When Duke football fans enter Wallace Wade Stadium for Saturday's 1:30 p.m. spring scrimmage, they will witness a very different Blue Devil team than the squad they last saw back in November.
Coach Carl Franks, who came under fire after Duke concluded its second straight winless season, has moved a number of players from offense to defense and shifted personnel within the defense to put a quicker, more versatile group of Blue Devils out on the field.
"Putting in a new defense was certainly a big priority. Trying to get some more speed on the field was what we were trying to do," Franks said. "We're going to try not to line up in the same particular look all the time and give the [opposing] offense some things they hopefully have to adjust to."
In an attempt to bolster his defensive line, Franks moved linebackers Micah Harris and Chad Rice and running back Shawn Johnson up front. In addition, the fourth-year coach and new defensive coordinator Ted Roof switched leading tackler Ryan Fowler from outside linebacker to middle linebacker, which Franks
The coaching staff will also expect solid production from Fowler's fellow linebacker Jamyon Small, who, along with quarterback D. Bryant, will need to serve as a leader because of his status as one of the team's only fifth-year seniors.
"We've approached how leadership works with our whole football team, how to be a leader," Franks said. "Most people either interpret that as leading by example or being very vocal and yell and scream.... That's far from what it's all about.
"We did some things, talked to our team about leadership, detailed how you go about being a positive leader on the field and off."
Despite his excitement over the position changes that he and his staff implemented, Franks acknowledged a number of areas in which his Blue Devils need to improve.
In addition to citing field goal kicking and the defensive secondary as two areas of concern, Franks also expressed trepidation over the team's lack of depth at the wide receiver position and its ability to compensate for the loss of All-ACC tight end Mike Hart.
Finally, Franks added that he would like to see a clear second alternative to starting quarterback D. Bryant. He noted that Chris Dapolito has played well in spring practice, but added that Dapolito's fate as the team's clear No. 2 quarterback was far from established.
Franks also conceded that Duke's star offensive player, Chris Douglas, will have a newfound challenge as he assumes the role of the team's most dangerous player.
"Chris Douglas is a guy who can make a huge difference in a football game," Franks said. "He's probably the guy that, when we play people next year, will be the one where people will say, `We've got to make sure he doesn't beat us,' because he has the speed to do it.
"Right now, I'm sure Chris will be a focus for people. We're going to have to find creative ways to get him the ball... because he has the speed to take it the distance for us."
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