6 questions about Duke
Greetings-
The weekly Q&A with a beat writer who covers Georgia Tech’s opponent. This week, Steve Wiseman of the Durham Herald-Sun was gracious enough to answer some questions about the Blue Devils. Steve has been covering Duke for the Herald-Sun since Aug. 2010. He’s previously worked at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, the Biloxi Sun-Herald and the State in Columbia, covering the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and South Carolina, respectively. You can follow him on Twitter here and read his stuff here.
1. To what degree have Duke’s injuries cost the Blue Devils? Could their record be a win or two better if they’d been healthy?
Injuries have really cost Duke this year. It started early when Will Snyderwine, the preseason all-ACC kicker, suffered a foot injury in preseason camp. He missed two chip-shot field goals in a 23-21 loss to Richmond and has never been the same. He also had a big miss in the 24-23 loss to Wake Forest. So that’s two wins right there. The Blue Devils will have seven players from their two-deep unavailable for Saturday’s game with Georgia Tech.
2. Duke has played a lot of teams close only to lose in the fourth quarter. Do you see any patterns in how those games have been lost?
In David Cutcliffe’s four years on the job, he’s upgraded facilities and improved Duke’s recruiting. The talent in the freshmen and sophomore classes is superior to the junior and senior classes. But Cutcliffe and his staff have been unable to teach the Blue Devils how to win games. One game, it’s a key penalty or turnover that costs them. In another it will be blown assignments on defense, the offensive line allowing a key sack or a running back not getting to the hole fast enough. The 14-10 loss to Virginia Tech is a good example, as are the Wake Forest and Richmond losses. Duke has yet to give Cutcliffe a signature win, despite several chances.
3. Is safety Matt Daniels that good or does he have that many tackles (10.2 per game) because he’s the last line of defense?
Daniels is a legitimate defender, particularly against the run. He has good size, decent speed and is smart about the routes he takes to the ball carrier. Cutcliffe is touting him as an All-American candidate, which is a tough sell because of the team he plays on. Daniels does tend to get exposed in passing coverage – Florida State burned him on a couple of deep routes – and that will keep him from being any more than a late-round pick or undrafted free agent in the NFL next year. But the kid is very smart, a hard worker and one of the team’s steadiest players for sure.
4. What are Sean Renfree’s strengths and weaknesses, and where do you place him among ACC quarterbacks?
Renfree is a classic drop-back, pro-style quarterback. He’s 6-5 and has the ability to see the field well. He suffered a torn ACL in 2009, which has limited his mobility. Many observers, myself included, thought he would take a big step forward this season and become one of the ACC’s top quarterbacks. But it just hasn’t happened. At times, he looks brilliant. At other times, he’s somewhat erratic. I believe he tends to over think things and it hamstrings him. When he is playing loose and free, he’ll lead a team downfield. But for now he’s in the middle of the pack in the ACC.
5. What would you say is the over/under on attendance Saturday?
22,000. It’s going to be cool and, frankly, the fan base has turned its attention to basketball. Duke is on a five-game losing streak and in real danger of closing out with seven losses. Not a pretty sight.
6. What are a few restaurants or bars you’d recommend to Tech fans going to the game?
The place nearest to Wallace Wade Stadium is the Bull Durham Bar and Grill at the Washington Duke Inn. It’s about a three-block walk to the stadium from there. Other than that, there’s really not much on campus. Two sports bars popular throughout the Triangle have locations in Durham – the Carolina Ale House and the Tobacco Road Sports Café. Tobacco Road is in downtown Durham and overlooks the left-field wall at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, so that’s different. Ale House has lots of seating and a long list of brew choices and good food. One other popular local place is Satisfaction, also in downtown Durham.
Thanks for reading. This is probably it until Saturday.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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295 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2011
11:59 am
Buzzed, I don’t know how much donation you have to make, but mine is pretty steep. You got to really love a team to shell out the bucks like that. I don’t like doing it, but I do love the Jackets, so I grin and bear it.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
12:00 pm
They may be but we won’t really be able to tell until they play a team with a moderately good offense
Too bad there isn’t one left on our schedule.
I mean Tech has decent offensive numbers but look who they’ve played and it is the ACC after all.
Kansas , Western Carolina , Middle Tennessee , and a slew of ACC cupcakes.
Prairie View would probably average 40 points a game against those teams.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
12:01 pm
Enjoy talking to yourself, headley; after all you are the only one who takes anything you say seriously.
