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Report Card and Game Balls for BC Game

Being at the game up here in Boston yesterday, a couple of notes. 

The tailgating here is virtually non-existent. 
The atmosphere in Alumni Stadium was so-so at best. They had their moments especially when they were up 14-0 early. They were into the game. 

However, when we started to clamp down and Stephen got going, you could see the momentum begin to turn our way, and especially more so after the Pick 6 by Denzel to tie the game at 14 at the end of the 1st quarter. I could tell we didn't quit, we kept battling out there and the D stepped up when it had to. We ended up with a +2 in the turnover margin, which is pretty good. I like that we were 11-21 on 3rd downs. 

But, I didn't like the fact that we didn't have a pass rush at all, it was non-existent. I also didn't like the fact that we had 9 penalties for 76 yards. I also didn't like the fact that Morris was telegraphing his throws, however, that's fixable. Something Sileo mentioned last night on the postgame was the fact that we allowed I think 5-6 big plays over 20 yards, that needs to change for next game vs K-State. 

Time for the report card:

Offense: B+ The reason for that is that of the nine penalties yesterday, 3 were on the offense, which included 2 false starts. But, the 208 yards rushing and 415 in total Offense, which included 135 out of Duke, raises this grade here. 

Defense: B- Once again, we had little to no answer for the FB screen wide and the TE. We allowed too many big plays and the biggest concern to me was no pass rush. That has to be fixed for next game. Allowing 441 yards passing and 512 yards total offense, that's a concern, but the Denzel pick 6 made up for that and being +2 in turnover margin raises this grade here. 

Special Teams: A- Botts came up big when we needed him to, from a field position perspective. Two punts inside the 20 and two fair catches were big for us there. 110 yards in KO returns, but only 9 on Punt returns.  Jake with two big FGs, the first to give us the for good middle 3rd, and the other to basically seal the victory in the 4th. 

Time for Game Balls. For this game, I'm giving out three game balls. 

1. Duke - 7 carries, 135 yards, 2 TDs. 214 yards all-purpose. 
2. Perryman - 7 tackles (1 TFL), a pick 6
3. Botts - Two punts inside the 20. Came up big when it was needed in the 4th, pinning BC at the 8. Also a heads-up play to take the safety to run clock out in the end. 

Its time to head back to NJ from here in Boston and hopefully we'll correct the errors for next game on Saturday vs K-State on the road. GO CANES!

Gameday in Chestnut Hill

My fellow CANES, today is the day we've longed waited for. Its Gameday. There are going to be a couple of things to watch today. 

1. How Morris does as the full-time starter without having Jacory to look over his shoulder. 
2. How the LBs do against the BC offense. Also, finishing tackles (fundamentals). 
3. How our secondary does against the BC passing game. 
4. A consistent pass rush vs Rettig. If you saw BC's spring game, BC was just awful. 
5. How well our O-Line plays opening holes for the backs and giving Morris time to throw and stretch the field vs a very suspect BC secondary.

Here's what I look for today:

1. For Morris to have a 300 yard passing game.
2. For the Defense to get a Pick 6
3. A 100 yard rushing game from James. 
4. A big CANES win

I will post some photos from the game tonight and here's to a big CANES win today here in Chestnut Hill. GO CANES!

Game vs Boston College

Good evening from Beantown where I will be attending the game tomorrow in Chestnut Hill. Game time is 3:30 on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 (Gameplan, Regional Coverage). This is the season opener. The road to #6 begins with a team that we had no business losing to last year in the Eagles of Boston College. 

This time, we will be ready to play this game. Kuchely is gone to the NFL, so he can't bail them out like he did last year with the Pick 6 to seal the Eagles victory at Sun Life. I expect big games from Morris, the LBs, and our secondary. This one will get ugly for BC very quickly. No contest tomorrow as the starters will be out of the game by the start of the 4th quarter. 

Prediction: CANES 42 Boston College 14

Part 12 of 12 part CANE 2012 opponent series

In the 12th and final part of the 2012 CANE opponent series, we'll talk about the 2012 Duke Blue Devils.

