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Duke Football Notebook: Do Your Job
11/14/2019 4:36:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football is back at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium for its second consecutive week as the Blue Devils welcome Syracuse on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
The Blue Devils are coming off a 38-7 home loss to No. 15 Notre Dame last weekend. Syracuse enjoyed an open weekend prior to its meeting with Duke, with its last game being a 58-27 loss to Boston College.
Saturday evening's contest against Syracuse will be broadcast on the ACC Network with Wes Durham, Roddy Jones and Eric Wood on the call. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devils IMG Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goduke.com.
ORANGE INCOMING
The Syracuse Orange come to town this weekend for a cross-division showdown in the Atlantic Coast Conference. According to Blue Devil head coach David Cutcliffe, the Orange are a team similar to Duke this season, having battled through rough patches.
"We're all in a little bit of the same boat," Cutcliffe said. "There's a fine line and I don't know every problem they've had; they don't know every problem we've had. But I know they're having a tough year; just like we're having a tough year."
It is an out of the ordinary year for the Orange, as Syracuse sits with a 3-6 overall mark and is still looking for its first ACC win (0-5). Despite the rough year that the Orange are having, Cutcliffe has nothing but respect for this Syracuse team from up north.
"Dino Babers is not only an outstanding football coach; he is an outstanding man," Cutcliffe said of his peer. "He is a person I like and respect. There is no accident to why the culture changed at Syracuse. I've always loved what they do offensively, always. They scare you to death when you're playing them. Defensively, they're always aggressive, physical. I know they've had a change in coordinator on the defensive side so there may be some change there. They're outstanding in the kicking game. You might think, well, why the record? Well, this is a tough league. And again, I don't know what all the problems are. But I have the utmost respect for this Syracuse program and this Syracuse team."
1-11th
This season, many defensive players have talked about doing their 1-11th. With 11 players being on the field at a time, this puts emphasis on each individual player doing their job to make a whole unit.
"It all comes down to doing your 1-11th," defensive end Tre Hornbuckle said. "We have to trust each other and that's our focus. Just do our job. When it is all said and done, that's all you have to do - make the plays that come to you."
Duke has an abundance of individuals that excel at doing their one job. In the pass-rush, Duke is the only school in the ACC with four players on the current roster that have recorded 16.0+ tackles for loss in their careers. This weekend should provide another opportunity for the Blue Devils to get in the backfield as Syracuse ranks last in the country in sacks allowed this season.
"We're going to do whatever we can to get back there," Hornbuckle added. "They're an explosive team. They try to get off a lot of plays throughout the game. We're going to work this week to really focus on our pass rush but it's down to really just doing our job."
TAYLOR GETS THE CALL
Due to injury at the center position, redshirt sophomore Will Taylor is slated to make his first career start. Previously, Taylor has played in six games throughout his Duke tenure, amassing 58 snaps.
"Will Taylor will start at center," Cutcliffe said. "Zach's getting work, but Will is much more down the road than Zach (Baker) because of the amount of spring reps."
Taylor will have ample opportunity to make an impact on the Duke offensive line that has allowed just 13 sacks this season, which ranks third in the ACC and 26th nationally.
WELCOME SPECIAL GUESTS
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day, Scout Day, Youth Sports Day and Cheer Day at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
In honor of Youth Sports Day, youth sports teams from Durham will be present on Brooks Field during the Blue Devils' team introductions.
Cheer Day will also take place during Saturday's contest, with participants being involved in a pre-game clinic at 2 p.m., before participating in the Blue Devil Walk later in the afternoon.
Prior to the national anthem, Navy F18 jets will fly over Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium to officially kick off the game. In addition, Duke has welcomed boy and girls scouts onto the field during the anthem.
Saturday's game against the Orange is also sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union.
The Blue Devils are coming off a 38-7 home loss to No. 15 Notre Dame last weekend. Syracuse enjoyed an open weekend prior to its meeting with Duke, with its last game being a 58-27 loss to Boston College.
Saturday evening's contest against Syracuse will be broadcast on the ACC Network with Wes Durham, Roddy Jones and Eric Wood on the call. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devils IMG Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goduke.com.
ORANGE INCOMING
The Syracuse Orange come to town this weekend for a cross-division showdown in the Atlantic Coast Conference. According to Blue Devil head coach David Cutcliffe, the Orange are a team similar to Duke this season, having battled through rough patches.
"We're all in a little bit of the same boat," Cutcliffe said. "There's a fine line and I don't know every problem they've had; they don't know every problem we've had. But I know they're having a tough year; just like we're having a tough year."
It is an out of the ordinary year for the Orange, as Syracuse sits with a 3-6 overall mark and is still looking for its first ACC win (0-5). Despite the rough year that the Orange are having, Cutcliffe has nothing but respect for this Syracuse team from up north.
"Dino Babers is not only an outstanding football coach; he is an outstanding man," Cutcliffe said of his peer. "He is a person I like and respect. There is no accident to why the culture changed at Syracuse. I've always loved what they do offensively, always. They scare you to death when you're playing them. Defensively, they're always aggressive, physical. I know they've had a change in coordinator on the defensive side so there may be some change there. They're outstanding in the kicking game. You might think, well, why the record? Well, this is a tough league. And again, I don't know what all the problems are. But I have the utmost respect for this Syracuse program and this Syracuse team."
1-11th
This season, many defensive players have talked about doing their 1-11th. With 11 players being on the field at a time, this puts emphasis on each individual player doing their job to make a whole unit.
"It all comes down to doing your 1-11th," defensive end Tre Hornbuckle said. "We have to trust each other and that's our focus. Just do our job. When it is all said and done, that's all you have to do - make the plays that come to you."
Duke has an abundance of individuals that excel at doing their one job. In the pass-rush, Duke is the only school in the ACC with four players on the current roster that have recorded 16.0+ tackles for loss in their careers. This weekend should provide another opportunity for the Blue Devils to get in the backfield as Syracuse ranks last in the country in sacks allowed this season.
"We're going to do whatever we can to get back there," Hornbuckle added. "They're an explosive team. They try to get off a lot of plays throughout the game. We're going to work this week to really focus on our pass rush but it's down to really just doing our job."
TAYLOR GETS THE CALL
Due to injury at the center position, redshirt sophomore Will Taylor is slated to make his first career start. Previously, Taylor has played in six games throughout his Duke tenure, amassing 58 snaps.
"Will Taylor will start at center," Cutcliffe said. "Zach's getting work, but Will is much more down the road than Zach (Baker) because of the amount of spring reps."
Taylor will have ample opportunity to make an impact on the Duke offensive line that has allowed just 13 sacks this season, which ranks third in the ACC and 26th nationally.
WELCOME SPECIAL GUESTS
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day, Scout Day, Youth Sports Day and Cheer Day at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
In honor of Youth Sports Day, youth sports teams from Durham will be present on Brooks Field during the Blue Devils' team introductions.
Cheer Day will also take place during Saturday's contest, with participants being involved in a pre-game clinic at 2 p.m., before participating in the Blue Devil Walk later in the afternoon.
Prior to the national anthem, Navy F18 jets will fly over Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium to officially kick off the game. In addition, Duke has welcomed boy and girls scouts onto the field during the anthem.
Saturday's game against the Orange is also sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union.
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