Will do
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2011
12:02 pm
headley, if you have a brain in your head, surely you can see that the exact same “logic” that you just used can be applied to UGA’s defensive numbers. Anyway, I am out of here
Bobby Dodds Ghost
November 18th, 2011
12:02 pm
Based on talent , Tech has better personnel, than Coastal, New Mexico state (although their Qb and wr were far superior to techs) and Ole Miss. If tech beats duke 5 wins against teams with a total of ten wins, and you claim Georgia hasn’t player anyone? @ GT bob, so according to your logic bamas defense hasn’t proven anything this year either?
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
12:06 pm
headley, if you have a brain in your head, surely you can see that the exact same “logic” that you just used can be applied to UGA’s defensive numbers. Anyway, I am out of here
If you had a brain you would know that is what I was doing to GTBob’s argument. Showing just how silly it is.
Go back a page and you’ll see. Note the Prairie View comparison.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
12:12 pm
GT bob, so according to your logic bamas defense hasn’t proven anything this year either?
Exactly. I mean who has Bama really beaten ???
Florida, Vandy , Ole Miss , Tenn , Kent St, North Texas
This whole UGA has beaten anybody stuff stems from the fact Ark ( who UGA would beat ) Bama and LSU weren’t on the schedule. We can only play the schedule they give us.
We will play Bama next year in T Town . Where Richt won over Saban last time BTW.
LSU at LSU where, UGA won in a blowout last time, and Bama the year after that.
People sure have short memories.
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
12:13 pm
so according to your logic bamas defense hasn’t proven anything this year either?
Bama held Arkansas to their lowest point total of the season by a wide margin. They have given up a maximum of 14 points all year and only allowed double digits 3 times. UGA gave up 28 points to Vandy. Bama gave up 0. Are you really comparing UGA and Bama defensively?
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
12:25 pm
Here is another UGA/Bama comparison:
UGA points given up against Boise and South Carolina: 80
Alabama points given up all season: 71
Yeah, they are pretty comparable.
GT Fan
November 18th, 2011
12:33 pm
Duke can throw the ball … hope GT’s DBs play MUCH better than the VT game!
If the Jackets can pressure the QB, and the DBs play ball (get a 2 or more ints) I believe they will beat Duke fairly easy.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how GT’s last 4 opponents have performed in their 1st game AFTER playing the Jackets?
UVA … lost, at home, to NCST (not as close as the 28-21 score indicates)
Miami … lost, at home, to UVA (again, not as close as final score indicates)
Clemson … won, at home, by a FG as time expired (CU was trailing by 14 in 3rd Qtr)
VT … won, at home, by 3 over a slumping UNC team that was a 10.5pt underdog
All 4 teams saw the GT game as a must win, and prepared in such a manner. Is this why they all performed so poorly the following week?
GT is by no means a must win for UGA.
How will UGA prepare for the game?
With a game at the GA Dome on 12/3, do the Dawgs really mind if GT wins on 11/26?
If UGA puts in a lot preparation for GT, win or lose on 11/26, how will that affect their chances a week later in the GA Dome?
I hope, just like GT in 2009, UGA has “bigger fish to fry” than GT, and is looking at their 12/3 game.
Go Jackets!
yeller bug
November 18th, 2011
12:41 pm
Getting back to the Duke game for a moment—-a key component will be penalties or the lack thereof. Ken’s article that Tech’s opponents are the least penalized is a statistical anomoly. Although penalty yards stack up for pass interference and Tech rarely (sadly) throws the ball, but it seems ACC refs are very reluctant to call holding on pass plays. This lack of focus on offensive holding is a double detriment to Tech (since we don’t throw) and our pass rush personnel are being held. You could argue that this occurs 3 or 4 times a game. Duke passes a lot and if the refs are slack on calling holding, then it could be a long day for Tech or they may have to blitz a lot to get the pressure on the QB.
Bobby Dodds Ghost
November 18th, 2011
1:02 pm
Gt Bob, defense didn’t give up 45 to south carolina only 24 , rest our offense gave up, yes I thinks its safe to compare the #1 and #4 defenses nationally. Bama played vandy without Jordan Rodgers at QB.Played Tennessee without Bray,. If you don’t see the talent on the georgia D your either blind or don’t know much about football. Groh would kill to have the Georgia players playing on his defense.Tech may have 1 player that would be on 2 deep.