Let's be honest here, when you think of Duke, the first thing that comes to mind is Coach K. Very few people mention Duke and football in the same sentence. To put that in perspective, did you know that the football team has only been in 2 bowl games since 1961, and none since 1994, when they went 8-4 and lost in the Hall of Fame Bowl 34-20 to Wisconsin. The Blue Devils haven’t been ranked in the AP poll since December 6th, 1994 when they were ranked 25th. Let's be very clear here, they will never be on the level as the hoops team is. However, when they hired David Cutcliffe in 2008, he was given the job to make Duke respectable on the gridiron. His 4 year record is less than stellar going 15-33 in that stretch, which averages about 4 wins a year. Before Cut arrived in Durham, they were even more pathetic going 6-45 under former coach Ted Roof. That is 21 wins in 8 years, that's just god awful. 

Last year, they had another forgettable seasong going 3-9. They started out 0-2 including a 23-21 loss to FCS power Richmond before winning 3 games in a row against Boston College (Miami's opening day opponent this year), Tulane, and FIU. They promptly lost their final 9 games of the season, though their losses were by 10 points or less to teams such as Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Georgia Tech, all of whom went to bowl games.

There is hope in Durham as they have most of their starters and back-ups returning in 2012, however, the big question is how much? Their schedule is brutal, with 7 teams ranked in the Top 40, and not to mention the fact that this a very young team. 

Let's start with the Offense: Kurt Roper has been Cut's OC for all of his 4 years in Durham. The way Cut and Roper make the Offense work is that they'll use plenty of passes to the sidelines, and count on an efficient hurry-up offense. The offense was ranked #61 in the country in 2011. 

They have 5th year Senior Sean Renfree (6'5" 225) back to run Cut's offense. In the passing game in 2011, they weren't too bad, ranking 28th nationally in passing with an average of 272 yards a game. He was very efficient with his passes, completing 65% of his passes last year for 2,891 yards and 13 TDs, however, he did get picked off 11 times. Also, he did get sacked 18 times, but also had 4 TDs rushing. RS Sophomore Anthony Boone will be the back-up to Renfree. In 2011, he threw for just under 300 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Where Boone did his damage was with his legs, as he was their third leading rusher on the team with 129 yards, and 4 TDs. When Renfree is gone after this season, he's going to be their QB whom they have very high hopes for. 

They also get back their two leading rushers from a year ago, that's the good news. The bad news is that their running game was last in the ACC, and 5th to last in the country, averaging a measly 94 yards per game. Junior Juwan Thompson (5'11" 225) had 110 carries, 457 yards, and 7 TDs rushing, but also had 22 receptions for 182 yards, with 1 TD. Senior Desmond Scott (5'9" 190) carried the ball 72 times for 367 yards, and 2 TDs. He also had 25 receptions for 135 yards. They add to the mix in 2012, a pair of talented, freshmen whom the staff is very high on in Shaquille Powell (5'10" 205) and Jela Duncan (5'10" 200). Look for them to get some action in the backfield. 

In the receiving core, they had two go-to guys in Connor Vernon and Donovan Varner. Vernon (6'1" 200) is  back for his Senior year, however, Varner is gone to graduation. In 2011, he had 61 receptions for 713 yards, and 3 TDs. Vernon had 70 receptions for 956 yards, and 5 TDs. The question here is that who will line up across from Vernon and fill Varner's big shoes? They are very thin at WR. One of their former WRs, Brandon Braxton moved to the defensive side of the ball at Safety, after he had 40 receptions last year. Sophomore receiver Blair Holliday (6'3" 205) was in a jet ski accident on July 4, and almost died. However, he did suffer a severe head injury and was finally able to speak just a few weeks ago for the first time since the accident. They won't have RS Sophomore TE Braxton Deaver at their disposal because he's gone for the year with a broken kneecap, and that's after he already tore his ACL in January and broke his thumb in the  off season. The only ones with experience coming back are Sophomore Jamison Crowder (5'9", 175) and RS Junior Corey Gattis (5'11" 165). The backs should be able to pick up some of the slack with the receptions, however, look for a lot of double teams on Vernon unless someone else steps up and produces. 

If there's a bright spot here, its that seven offensive linemen are back and this group has a combined 90 games experience, including 5th year Senior Center Brian Moore (6'2" 285), and RS Junior tackle Perry Simmons (6'5" 300). Their running game will be better due to the depth and experience here which is plentiful. 

