Getting Ready For ‘Bama
Challenging? Of course. A huge opportunity? Absolutely.
Coaches are notorious for hyping up their opponents. Dean Smith could make the VMI basketball team sound like the Visigoths getting ready to plunder Rome.
But nobody can question Duke’s David Cutcliffe when he calls Alabama “Probably the most talented team, top-to-bottom, in the country. On top of that they’re extremely well-coached. They don’t have a lot of penalties, they don’t bust assignments, they don’t make errors. They make you play their strengths.”
How do you counter that?
“You take your team and work as hard as you can on what you think your strengths are and how you have to go about developing and building on those. That’s why games like this are good for you.”
Duke went in full pads today and they’ll do the same tomorrow, before hitting the Peach State for Saturday’s opening against the Crimson Tide.
Cutcliffe certainly didn’t sound like a man on the way to the gallows.
“Obviously, we’re going out there to win a football game.”
What are the strengths that could enable Duke to pull off the upset?
“This team can run the football. We are diverse offensively. There are a lot of different people who will come into play. We’re a lot more physical than we’ve been in both lines of scrimmage, particularly along the defensive front. We’ve got a fast football team. To play these caliber of teams, you’ve got to be able to run. If you can’t run with them, you can’t tackle them. If you can’t run with them, you can’t get away from them.”
Koby Quansah is one of the guys who can run and hit. Duke’s most experienced linebacker broke a thumb in practice last week.
His status for Saturday?
“He practiced today,” Cutcliffe said. “I would call Koby ‘day-to-day.’ The whole focus with any player who has been injured and certainly coming off surgery is can we put him in a situation where he’s protected completely and will have no chance of further injury and can he be effective. We don’t know the answer to how effective he can be. The doctors and the trainers feel good about him being ready to play. We’re still working day-to-day to figure out where he is.”
Unofficially, the word is that he should play.
Duke has 15 freshmen listed on its two deep and several more who could play Saturday.
“We’ve counting on our veterans to step up and we’re counting on our inexperienced people to be disciplined, focused and be the best that they can be,” Cutcliffe says.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Shaka Heyward is one of those youngsters. Brandon Hill has missed some time this fall and Heyward has moved ahead of him and should start Saturday,
Cutcliffe calls Heyward an “outstanding tackler. He’s big, he’s been really decisive. He’s getting off his spot and he’s playing downhill.”
True freshman Jacob Monk and redshirt freshman Casey Holman have moved ahead of incumbents and are slated to get their baptism under fire at right and left offensive tackle respectively.
Cutcliffe calls Monk “one of our more consistent pass protectors” and says Holman “hasn’t missed a beat. He’s a very fierce competitor.”
Rakavius Chambers is a junior. He’s starting at right guard, right beside Monk and he says the youngster has earned the starting nod.
“He’s someone who has really stepped into a role as a leader and really welcomed the challenge of being a starter. It speaks to his character and his ability to follow directions, his ability to learn on the run. He’s leaning on the older guys, Jack [Wohlabaugh] myself and Zach Baker but he’s also learning on his own.”
Chamber is from Opelika Alabama. He grew up an Auburn fan.
Chambers calls this opener the “Superbowl for me. It’s one of the reasons I came to Duke. These guys have always been the big dogs in Alabama and this is a chance to show what I have, who I am as a person and as a player. I think the team is ready. We’re all really excited for this opportunity and the opportunity to show what we’ve got, to show where we are as a team and a program.”
Duke is going to have to run the ball to have a chance Saturday and Chambers says the offensive line is ready.
“Their D-line is always one of the best in the country. We embrace the opportunity to show who we are and why we’re one of the best offensive lines in the country. A big challenge for us and everyone has embraced that challenge and really understands that this is our moment to shine.”
Monk and Holman aren’t the only new starters on the offensive line. Redshirt senior guard Zach Baker isn’t exactly a new face. But he came into the fall with two career starts and now he’s not only running ahead of incumbent Julian Santos at left guard but he’s also a co-captain.
Cutcliffe says Baker has worked himself into the role of team leader.
“He had one-of-those-prior-to your-senior-year-incredible-summers. Everyday I came in Zach was the first one to work. He was really focused on helping his team. He’s been a great leader for us. I think it’s awesome. Seniors are supposed to play like seniors and that’s what Zach is doing.”
Even if Duke runs the ball and controls the clock Alabama’s potent offense is going to see the field. That includes 2018 Heisman runner-up Tua Tagovailoa.
Cutcliffe knows something about quarterbacks and he loves Tagovailoa’s game.
“He has everything you want to start with in a quarterback. Unbelievable accuracy. Great, quick release. If he has the time, he’s going to be accurate and he’s going to be deadly with the ball down the field. So, you’ve got to mix up coverage, you’ve got to mix up rush, make it as difficult on him as possible.”
Defensive end Tre Hornbuckle says Duke has to be smart with the mobile Tagovailoa.
“You’ve got to rush smarter, have an awareness of where the QB is at. Don’t let him get out of the pocket. Try to keep him collapsed in the pocket, where we can get sacks. He’s smart.He’s not a Heisman finalist for no reason. He gets the ball out quick. He has a lot of intangibles you can’t teach. It will be fun chasing him around.”
Hornbuckle adds that discipline is the key.
“Look to play hard, play fast, play together as one. Be the best version of me that I can be. Don’t try to be a super-hero, do my 1/11th to the best of my ability. No nerves just excitement.”
That’s the manta around the program this week. Excitement, not fear, a chance to show the world what Duke football is all about.
“You’re looking for a competitive fierceness,” Cutcliffe adds. “You don’t go play in this game and not get exposed if you’re not a fierce competitor. When you play in these caliber of games, your first effort Is never enough. It’s your second, your third effort. The other thing is focus. Whether it’s noise or a very difficult opponent, your focus is challenged. Part of our strength has to be the amount of work we’ve put in. Your June and July meets another team’s June and July.”
DBR Auctions|Blue Healer Auctions| Drop us a line