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
1:18 pm
Bobby Dodds Ghost, are you going to keep naming mediocre QB’s as your reason for why UGA is as good as Bama defensively? You must confuse Jordan Rodgers with his brother if you think he makes a 28 point difference.
Here are their common opponents:
Florida: Bama 10, UGA 20
Vandy: Bama 0, UGA 28
Tenn: Bama 6, UGA 12
Miss: Bama 7, UGA 13
Miss St: Bama 7, UGA 10
Were all of those teams without their starting QB’s who would have made an enormous difference?
bobby
November 18th, 2011
2:11 pm
TECH WILL KICK TAIL THIS SATURDAY AND WIN BIG.
bulldog steve
November 18th, 2011
2:17 pm
How did Tech lose to St Joseph’s hospital in basketball. Did not know they even had a team.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
2:25 pm
“Kansas , Western Carolina , Middle Tennessee , and a slew of ACC cupcakes.
Prairie View would probably average 40 points a game against those teams.”
You almost made a point, there. Tennessee 24, Middle Tennessee 0.
Georgia Tech 49, Middle Tennessee 21. In Murphreesboro.
42-7 after 3 quarters. Washington left in the third quarter after completing 5 of 8 passes for 202 yards. Sims and backup quarterback Synjyn Days had 91 yards rushing each.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
2:26 pm
Bobby Dodds Ghost, are you going to keep naming mediocre QB’s as your reason for why UGA is as good as Bama defensively?
What great Qb’s has bama faced ?
Jordan Jefferson , Jarret Lee ???
Listen dummy nobody is saying the UGA defense is on the same level as Bama.
However difference isn’t as far apart as you think. Our offense is alot better than Bama’s too
But of course we havent played anybody blah blah blah.
I just wish we could get Tech off the schedule so maybe we could play somebody good that last game.
You know a good team that might actually win every once in awhile.
SansWorld
November 18th, 2011
2:27 pm
Wasn’t St Joe’s int he Final Fout a few years ago?
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
2:30 pm
Call up John Kincaid on 680thefan and hassle him. St. Joseph’s is one of the Philadelphia Big 5.
BOWL GAMES DEFINE A TRADITION
November 18th, 2011
2:30 pm
Since the mid 1950s, GT has been possibly to three or four so called major bowls. A major is Sugar, Rose, Cotton and the Orange. We made the Fiesta a MAJOR a few years ago. The Capitol One and the Outback Bowls are very near to being a major, as well. Why?Money defines that status. Chic Fil A is not one nor is the Gator or the Music City of Liberty, or the Micron Bowl or that Blue Carpet Bowl or that Emerald City thang in SF that GT giggled about …………..maybe the GT boys like San Francisco.
UGA has been to three Sugars and one or two Capitol One Bowls, in Richt’s era and may in fact go to the Sugar AGAIN THIS YEAR. FOur in 11 will not be bad, given that GT has four majors in 55 years. See? Simply no comparison.
GT has been to the 1955 or 56 Sugar Bowl, the 1967 Orange and the 2009 Orange and LOST THEM ALL !
Lately, or recent history or long ago history, either way, UGA dwarfs sad lil GT in MAJOR bowl trips and TRADITION. GT with 3 majors in 55 years. UGA with four or 5 in the last 10 years and soon to be 11. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAH,AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAAHA
GT Fan
November 18th, 2011
2:31 pm
bulldog steve …. 3pt shooting is how St Jo’s (9 of 18) beat the Jackets (1 of 11). Everything else was fairly even.
St. Joe Hospital Head Nurse
November 18th, 2011
2:34 pm
Our girls squad of nurses defeated Georgia Tech’s MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM in Sandy Springs last night in front of 450 Tech fans and we are so proud of our hospital’s GIRLS TEAM.
GT played tough vs our nurses. We wish them well going forward. They have a good little club.
SansWorld
November 18th, 2011
2:39 pm
Headly, why do you want to play a good team instead of Tech. whenever you have played a good team, you lose.
Sorry facts are facts, you beat up on teams with issues, you barely beat mediocre teams like Vandy and UT, and you lose to anything close to the Top twenty-five.
You blow out a seriously flawed teams like Auburn, and suddenly UGA are lion killers?
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
There a are whole bunch of institutions named after St. Joseph. He was the father of somebody famous.
Those excited BOWL BOUND TEAMS are hearing the phones ringing off the hook
November 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
What bowl is Tech headed to? Hmmmmmmmm? If they were such a BIG $$ draw with TV cameras and fans, what bowl will they attend?
