Disappointed but not dejected, head coach Carl Franks spoke confidently at a press conference Monday of his football team's chances this season despite its 40-3 loss Saturday to Louisville.
Franks' greatest concern rests with his team's offensive line. Against East Carolina, the line played a pivotal role in the Blue Devils' big win, protecting the inexperienced quarterbacks and pushing Alex Wade to a career-high 109 yards on the ground.
Only one week later, the line gave up six sacks--one of which resulted in a safety--and the team rushed for only 22 yards. Franks, who blamed Duke's offensive line for the team's 0-for-15 performance on third-down conversions, felt the Blue Devils were physically overwhelmed by the stronger, more talented Cardinal line.
"We were getting pushed around by a physical football team," Franks said. "I thought we could be a physical football team, but we weren't able to Saturday night."
Franks did not place the blame solely on his offensive line for the sacks, especially the safety, which started Louisville's scoring onslaught. He added that sophomore quarterbacks Chris Dapolito and Adam Smith took too long to release the ball. He was also puzzled at the techniques his wide receivers used to get open.
"At times we ran right into the defensive backs," Franks said. "The times we had chances to get open, we wouldn't avoid [the defense]. We looked like refrigerator magnets--you know those big flat things that stick right on the refrigerator--that's what we looked like at times."
Franks said he felt the biggest difference between this game and the ECU win was intensity, that Duke came out hungrier and more aggressively against East Carolina than against the Cardinals. Franks could not produce an explanation for this peculiarity.
"We didn't have that same intensity, that same passion to play that we had in the first game," Franks said. "I don't know what the reason was. But we didn't have it...."
Offensive lineman Drew Strojny said the team came out with equal intensity both games, but lost its vigor after being unable to execute down after down against the Cardinals.
"We came out with the same attitude both games, [but] we just didn't execute [against Louisville]," Strojny said. "I think when you're not executing and things aren't working, that's going to drop your intensity level."
Franks expressed optimism that the offensive line will return to the prowess it showed against East Carolina this week against Northwestern.
"I expect them to play a lot better," Franks said. "I expect them to come out with the same intensity that they had in the first game."
The Wildcats are in a rebuilding mode after the graduation of both star quarterback Zak Kustok and running back Damien Anderson, the school's all-time leading rusher.
Northwestern has struggled without last year's stalwarts, losing to Air Force 52-3 and Texas Christian 48-24 in its two games this season. The Wildcats have been out-rushed by an average of 224 yards per game.
Northwestern's struggles have not been lost on Franks, who looks for junior running back Chris Douglas to perform well against the Wildcats. Douglas, Duke's leading rusher last season, has struggled in the first two games this season because of an injured ankle. Franks said he hopes Douglas' injury will heal in time for him to have a break-out game against Northwestern's weak run defense.
"We need to make sure we get him well," Franks said. "[Douglas's ankle] could be fine by Saturday, but it has certainly affected his performance. He needs to be pretty healthy to do what he needs to do. His speed and cutting ability make him a factor in the football game."
Notes: In a sentimental moment at the press conference, Franks announced that special teams and outside linebackers coach Denny Creehan was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The cancer was caught early, and Creehan is expected to make a full recovery. Woody Fish will replace Creehan as linebacker coach, and special teams oversight will be divided among several coaches.
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