Duke
Last year: 4-8 (1-7 ACC)
Best win: vs. North Carolina, 28-27 Worst loss: vs. Virginia, 34-20
Coach: David Cutcliffe (10th year, 52-61)
Starters returning: 14 (7 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Daniel Jones. As a redshirt freshman, Jones took over for the injured Thomas Sirk last season and completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine picks. He also ran for 486 yards, second on the team, and seven scores.
Defensive player to watch: LB Ben Humphreys. As a sophomore in 2016, Humphreys compiled 106 tackles, 11 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one interception.
Special teams player to watch: KR Shaun Wilson. As a junior, Wilson returned kicks an average of 25 yards and scored a TD against Notre Dame.
Schedule: vs. North Carolina Central, vs. Northwestern, vs. Baylor, at North Carolina, vs. Miami, at Virginia, vs. Florida State, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia Tech, at Army, vs. Georgia Tech, at Wake Forest.
Outlook: As we know, Cutcliffe has done an admirable job reviving the Blue Devils' program. The conference doormat for years, Cutcliffe built up Duke to respectability, and it made four straight bowl games. The streak came to a halt last season as injuries piled up, a new QB got pushed into action early, and the defense just couldn't quite come through on some occasions. The Blue Devils dropped two games by three points, two games by 10 points, and one game by 11 points. So they weren't far from bowl eligibility. On the other hand, I guess it is worth mentioning the win over UNC by one point and the victory over Notre Dame by three. It could've been worse. But in 2017, Duke is hoping a return to the postseason is in store. Jones went through some trials under center last season and should be better now. He threw eight picks (five against UVa) in the first five games of the season and then just one more in the final seven contests. In addition to returns, Wilson rushed for 623 yards and four TDs a
year ago. He gives Duke a good backfield option. Three starters return on the offensive line and it adds a graduate transfer from Ohio State in Evan Lisle. He was rated the best lineman in the state of Ohio in high school. TJ Rahming (70 catches, 742 yards, one TD - how just one TD out of 70 catches?) anchors a strong receiving corps that also includes returners Johnathan Lloyd (34 receptions, 301 yards, three scores) and Chris Taylor (29 grabs, 315 yards, one TD). Along with Humphreys, Joe Giles-Harris (107 tackles, 9.5 for loss, four sacks, one interception) leads a defense seeking more consistency this season. The secondary lost a lot of experience, but players that had to step up last year because of injury are back, including safety Alonzo Saxton (53 tackles, three for loss, one sack, one pick). After its opener, Duke faces a very tough schedule. The Northwestern through Virginia Tech stretch is one of the toughest I've probably seen thus far, and even the team after that, Army, beat Duke last season and went to a bowl. The offense should take a step forward, but it's tough to know if the defense will be better at this point. And the tough slate will make it difficult for Duke to get back to a bowl game.
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
North Carolina
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost to Stanford, 25-23, in the Sun Bowl
Best win: at Florida State, 37-35 Worst loss: at Duke, 28-27
Coach: Larry Fedora (sixth year, 40-25)
Starters returning: 13 (5 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: WR Austin Proehl. Ryan Switzer, Bug Howard, and Mack Hollins have all graduated out of the receiving corps, but UNC has done a great job the past few years of getting production from everyone at the position. As a junior, Proehl, the son of former NFL player Ricky Proehl, caught 43 passes for 597 yards and three TDs.
Defensive player to watch: DE Malik Carney. As a sophomore, Carney tallied 47 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: P Tom Sheldon. In 2016, he was named a Freshman All-American. He punted the ball an average of 42.7 yards on 50 attempts, 21 were fair caught, and only nine returned.
Schedule: vs. Cal, vs. Louisville, at Old Dominion, vs. Duke, at Georgia Tech, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Virginia, at Virginia Tech, vs. Miami, at Pittsburgh, vs. Western Carolina, at N.C. State.