Once again, this selection will show GT to be only a low level program in a low level league. Yes, UGA for two years running has sucked. WE HOWEVER, made it better and changed the direction with a D COACH BABY !!!. Tech? Al Groh has done nothing and is a failure.
GT …………..you toilet bowl invite is fast approaching. Enjoy it.
Goooooooooooooo Dogs. Think about us tomorrow, after we abuse Kenturky in front of 90,000 fans, and as we bask in the glow of one more SEC EAST TITLE.
The Duke game will seat 12,000 fans. Sad, pathetic and it is what it is. SMALL BALL.
GT Fan
November 18th, 2011
2:42 pm
ST J head nurse, quit stealing the patients’ pills. Below is info regarding the St Jo’s GT lost to last night. They are located in the Philadelphia, PA area, and play in the Atlantic 10 Conf.
In 16 seasons as Saint Joseph’s University head coach, Phil Martelli has built a program that is consistently one of the top in the conference, a perennial post-season participant and a key player on the national scene, while earning his place among the top coaches in the school’s storied history. He enters his 27th year overall at SJU, including 10 seasons as an assistant coach.
His 16-year career mark stands at 300-209, and he is nine victories away from tying the SJU record held by Bill Ferguson. Setting the school record for wins in a season (30) in 2004, Martelli has guided SJU to 20 or more victories six times in 16 seasons. He is 150-106 in Atlantic 10 play, which is the most conference wins for any active coach in the A-10.
Phil Martelli:
2004 Consensus National Coach of the Year
Four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (2005, 2004, 2001, 1997)
Head Coach, 2005 USA Basketball Under 21 World Championship Team
between the lines
November 18th, 2011
2:44 pm
delbert you do notice the zero part when Tenn. played Middle tenn, with its 4th string QB.Beat duke this weekend and that 5 times techs beaten with a total of 10 wins. 342 yards offense and 21.2 points per game over the past 5 games.Dawgs are shivering.Notice too that even against the cupcakes there aren’t any Zeros for the defense. How many times has Tech defense held a team to negative yards rushing?
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
2:46 pm
Sun Bowl, maybe. Second oldest bowl. Georgia record: 1-1-1. Georgia Tech record: 1-0.
Really?
November 18th, 2011
2:47 pm
Tech will lose.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
2:50 pm
Everybody remembers Matty Goukas of St. Joseph’s, right? 1st round draft pick, played for Matt Sr.
T3
November 18th, 2011
2:50 pm
One thing I can conclude from all the useless POS dawg trolls on this board:
They’re either teenage juvenile deliquents, UGA students, or unemployed…
or all 3 combined.
.
Hey: sansworld
November 18th, 2011
2:50 pm
When UGA stomps GT 45-20, what will you say then??? Hmm?
I know, I know, we will agree that GT was a no body.
It is coming. Be prepared GT …………..be prepared. Will Murray roll out and keep it? Will Murray do play action? Will Murray just abuse GT’s corners and burn them at will with 45 yarders???
Will UGA’s GO TO MAN be Mike Bennett or Marlon Brown or Orson Charles or Tavarres King or will it BE MALCOM MICHELL, or will it be our 6′6″ 270 LB tight end Figgins who abused AU with a TD. Can you cover ONE of them? Can you cover THREE OF THEM??? GT, it is coming.
After AM scorches the GT corners, he will run his small backs along with CROWELL and they will control the clock and GT will lose for the 10th time in Mark Richt’s 11 years. NOw, we know that we ahve been no good, right? How did CMR accomplish this feat over mighty GT??? Answer; GT is lousy and has been since like 1955 or was it 1956???
Then, GT will tell the world after they are destroyed by UGA that they are going to the prestigious ??? Bowl. AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Waffle House Bowl that gives the winner FREE GRITS. AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:09 pm
between the lines – Georgia Tech played their 4th string QB, too. They’ve done that 2 times this year. Don’t want to pull the redshirt off Vad Lee.
Tech’s defense isn’t that good. Too small, way too young and inexperienced, no big-name transfers like Jenkins and the guy from USC that Georgia got. The best player is ILB Julian Burnett, and he’s only 5-10. Washington can’t pass, except sometimes when he can. He’s thrown 5 really great deep balls this year that totally surprised the intended receivers. If Tech gets 6 turnovers, they might have a chance.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:12 pm
CPJ is not responsible for 7 of those losses. Mano a mano against Richt, it’s 1-2.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
Mano a mano against Richt, it’s 1-2.
