is a much better physical product this year. We’re going to play a lot of people there.
“Matt Guerrieri hasn’t done a good job but a great job in getting those guys ready,” Cutcliffe continued. “We have a lot of combinations we can play and we’re trying to work more than just a few people at corner. I’m excited. I know there’s a couple new faces but it’s the most athletic secondary that we’ve had.”
JONES ENTERS YEAR THREE
On Friday night, Jones is set to begin his third year as Duke’s starting quarterback. The Charlotte, N.C., native has seen his comfort level continue to grow throughout his Blue Devil tenure.
“We communicate, we go watch tape together, see different things and try to change things up if we see fit, without the coaches having to tell us to do something here or there,” Lloyd said. “We have a great relationship and it just comes naturally, really.”
Jones is eager to get Friday’s action going.
“It’s nice that we’re one day earlier,” Jones said. “It seems like this has been taking a while to get to this first game. It’s a big opportunity for us to show what we’ve been working for and how prepared we’re going to be.”
#GoDuke