On the other side of the ball, defensively, this was a very young unit, under DC Jim Knowles. He uses  uses a 4-2-5 defense. They were 105th in the country, however, since they get most of their starters back in 2012, they will be better here, hell, it can't get any worse here. 

Let's start with the D-Line. The line must replace tackles Charlie Hatcher and Curtis Hazelton, who are gone to graduation. On the outside, their Ends RS Senior Kenny Anunike (6'5" 260) and RS Sophomore Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo (6'4" 240) combined for a whopping 6 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, however, they missed spring practice due to  injury. If they're not ready to start the season, RS Junior Justin Foxx (6'3" 245), RS Sophomores Dezmond Johnson (6'4" 250), and Jamal Wallace (6'4" 275) are healthy at DE and will have to step up until Anunike and DeWalt-Ondijo come back later in the year. This is a deep unit here. Filling the shoes left behind by Hatcher and Hazelton are RS Junior Sydney Sarmiento (6'4" 300)  at one tackle, and RS Sophomores Nick Sink (6'5" 285) and Steven Ingram (6'2" 315) battling for the other spot at DT. 

Now to the Linebackers, they get back Junior Kelby Brown (6'2" 220) and Senior Austin Gamble (6'1" 245). In 2011, they combined to have 12.5 tackles for loss, which included 3.5 sacks. They'll add Freshmen Keilin Rayner (6'3" 255, who's a converted NG) and Deion Williams (6' 230) to a unit that will be very strong for them in 2012. 

They have to find a way to replace safety Matt Daniels (who signed with St. Louis as a undrafted FA) in the secondary. In 2011, he had 4 tackles for loss, a pick and broke up 14 passes. Here's where Braxton is going to replace him. RS Junior CB Ross Cockrell (6' 180) is back in 2012 after breaking up 9 passes last season and also had a pick. They also get back their other three Safeties in Senior Walt Canty (6'1" 220), 5th year Senior Jordan Byas (6'1" 220), and RS Junior August Campbell (6'3" 225).

Their strengths on D are the LBs, and in the secondary. The big question here is whether the D-Line can put an effective pass rush consistently for their back 7 to be effective. 

On Special Teams, They're going to have to find a way to replace both kicker Will Snyderwine and punter Alex King. Its going to be up to RS Freshman Will Monday to handle both those responsibilities. He does have a strong leg and his punts hung in the air for a long time on the High School level, however, if he stumbles, its going to be up to Sophomore kicker Jack Willoughby and/or junior punter Spencer Rogers to pick up the slack there. 

Look for Crowder to return both kicks and punts. He did have some promise in 2011 as a freshman. 

They were third in the nation in 2011, when it came to covering kicks, as they allowed just 17.5 yards a return. If this is still a strength, it might tough for opponents to go 80 yards every time down.

Now, to their Schedule, their non-conference schedule outside of a trip to Palo Alto, is easy. They had better take advantage of it because the conference schedule is brutal. They host FIU in their opener, before heading out West. Figure they'll be 1-1 coming home to face North Carolina Central and Memphis. Figure they'll be 3-1, barring anything unforeseen. 

Here's where it gets brutal for Duke. They play 7 of the 8 teams from the conference that went to a bowl in 2011, except for NC State. They have to go to Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Florida St, and Georgia Tech. They do get Virginia, Clemson, North Carolina, and Miami (in the season finale) at home. They will be underdogs in every conference game.

Outlook, yes, they will be better on both sides, however, at the end of the day, looking at that conference schedule and how brutal it is, I can't see them winning a league game this year. Whit the seat getting warmer in Durham for Cut, another 3-9 season could be the straw that breaks the camel's back and Cut might be shown the door if that happens, which I predict will happen. 

That's it for the 12 part opponent series for the Miami Hurricanes in 2012. The season starts in 7 days and here's to a great season of College Football ahead. 

