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
@simple question
November 18th, 2011
7:57 pm
Write it down 1-10, , Georgia hasn’t lost to Tech in Atlanta in 12 years won’t start this year, don’t bet your house, odds are you’d be homeless.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
8:03 pm
@simple question
Don’t bet your mom’s trailer. Odds are you’d be homeless.
superDawg
November 18th, 2011
8:05 pm
ss your are a typical nerd.Trying to put anything you can think of that might have a chance of being ahead of the DAWGS.Only because UGA OWNS AND I SAID OWNS your tek nerd beehind!NUFF SAID!
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
8:09 pm
@superDud
Please email Ken a picture of yourself so he can post it. Some of us really do want to see what the poster child for abortion looks like.
ToeMeetsLeather
November 18th, 2011
8:22 pm
Chill superDawg, it appears you’re about to burst a blood vessel.
Oh, and you might want to invest in some English night classes!
@simple question
November 18th, 2011
8:26 pm
Write it down, Arrogant , prick typical tech . champions of “if”. Hope we run into one another someday.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
8:35 pm
@simple question
Coming from you, that really hurts.
Since you’re home, ask your mom if she takes Visa.
@simple question's mom
November 18th, 2011
8:43 pm
I do accept Visa. Standard rates apply. Me love you long time.
Really?
November 18th, 2011
8:53 pm
As always techies show what class acts they are. It must be so sad to have your entire life revolve around hateing Georgia and the fans of the Bulldogs. What is it like techies having no friends or loved ones or never knowing the touch of a woman that isn’t a relative? I know every tech fan could explain in detail all of those things to me but I would be too bored to care.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
8:54 pm
@simple question
You’re obviously an SEC homer.
You obviously like to parrot history.
Here’s a question I posed the other day on one of the blogs. Maybe you can answer it.
Which team has been *out* of the SEC for almost *50 years* and still has *more SEC Championships* than most teams in that conference?
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
8:57 pm
@Really?/other handles
Please go to your mutt blog. If I wanted to hear an opinion that sounded similar to yours, then I would have farted.
Really?
November 18th, 2011
9:04 pm
write it down
Thanks for proving my point. BTW did you really have to resort to racist comments under another handle. I’m sure ken won’t care since you are a techie but I think racists are even more pathetic than techies. Both are cowards though.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
9:12 pm
@Really?
I’ve never made any racist remarks period. You might try using the ‘Magic Orb’, the ‘Invisible Cloak’, or the ‘Secret Dagger’!
You know why?
Because the ‘Race Card’ just doesn’t work anymore.
Really?
November 18th, 2011
9:30 pm
I’ve never made any racist remarks period. You might try using the ‘Magic Orb’, the ‘Invisible Cloak’, or the ‘Secret Dagger’!
You know why?
Because the ‘Race Card’ just doesn’t work anymore.
I have no idea what any of that means but I’m sure if I did it would mean I am just as pathetic as you and the rest of the tech boys.
GT Fan
November 18th, 2011
9:31 pm
headley lamar talks of earning his degree from Troy (AL), but he brags about UGA he says “we”.
Now that’s rich.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
9:36 pm
@Really?
“I have no idea what any of that means…”
I’m quite certain that you don’t know very much period. Thus, you are a dawg fan.
A simple ‘thank you’ would be fine. Enjoy my tax dollars as much as you can.
Write it down.
November 18th, 2011
9:38 pm
Good night everyone.
Maybe the ‘competition’ will be a litte stronger another night.
Some people don't get irony....
November 18th, 2011
9:38 pm
Really?
November 18th, 2011
8:53 pm
As always techies show what class acts they are. It must be so sad to have your entire life revolve around hateing Georgia and the fans of the Bulldogs.
—-
From someone who comes on the GT Beat blog and posts insults.
Dawg48
November 18th, 2011
9:38 pm
Good luck tomorrow GT.
It should not be to noisy of a crowd up their at duke, and y’all should be use to not playing in front of a sell out crowd!
macrotech
November 18th, 2011
9:59 pm
Dawg48, thanks! I’m sure we’ll have a good time! YOU be sure to enjoy watching anyone else win the sec…I’m SURE you’re used to it! Thanks for stopping by a blog that has NOTHING to do with the mutts…be sure to take your trash with you…something y’all aren’t USED to doing!
Dawg48
November 18th, 2011
10:02 pm
Some one is sensitive tonight!
Bicurious Bulldawg
November 18th, 2011
10:08 pm
I hope we win tomorrow so headley will treat me right after the game. He was really violent after the Boise loss. UGA rolls on to the SECG. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOF!!!!!!!!
@simple question
November 18th, 2011
10:43 pm
write it down, yes write it down Tech won 2 conference Championships 1952, big deal, Tech is ancient history little prick.Behind the keyboard bravery 101 required class at tech.Thats how far tech has to go to be relevant. LOL.
superDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:50 pm
Ok, I hav seen the lite. macroid and ss have finaly convinced me that I have been acting like a litle girl who’s mommie took away her dols. I promise to try to do better in the futur. But if mommie keeps taking away my dols, I may act lik a jurk again. Pleese forgiv me if I do
superDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:54 pm
Dawg48, can I play with one of yur dols tonite so I want be so meen?
SuperQueerDawg
November 18th, 2011
11:02 pm
Headley, they filtered my message
I wanted to tell them about the angry hate sex we have with each other after losses. Luckily we have not had to do that much this year.
