{"id":7708,"date":"2014-11-12T10:28:40","date_gmt":"2014-11-12T15:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/capitalsportsnc.com\/?p=7708"},"modified":"2014-11-12T10:28:40","modified_gmt":"2014-11-12T15:28:40","slug":"duke-virginia-tech-football-going-in-opposite-directions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitalsportsnc.com\/?p=7708","title":{"rendered":"Duke, Virginia Tech football going in opposite directions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dukefootballhelmet\"<\/a>Duke is battling for a second straight ACC Coastal Division Championship, while Virginia Tech is languishing at the bottom of the division.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean the Blue Devils expect an easy game Saturday when the Hokies travel to Wallace Wade Stadium. The Duke players and coaches still remember nine years of frustration in dealing with Virginia Tech \u2013 a losing streak that was only snapped by a narrow 13-10 margin a year ago in Blacksburg, Va.<\/p>\n

Plus, for all their problems in ACC play, the Hokies did travel to Ohio State earlier this season and hand the Buckeyes their only defeat of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cVirginia Tech has been open and, I\u2019m sure, has gotten a little healthier,\u201d Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. \u201cThat\u2019s an issue they\u2019ve had to deal with all season as they\u2019ve had a rash of critical injuries. It\u2019s been tough on them. I expect to see a healthier team \u2013 a team that\u2019s going to be highly motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the Hokies need two wins in their final three games to become bowl eligible for the 22nd consecutive season.<\/p>\n

Duke, which became bowl eligible for the third straight season by beating Virginia on Oct. 18, has its sights set on the division title. With three ACC games left to play, the Blue Devils are the only team in the division with just one loss.<\/p>\n

In fact, it\u2019s possible that Duke could clinch at least a tie for the division crown this Saturday, depending on the outcome of three games. First, Duke would have to beat Virginia Tech to get to 5-1 in ACC play. Then, Clemson would have to hand Georgia Tech its third ACC loss that afternoon in Atlanta. And, finally, unbeaten Florida State would need to hand Miami its third ACC loss that night in Miami, Fla.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not something the Blue Devils are focused on at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in the back of our minds,\u201d senior Dezmond Johnson said when asked about the division race. \u201cBut it\u2019s not something we think about. We can only win one game Saturday. That\u2019s our focus right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the Duke veterans know enough to understand the issues Virginia Tech presents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a tough game,\u201d quarterback Anthony Boone said, emphasizing the problems presented by legendary Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster.<\/p>\n

\u201cBud Foster\u2019s defense is a Bud Foster defense,\u201d Boone said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty confusing. When it comes to coverages, they are not conventional. A lot of guys in different places. It\u2019s kind of hard to track who\u2019re safeties, who\u2019re corners, who\u2019re linebackers. He deals in confusion a little bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe brings pressure. He puts those guys in good man-to-man coverage. They\u2019re a great defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cutcliffe noted one other aspect of Virginia Tech\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a physical football team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a physical war any time we play them. We have to step up to match them physically.\u201d<\/p>\n

A year ago, Virginia Tech limited Duke to a season low 198 total yards and forced four Blue Devil turnovers.<\/p>\n

BEAMERBALL OR CUTCLIFFE-BALL <\/p>\n

Virginia Tech is justly famous for their special teams excellence over the years \u2013 so much so that commentators have come up with a word to describe it: Beamerball.<\/p>\n

But the fact is that over the last few years \u2013 especially this season \u2013 Duke has been the superior special teams team. In fact, the difference in last year\u2019s game basically came down to the fact that Duke placekicker Ross Martin was 2-of-2 on field goals, connecting from 51 and 53 yards, while Virginia Tech placekicker Cody Journell missed 2-of-3 field goal tries.<\/p>\n

So far this season, Martin has been perfect \u2013 13-of-13 field goals and 38-of-38 extra points. He\u2019s the only kicker in the ACC \u2013 and one of just three nationally \u2013 who hasn\u2019t missed a kick this season.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not just Martin. DeVon Edwards leads the ACC in kickoff returns as Duke ranks second nationally in that category. Jamison Crowder just returned a punt for a touchdown to turn the Syracuse game around. Punter Will Monday currently has the seventh best career punting average in ACC history.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we\u2019re a unique team in that we\u2019ve got a very experienced snapper and an outstanding one and an outstanding placekicker and an outstanding punter, an outstanding kickoff man and two REALLY outstanding return men with a lot of experience,\u201d Cutcliffe said. \u201cAs we look at it, that\u2019s probably one of the greatest strengths that this team has.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may be one of the greatest strengths I\u2019ve been around in 39 years of coaching. That unit is as good as I been around.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ACC stats show that Duke is superior \u2013 and often far superior \u2013 to Virginia Tech in almost every category involving the kicking game. But Cutcliffe doesn\u2019t put a lot of stock in those numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t pay attention to statistical rankings,\u201d he said. \u201cI look at Virginia Tech and I know the athletes they have in their return game and I know the athletes they have on their punt team. I\u2019m looking at big, physical fast people and the way they fly down the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