About to be 1-3. An probably 0-4 in the bowl games for a whooping 1-7 in his most important games.
Right now he is 1-5 in bowl games and against UGA. Not very impressive.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:22 pm
headley – I think you mean’t to say whopping 1-7 in his most important games.
You did something that isn’t possible, though. You tried to predict the future, over a week away.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
and you lose to anything close to the Top twenty-five.
Tell that to Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Tennessee
All of whom we have routinely whipped when they were ranked … sometimes in the Top 10 or even the Top 5. We have winning records under Richt against all those teams. Some of the by allot ( Tech )
Sorry your argument doesn’t hold water.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:26 pm
You did something that isn’t possible, though. You tried to predict the future, over a week away.
It is. If this Tech team and UGA played 100 times we would win 90 of them.
So unless you guys catch some kind of miracle that will be his record.
I guess I don’t understand the Tech fascination with CPJ. I mean what has he ever done ?
Richt has won two SEC titles and won or tied for the East 5 of 11 years.
And that’s in the SEC where it is much tougher not the ACC.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:32 pm
“If this Tech team and UGA played 100 times we would win 90 of them.”
Statistics are useful in analyzing the past. Unfortunately, we don’t live there. We live in the present, or more explictly, multiple presents as they slide into the past. Quantum mechanics, you know.
SansWorld
November 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
45-20….abuse GT’s corners…. 6′6″ 270 LB tight end…… scorches the GT corners….. it is coming….. GT is lousy… AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA ……
And UGA still will not have beaten a good team this year.
Hell the worse GT is, the more insignificant your 4 touchdown win will be.
Honestly, you guys sound familiar, I think I have heard UGA say the same thing before. When was it? Oh yeah 9/2/11, 11/26/10, 11/10/10, 9/4/09, the entire 2008 season and of course 11/28/08. Tell me, when was the last time UGA has glorified and puffed themselves up as much as they think they are right now, and end up actually winning? 1980?
You have a common pattern of think that yo are much better than you really are, and leaving disappointed.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
Using your logic, Mark Richt would win 27.2727272727… times if his team played Florida 100 times.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
More proof UGA’s defense is heading in the right direction.
Here are the PPG totals dating back to 2003.
2003 13.5
2004 16.1 ( Van Gorder last Year )
2005 14.6
2006 17.1
2007 21.0
2008 25.6
2009 26.4 ( Martinez last year )
2010 23.1
2011 18.6
Its pretty easy to see that things are trending back in the right direction.
SansWorld
November 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
“routinely whipped when they were ranked ” I meant this years team of course.
UGA has had many good teams, and fine wins in it’s history. Can’t deny that.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:42 pm
You have a common pattern of think that yo are much better than you really are, and leaving disappointed.
Actually we are as good as we think we are. Maybe even better.
We have the 11th most wins all time in NCAA history
3rd most SEC titles all time
Under Richt we have finished in the Top 10 6 of 10 years ( About to be 7 of 11 )
9 out of 10 against our little brother from the ACC ( Tech )
We win. All the time. Its what we do.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
SanWorld – That is why people like headley try to find comfort on the Georgia Tech blog. Disappointment from no more MNCs and the resulting envy of Georgia Tech in everything else in life.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
“routinely whipped when they were ranked ” I meant this years team of course.
We can only play the schedule we were given.
We cant help it if Tech is on it.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:44 pm
Disappointment from no more MNCs and the resulting envy of Georgia Tech in everything else in life.
Good one. Thanks needed the chuckle.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2011
3:46 pm
The best years in the past were 2003 to 2007 in Richt-years. Go live in a corner of your room and don’t worry about the future. If things don’t work out exactly right, it might not even happen to us.
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:49 pm
Let me ask you guys this.
How many points do you think UGA will be favored by next week ?
Now ask your self why do you think we would be favored on your field ?
Could it be that most people agree we are the superior team ?
headley lamar
November 18th, 2011
3:53 pm
The best years in the past were 2003 to 2007 in Richt-years.
2002 was pretty good too. We were 13-1 that year.
We had a couple down years ( Like every program does. Ask Alabama )
Thats all. Now its time for the upswing again.
Sad part is you guys couldn’t beat us when we were at our lowest.
Your really in for the pain now.