When the Blue Devils take the field Saturday against FCS opponent Elon, they will look to take the first step toward meeting the raised expectations of a program that used to be an afterthought in the ACC. After two years under a new system, however, the once-unfathomable goals of a winning season and bowl birth have now crept within reach.
Last season, head coach David Cutcliffe’s squad entered Wallace Wade fueled by similar optimism—only to be hamstrung by another FCS school, Richmond, in its opening game. Duke’s players and staff understand the importance of starting 2010 on a higher note after seeing their momentum smothered before it could even begin last year.
“That’s all we’ve been thinking about—Richmond,” sophomore linebacker Austin Gamble said. “We’re not going to let that happen with Elon. We’ve heard a lot of talk about them being ready to come here, but we are definitely ready to go.”
Saturday’s tilt against the Phoenix is Duke’s first chance to settle some of the uncertainty swirling around the team. The 2010 Blue Devils will look very different from their 2009 counterparts, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Following the graduation of linemen Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk, Cutcliffe and defensive coordinator Marion Hobby have adopted a new 3-4 scheme.
“I think as a coach you’re always going to look at personnel, and the guys here fit that package a little bit more,” Hobby said. “We’ve got to get our best 11 on the field, and they happen to be more linebackers than linemen.”
Gamble, a first-time starter, will join seniors Damian Thornton, Adam Banks and Abraham Kromah in the linebacking corps Saturday.
Elon’s offense, however, won’t give the new unit much time to come together. Led by senior quarterback Scott Riddle, the talented Phoenix will test the Blue Devils from kickoff.
“The quarterback at Elon is one of the better players we’ve seen,” Hobby said. “Their coach has done a great job of recruiting. Their talent level is up. Their offensive line has two stars returning up front, which is always a plus. This is a veteran team we’re playing.”
The toughness up front could provide the biggest challenge, as Duke’s defense was ranked 74th in FBS last year against the run—and that was before graduating its top two linemen and switching to a completely new scheme.
In addition to a new defense, the Blue Devils will also debut a new starting quarterback Saturday. Redshirt sophomore Sean Renfree will replace graduated senior Thaddeus Lewis under center in his first game atop the depth chart.
Renfree showed flashes of brilliance last season, including two passing touchdowns off the bench in Duke’s 35-19 win over Army. He was unable to participate much during spring practice, however, as he had to battle back from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Despite his injury, Renfree seems confident that he and his team have navigated the adversity of the offseason well.
“I think guys feel a whole lot more prepared and ready to go,” he said. “There’s a lot of speed on this team, so practices are much faster. We have a lot more speed players at all positions so that helps simulate games better.”
Against Elon, Duke will show just how much that speed helped prepare Renfree, the defense and the other newcomers for the 2010 season. The Phoenix, one of the top teams in the FCS subdivision, aren’t going to let the Blue Devils learn much on the fly.
“They’re very basic, but very talented,” Renfree said. “They don’t do much, but what they do they do well. You have to give them respect because they’ve earned it.”
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