SIXTH YEAR FOR BROWN AND DEAVER<\/p>\n

The Duke program got some very good news earlier this week, when the NCAA granted Kelby Brown and Braxton Deaver each a sixth year of eligibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I told our squad, the applause was incredibly loud,\u201d Cutcliffe said. \u201cThat\u2019s the commentary. [If you ask me] what it means to have them come back, you should have heard the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Brown and Deaver were preseason all-star candidates when they were hurt and sidelined for the season during preseason practice. It was particularly tragic since both players were sidelined during the 2012 season with season-long injuries.<\/p>\n

Brown came back to earn first team All-ACC honor at linebacker in 2013. He was a preseason candidate for both the Butkus and the Bednarik awards. Deaver was the third-team All-ACC tight end in 2013, when he caught 46 passes for 600 yards and four TDs. He was a preseason candidate for the Mackey Award and was listed as the nation\u2019s fourth best tight end by one publication.<\/p>\n

Their return should add a lot to the 2015 Blue Devils.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s hit me yet because I\u2019m dealing with this team,\u201d Cutcliffe said. \u201cBoth of them have been outstanding players and outstanding leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the process for getting a sixth-year waiver is far from automatic. He said that at Ole Miss and Tennessee, he had several prospects who applied and were turned down.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went through the process with conversation with both of them to decide what they wanted to do,\u201d the Duke coach said. \u201cIt was a joyous decision to even apply for it and an even more joyous occasion when the decision came in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cutcliffe said that neither player would participate in spring practice.<\/p>\n

SECONDARY SUCCESS<\/p>\n

Duke currently leads the ACC in pass defense efficiency.<\/p>\n

The Blue Devils are giving up an average of 197.0 passing yards a game, which ranks sixth in the ACC. But Duke has allowed an ACC low five touchdown passes (the next best number in the ACC is nine) and are second in the league in opponents\u2019 completion percentage (52.0 percent).<\/p>\n

And Duke is doing it with a secondary that starts five second year players \u2013 three true sophomores, one redshirt sophomore and a redshirt junior transfer in his second year at Duke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got good people \u2013 everything starts with that,\u201d Cutcliffe said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got good coaches. Jim Knowles schematically does a great job of giving people a lot to deal with. They\u2019re well-coached.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also think our linebackers come into that. We\u2019ve done better job of hurrying people \u2013 we\u2019d like to have more sacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophomore cornerback Breon Borders came up with two pass interceptions last Saturday \u2013 one easy one on a bad throw and one ridiculously difficult one along the sideline.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of had to work for one,\u201d Borders said. \u201cThe other one? Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borders has been in the right place a lot in his brief career at Duke. Through 23 games, he has six interceptions and 12 pass breakups. Two of his picks came against 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston in the ACC title game.<\/p>\n

Cutcliffe expects to see more from his young corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cBreon has a knack \u2013 I\u2019m surprised he doesn\u2019t have more [interceptions] at this point,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s got great, great ball skills. He\u2019s just touching the tip of what he can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE BLIND SIDE<\/p>\n

Virginia Tech has one of the best pass rushes in the ACC, recording 31 sacks in nine games \u2013 second only to Clemson.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Duke has allowed just four sacks this season \u2013 the lowest number in college football. The Blue Devils\u2019 offensive line hasn\u2019t allowed a sack since the Miami game in September.<\/p>\n

A lot of the credit has to go to senior left tackle Tacoby Cofield, who protects Anthony Boone\u2019s blind side. But the 310-poind veteran suggests that Duke\u2019s low sack total is a product of many players performing at a high level.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not really just us as an offensive line,\u201d Cofield said. \u201cIt\u2019s the entire offense \u2013 the backs picking up blitzes; Boone knowing what\u2019s coming and knowing the coverages; the receivers running the right routes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Cofield understands the pivotal role he plays at left tackle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big responsibility,\u201d he said. \u201cI have a great relationship with Boone. We kind of laugh about it sometimes, but I told him, \u2018If something\u2019s going wrong, I\u2019ll yell your name so be ready to run or get rid of the ball.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That hasn\u2019t happened often this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to know we\u2019re protecting the quarterback so well,\u201d Cofield said. \u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve taken a lot of pride in.\u201d<\/p>\n

– Duke Sports Information news release<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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