Outlook: Much like Virginia Tech, defense might have to be Carolina's calling card early. QB Mitch Trubisky is in the NFL now, and Fedora has yet to name a new starter. The competition includes LSU transfer Brandon Harris, who has one year left. He has lots of experience but was benched at LSU. Sophomore Nathan Elliott is the only QB with game experience for UNC. In an extremely limited sample size last season, he completed 8 of 9 passes for 55 yards with no scores and no picks. Those two were thought to be the favorites in the QB race, but redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt, a dual-threat signal-caller, has emerged as well. Whoever gets the nod will have three returning linemen protecting him, but new faces in the backfield with the loss of Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan, both of
whom averaged more than five yards per carry and combined for more than 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns. Names to watch in the backfield are Jordon Brown, freshman Michael Carter (USA Today's Florida Offensive Player of the Year), Auburn transfer Stanton Truitt, Johnathan Sutton, and Kayne Roberts. As previously mentioned, UNC also lost a lot from the receiving corps, but does return Thomas Jackson (17 receptions, 186 yards, four TDs) in addition to Proehl. The defense returns all three starting linebackers, including the top two tacklers from last year, Cole Holcomb (115 tackles, five for loss, one sack) and Andre Smith (113 tackles, six for loss, one sack, one forced fumble). The secondary is led by cornerback M.J. Stewart (66 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 11 passes broken up, two forced fumbles), an All-America candidate, and safety Donnie Miles (102 tackles, three for loss, three passes broken up). Interestingly, the Tar Heels led the ACC and were 12th in the nation last season in passing yards allowed but finished with just one interception. Very early in the schedule, UNC gets a tough test with Louisville coming to Chapel Hill the week after the opener against Cal. Provided the Heels get by the Golden Bears, not a guarantee, the contest against the Cardinals could prove to be pivotal and maybe tell whether UNC can compete for a Coastal title or if this is more of a .500 team. Lamar Jackson will help us see if the Carolina defense can be very good or just good. UNC gets to avoid Clemson and FSU, but must travel to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Pitt, and N.C. State. And it's hard to know how good Notre Dame will be when UNC hosts it.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Last year: 4-8 (1-7 ACC)
Best win: vs. North Carolina, 28-27 Worst loss: vs. Virginia, 34-20
Coach: David Cutcliffe (10th year, 52-61)
Starters returning: 14 (7 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Daniel Jones. As a redshirt freshman, Jones took over for the injured Thomas Sirk last season and completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine picks. He also ran for 486 yards, second on the team, and seven scores.
Defensive player to watch: LB Ben Humphreys. As a sophomore in 2016, Humphreys compiled 106 tackles, 11 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one interception.
Special teams player to watch: KR Shaun Wilson. As a junior, Wilson returned kicks an average of 25 yards and scored a TD against Notre Dame.
Schedule: vs. North Carolina Central, vs. Northwestern, vs. Baylor, at North Carolina, vs. Miami, at Virginia, vs. Florida State, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia Tech, at Army, vs. Georgia Tech, at Wake Forest.
Outlook: As we know, Cutcliffe has done an admirable job reviving the Blue Devils' program. The conference doormat for years, Cutcliffe built up Duke to respectability, and it made four straight bowl games. The streak came to a halt last season as injuries piled up, a new QB got pushed into action early, and the defense just couldn't quite come through on some occasions. The Blue Devils dropped two games by three points, two games by 10 points, and one game by 11 points. So they weren't far from bowl eligibility. On the other hand, I guess it is worth mentioning the win over UNC by one point and the victory over Notre Dame by three. It could've been worse. But in 2017, Duke is hoping a return to the postseason is in store. Jones went through some trials under center last season and should be better now. He threw eight picks (five against UVa) in the first five games of the season and then just one more in the final seven contests. In addition to returns, Wilson rushed for 623 yards and four TDs a
Win-loss prediction: 5-7 or 6-6
North Carolina
Last year: 8-5 (5-3 ACC), lost to Stanford, 25-23, in the Sun Bowl
Best win: at Florida State, 37-35 Worst loss: at Duke, 28-27
Coach: Larry Fedora (sixth year, 40-25)
Starters returning: 13 (5 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: WR Austin Proehl. Ryan Switzer, Bug Howard, and Mack Hollins have all graduated out of the receiving corps, but UNC has done a great job the past few years of getting production from everyone at the position. As a junior, Proehl, the son of former NFL player Ricky Proehl, caught 43 passes for 597 yards and three TDs.
Defensive player to watch: DE Malik Carney. As a sophomore, Carney tallied 47 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: P Tom Sheldon. In 2016, he was named a Freshman All-American. He punted the ball an average of 42.7 yards on 50 attempts, 21 were fair caught, and only nine returned.
Schedule: vs. Cal, vs. Louisville, at Old Dominion, vs. Duke, at Georgia Tech, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Virginia, at Virginia Tech, vs. Miami, at Pittsburgh, vs. Western Carolina, at N.C. State.
Outlook: Much like Virginia Tech, defense might have to be Carolina's calling card early. QB Mitch Trubisky is in the NFL now, and Fedora has yet to name a new starter. The competition includes LSU transfer Brandon Harris, who has one year left. He has lots of experience but was benched at LSU. Sophomore Nathan Elliott is the only QB with game experience for UNC. In an extremely limited sample size last season, he completed 8 of 9 passes for 55 yards with no scores and no picks. Those two were thought to be the favorites in the QB race, but redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt, a dual-threat signal-caller, has emerged as well. Whoever gets the nod will have three returning linemen protecting him, but new faces in the backfield with the loss of Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan, both of
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Comments
Post a Comment