Go Dawgs!!!
Golden Rod
November 18th, 2011
11:45 pm
We’re all down here at the Purple Cucumber on North Ave. practicing the triple option wearing nothing but our yellow wigs. Come on down GT Bob, Joe, Supersize…heck, all the guys. Boy, football is so much fun! Beat the Blue Devils, then beat the DAWGS!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Golden Rod
November 18th, 2011
11:58 pm
All you haters are screening my messages! Nothing wrong with being Queer here in Atl. That’s just our lifestyle….Goooooooooooooo Jackets! ” I can’t believe it’s not butter works just as well as KY!
Golden Rod
November 19th, 2011
12:04 am
Supersize…..can you also guarantee Tech will beat Ga.? Otherwise, STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Extra queerDawg hold the Mayo
November 19th, 2011
12:06 am
Big rainbow bulldawg is goin on top of my head tomorrow for our game against the big KY. Hope my dawgs aren’t looking ahead to LSU the same thing could happen to them that happened to OK State.
Extra queerDawg hold the Mayo
November 19th, 2011
12:07 am
Headley, Jmar you want to meet up in our usual spot? I am bringing all of the condiments for our tailgating activities. We love games like hide the bulldawg, snap the one eyed dragon, and pop the porpoise.
GOOOO DAWGS!!!!
Bicurious Bulldawg
November 19th, 2011
12:13 am
I thought all dawg fans enjoyed bicurious activities and stalking athletes? Headley, Jmar can you clarify? You told me it was alright to let you lick mayonnaise off my giggly bits while we looked at recruiting rankings together
collegeballfan
November 19th, 2011
8:16 am
Rice Leads Georgia Tech Past VCU, 73-60
Not a word in the AJC that Tech even played. Picked this up from the GT website.
killerj
November 19th, 2011
8:52 am
Ball control,GT wins,get ready for UGALY.Roll Wreck,THWG!
JM
November 19th, 2011
9:34 am
I was hoping to find a report on the GT – VCU game. Where’s the news?
Will
November 19th, 2011
9:35 am
Im still hoping Washington will mature into a better QB, looking at Jabo Shaw now at Georgia Southern and seeing how he has matured, kind wish he had stayed with us
Paul in NH
November 19th, 2011
9:41 am
If you want to read a report on the GT-VCU game go to
http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=313220059
T. Boone Pickens
November 19th, 2011
9:56 am
My alma mater LOST last night to the laughing stock Iowa State Cyclones and we now will likely fall below UGA and this just makes it easier for UGA to get higher Top 10 rankings as the season unwinds.
UGA fans are delirious with glee knowing NOW that my dumb school got handled last night and this just makes it easier for UGA to CLIMB UP TOWARD THE TOP.
I tried to tell my fans that you wanna be highly ranked at SEASON’S END, not in AUGUST and UGA is proving it and it chaps me. Dang it. We were FOOLS IN AUGUST celebrating rankings ……………cause look at UGA for example. After tonight and next week’s thrashing of GT, they will probably be # 7 or #8 headed toward the COTTON, BY WAY of the FABULOUS SEC C G.
UGA will end up minimally in the COTTON BOWL and make all that $$$$ for their school. Maybe that is why UGA is a RICH SCHOOL and with all my oil money, Oklahoma State is still a backwater school. That why our campus is in Backwater, Oklahoma.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
Ole Bear says ........
November 19th, 2011
9:58 am
Jaybo SHaw will be humiliated tonight vs Alabama. GT is in the same league with Ga. State university, West Ga and GA Southern. SMALL BALL.
Tonight …………..Jaybo will finally realize that he is not major college material, any more than his bro is a SC.
Tech 54
November 19th, 2011
10:05 am
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2011
10:15 am
I guarantee you at season’s end, both VT and Clemson will be ranked higher than the mutts.
+++++++++++++++++
That may be true, but all three will most likely be ranked higher than our boys, so what is your point? I thought this was the Jackets blog, not the bash UGA blog? Grow up fans.
Write it down.
November 19th, 2011
10:26 am
In 2014 Georgia Tech will leave the ACC and FBS (Formerly Div IA) and join the Southern Conference in FCS (Formerly DIV AA).
Is this really true? No, I wanted to make sure Tech fans were awake
.
I might have caused mayhem. Just think of the thuga fans bursting out of their trailers to tell their neighbors after reading two sentences. I hope they watch out for low-lying clotheslines.
andre
November 19th, 2011
10:28 am
cpj ill tell you whats wrong with b back position you have the wrong back in the line up. It shouldnt be sims or lyons it should be perkins and that alone will solve your problem.
Write it down.
November 19th, 2011
10:35 am
@Tech 54
This is a Georgia Tech Football blog. However, when the dawgtrolls get too comfortable, they need to be reminded that they have another blog they can go drool on.
You don’t know me. I don’t think you would be very impressed If I walked into your home and propped my feet on your coffee table.
Write it down.
November 19th, 2011
10:37 am
@andre
I hope you’re right about perkins. We will see today.
Write it down.
November 19th, 2011
10:48 am
@Golden Rod = T. Boone = etc.
You never really stay under one handle for long. The only constant about you is the garbage you spew.
Do us a favor.
Fill the bathtube with water.
Stand in it.
Plug your moms hair dryer in.
Drop it in the tub with you.