Part 11 of 12 part CANE 2012 opponent series

In Part 11 of the 12 part opponent series, we're going to preview the 2012 South Florida Bulls, a team that just might win the Big East this year. Last year, they were very disappointing after having high expectations in 2011. They went 5-7 and missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2004.  Let's look at each area of the 2012 Bulls

Offensively, they have RS Senior B.J. Daniels (6' 217) back and the strides he's made in his career are just amazing. In 2011, the picks went down from 13 in 2010 to 7 and the TD passes went up from 11 in 2010 to 13 last year. He has better command of the Offense and this is a player that won't make as many mistakes now that he would have earlier in his Bulls career. There's reason for high optimism in the Tampa Bay area this season. One of those reasons is because of the receiving core coming back. 

RS Junior Sterling Griffin (6' 194) had a team high 43 receptions in 2011, in spite of the fact that he missed their four games of the season. Also, they add Florida transfer RS Sophomore Chris Dunkley (6' 180) to the mix. This kid has a world of potential, that's why the CANES were very high on him during the recruiting process a few years ago, and Sophomore Andre Davis (6'1" 207) is going to be a player that could have a breakout season. At the TE position, they have a converted WR in Senior Evan Landi (6'3" 236) who might be able to have another big year. 

The running game is going to take a big hit in 2012, with the early departure of their leading rusher from 2011 in Darrell Scott (undrafted FA who signed with Dallas), so other guys are going to have to step up and fill those big shoes left behind. The guy that will carry most of the load is 5th year Senior Demetris Murray (6' 215), however Senior Lindsay Lamar (5'9" 180), who's a converted WR, is going to have to come up huge in 2012, if they to contend for a Big East title. To put in perspective how important Scott was last year, they led the Big East in rushing, however, with Scott gone, that changes dramatically.  Their passing game was 2nd in the conference, so they should be fine there and to be frank, their Offense wasn't the issue, their D was..

Speaking of Defense, there's a new man in charge in Tampa, and his name is Chris Cosh. He's comes from K-State and is going to have to find a way for his defense to step up and make plays late to seal victories. To more specific, the  losses to Cincinnati, Rutgers, Miami, and the now Big East – departed West Virginia really hurt because if they win say two to three of those games (Cincy, RU, and WVU), they might have gone to a bowl game, maybe even win the Big East and be in a BCS game. 

The strength of their D is at LB. Senior Sam Barrington [6'1" 230], 5th year Senior Michael Lanaris [6' 236], RS Junior DeDe Lattimore [6'1" 232] all return in 2012. Their secondary also return some quality players, specifically Seniors CB Kayvon Webster (5'11" 198), and 5th year Senior SS Jon Lejiste (6' 205), and Junior FS Mark Joyce (5'10" 200). The big question there is who will be their other CB?

If there's a concern in Tampa, its on the DL because its pretty thin. RS Junior Ryne Giddins (6'3" 266) need have a huge year, so far in his career, he's only been able to have flashes of greatness. They need him to be consistently great, which he can be. 5th year Senior DT Cory Grissom (6'2" 316) is back as well, however,  he suffered a broken ankle in the spring and there are questions whether he can stay healthy all year. The one that the coaching staff have their biggest eye on is Junior Tevin Mims (6'3" 245), who came from the JUCO ranks. If they can get the DL to stay healthy and put a solid pass rush together and can penetrate the running lanes, watch out because their back 7 is very good. 

On to the Special Teams, they have a decent Kicker in 5th year Senior Maikon Bonani. The problem with him is his inconsistency. He misses a 27 yard FG at the end of the Rutgers game last year, which would have won the game, instead, they lose 20-17 in OT. At the Punter position, they have a RS Freshman in Mattias Ciabatti who may be able to take over if their incumbent Justin Brockhaus Kann can't hold him off. 

Here's how I see the Bulls in 2012: This team has all the tools to win the Big East title this year. However, the fast starts and pitiful finishes have prevented that from happening. That's been the M.O. in the Bay area for years (Fast starts and then crash and burn at the end), The question is can they step up and be hot all year and win the BE title. 

If they are to do that, they need to be much better on 3rd downs and their defense has to step up and make plays late. Looking at their schedule, they have to go out to Reno early to face a pretty good Nevada team, then fly back cross-country for a game at home on a Thursday Night vs Rutgers. If they can get by both Nevada and Rutgers, they can possibly be 4-0 when Florida State comes calling on September 29th at Raymond James Stadium. In the end, I'm predicting for USF in 2012 a 9-3 season.

In the 12th and final part of this series, we'll preview the 2012 Duke Blue Devils.