A True Test for the Defense is Coming

GTCrew4b

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I think Duke's experienced offense and non-crazy playcalling coming off of a bye will give our defense its stiffest challenge yet.

Looking at the Depth Chart it looked like they have an upperclassman at every starting position on offense. Granted they're Duke upperclassmen, but still that type of experience will not lend itself well to our current strategy of waiting for critical mistakes. I think we'll be more willing to press in coverage this week, but the defense will have to play another smart, disciplined, fast game.

Both VPI and Miami came in with some injury concerns to their offensive line. Duke has no such health concerns. And we had the bye week to prepare for Miami.

I think we'll finally see the shootout many of us have been predicting throughout the year.

I still think we can beat Duke with a B- overall game, but we'll need the defense to make a couple stops.
 

WreckRod

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Some really good locker room poster board fodder from the talking heads lately - if nothing else should help balance out any of the positive stuff people are saying. Keep guys motivated. I hope that we can match up a bit more favorably with Duke's skill players, let the DB's play a little more tight man coverage and send some more blitzes. That outside blitz by Davis was a thing of beauty. At the snap when the DE nabbed the Tackle I was shouting "DAVIS COMING FREE!!" and was just hoping he wouldn't overrun it.
 

coit

Y’all got any more of that D Fence?
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How bad did Duke beat Miami when they played?
 

coit

Y’all got any more of that D Fence?
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About as badly as we beat Miami last year.

Seriously, if you think Duke is so good, why not give us an assessment of why they didn't beat Miami.
 

GTTerrific

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Granted they're Duke upperclassmen
You don't show them much respect here. Are our upperclassman that much better than Duke's?

Duke has given us fits. Yes, we've beat them like 10 out of last 11 games. Something like that. They've still given us fits.

BTW, I think they'll beat out eyes out if we play a B- game.

Duke knows that they can get back in the race for the coastal by knocking us off. We're going to see their best this week.

We've got to play well to beat everyone left on our schedule. I think we're capable of doing just that.
 

Allen Koholic

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Duke scored ten points against Miami. They played one team of value and didn't look good. Duke isn't very good, they just play a limp-wristed schedule.
 

Allen Koholic

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Duke has given us fits. Yes, we've beat them like 10 out of last 11 games. Something like that. They've still given us fits.
When? When we beat them by four touchdowns or only three? Or that one year when they made it look close in garbage time? Other than Chan Gailey's ultimate derp moment, we've owned them. For twenty years.
 

wesleyd21

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Cutcliffe is probably licking his chops thinking about our Cushion D. Don't think we can play that way against them and get away with it.

Miami's DL gave Duke a really hard time. Our DL isn't as capable. Will have to bring some blitzes.
 

JacketFan77

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How's this for a challenge:
Heisman-caliber RB
Consistent top-15 recruiting ranking
5-0 against Tech in the last 5 meetings

Duke? Nope.

The team we just beat? Yep.

Next team we face anywhere near that talented? Clemson. 11/15

All this team has to do is keep its foot on the gas. I fully expect them to do it. Grow some balls. All this Chicken Little bullshit makes our fan base look like a bunch of pussies.
 

Akinji07

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How's this for a challenge:
Heisman-caliber RB
Consistent top-15 recruiting ranking
5-0 against Tech in the last 5 meetings

Duke? Nope.

The team we just beat? Yep.

Next team we face anywhere near that talented? Clemson. 11/15

All this team has to do is keep its foot on the gas. I fully expect them to do it. Grow some balls. All this Chicken Little bullshit makes our fan base look like a bunch of pussies.
 

coit

Y’all got any more of that D Fence?
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All this Chicken Little bullshit makes our fan base look like a bunch of pussies.

I know I am going overboard on calling people out on it, but I am seriously bewildered that people are so freaking negative.

Before they got married, did they sit for weeks on end and envision all the bad things that could happen to their marriage?

I would hope not.
 
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I know I am going overboard on calling people out on it, but I am seriously bewildered that people are so freaking negative.

Before they got married, did they sit for weeks on end and envision all the bad things that could happen to their marriage?

I would hope not.
Well, marriage ends one of two ways, divorce or death. Once you accept that, you're good to go.
 

gte490v

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The original poster has a point.

Duke will take what we give them and with our "bend, but don't break" defense it will be frustrating as they dink-and-dunk down the field. Red zone stops will be huge for both sides, fortunately, we're doing great at putting up 7's. If we trade FG's for TD's, then we can absorb the one or two big plays.

I expect Duke to protect the QB and pass a lot. I am prepared to be frustrated with the defense after a 7-10 point win.
 

gtrower

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Boone's last 3 games (Tulane, Kansas, @Miami):

56/110 (50.9%)
180 pypg
4.91 ypa
2 TDs (both against Tulane)
3 INTs

These are not defensive juggernauts we're talking about. And only the Miami game (by far his worst of the year) was on the road although bad weather could have contributed. I honestly think we're giving Boone too much credit for what he was hyped to do this year. They have minimal passing threats outside of Crowder and Boone hasn't been playing well. Unless they used the bye to make a groundbreaking gameplan we should own this team.

Christ, JT5 has a better TD/INT ratio than Boone right now:
JT5: 7/1
Boone: 7/3

Yes, our QB has as many TD passes as Boone, and fewer INTs. Through a tougher schedule.
 
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