Duke Post Game Thread

[CJasmer]

They were good last year. We are a bit better this year for sure but they took a big step back, especially at QB and on the LOS.

Duke is terrible FBS team. Last year Duke team was much better. Except for Miami the rest of ACC is terrible. The SEC has 6 teams that would steam role Duke by half time. Sort of like when NC State played Tennessee. There is a major divide in FBS. Like watching NFL and midget football. UConn is better than last year.

 

[UConnDan97]

Uh, we had a 1 point lead in the 4th.

Yes, and I mean overtaking their 26-21 lead. Of course, you would have understood that context if you were a little sharper....

 

[CJasmer]

We played bad, then we played good, then we played bad and lost.

We found out more about this team tonight. They can compete against decent FBS teams. Now they need to learn how to play well enough to win against those teams.

Evers is still a question mark to me. Mora still thinks he's the best QB on the roster, yet his touch on passes is very suspect. His running ability helped get us back in it in the 3rd qtr, but he has to be a consistent passer if we're going to be able to win games.

We have FAU at the Rent next week to start our long home stand. They'll be tough. Hope we got some confidence from the last couple games and can put together a winning streak.

Duke is not decent. Duke would get steam rolled in SEC. The ACC is terrible this year. Outside Miami, Kansas State and Oklahoma Stete the divide between the P2 and everybody else is wide.

 

[bazz&boujee]

A lot of assuming Evers wouldn’t of lit up Merrimack too

 

[CJasmer]

UConn pass defense is bad. The secondary is terrible. Against a good passing FBS team UConn would give up a zillion points.

 

[blue93]

The team played hard tonight. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, but that game was there for the taking.

2 major coaching gripes:

• end of the first half. What was that? We got the ball with 1:40 and two timeouts and moved the ball a little, but didn’t stop the clock. At least act like you want to win the game.
• enough with the trick plays. They don’t work. They’re small time.

Side note - I was at the game tonight. That was one of the worst home atmospheres I’ve experienced. I’ve been to church services that had more life than that place.

 

[JMick]

The team played hard tonight. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, but that game was there for the taking.

2 major coaching gripes:

• end of the first half. What was that? We got the ball with 1:40 and two timeouts and moved the ball a little, but didn’t stop the clock. At least act like you want to win the game.
• enough with the trick plays. They don’t work. They’re small time.

Side note - I was at the game tonight. That was one of the worst home atmospheres I’ve experienced. I’ve been to church services that had more life than that place.

It seems like we trust Evers enough to start but don't trust him enough to put him fully in charge of the offense. They're clearly trying to limit turnovers and mitigate his exposure to blitzes because he hasn't handled them well.

 

[Spsone07]

I thought our defense made plays when they needed to. Tackling was a lot better compared to the last 2 weeks. Offensively, we had one exceptional quarter, otherwise we couldn’t string a series together. Duke might be in the top 3 toughest games we will play this season. Give me Cam Edwards and please target Bell* 10+ plays per games.

We should have used our TEs more in the 4th, even look at Sheffield 2-3 more times in the fourth

 

[ZooCougar]

You don't know that, and he was given 2 passes tonight that he didn't complete. But keep creating the illusion if it helps you sleep...

Yeah on busted, stupid trick plays that should have never happened.

 

[Bomber36]

I thought our defense made plays when they needed to. Tackling was a lot better compared to the last 2 weeks. Offensively, we had one exceptional quarter, otherwise we couldn’t string a series together. Duke might be in the top 3 toughest games we will play this season. Give me Cam Edwards and please target Bell* 10+ plays per games.

We should have used our TEs more in the 4th, even look at Sheffield 2-3 more times in the fourth

We wasted 3-4 plays on gimmicks that didn’t work. That was more costly.

 

[Woof 101]

Mora needs to be asked why he let Ruelas leave the program. Frankly McFadden should not have been the kicker last year. So now it is 2 years in a row with a bad kicker.

It's not reasonable to even ask a question like this as nil money now rules. The answer is obvious.
We lost two great kickers to schools that could pay more. Do realize college is no longer amateur sports.

Bring back Teggart.

Thank you for the memories!!!! Our group when close would chant TEGGART !!! . I'll never forget the winning kick vs South Florida in the freezing rain and snow. Really thought he would have made the next level.

 

[History Geek]

It seems like we trust Evers enough to start but don't trust him enough to put him fully in charge of the offense. They're clearly trying to limit turnovers and mitigate his exposure to blitzes because he hasn't handled them well.

Ok I agree with you here. I’m hoping they open things up more. I also hope they stop rolling him out so much. The OL has shown they can keep a pocket. I want to see if he can set up and throw the ball down field.

Our backs don't block well on pass pro though. That has to get better.

 

[rich1122]

Defense improved immensely. On the field too much 4q

Offense. Just flashes. Passing still inconsistent.

 

[Dizzy21]

It's not reasonable to even ask a question like this as nil money now rules. The answer is obvious.
We lost two great kickers to schools that could pay more. Do realize college is no longer amateur sports.

Thank you for the memories!!!! Our group when close would chant TEGGART !!! . I'll never forget the winning kick vs South Florida in the freezing rain and snow. Really thought he would have made the next level.

Money? I don't even think Ruelas had a scholarship.

 

[JMick]

Ok I agree with you here. I’m hoping they open things up more. I also hope they stop rolling him out so much. The OL has shown they can keep a pocket. I want to see if he can set up and throw the ball down field.

Our backs don't block well on pass pro though. That has to get better.

I don't think they're rolling him out to protect him. I think they are doing it to let him tuck and run. The offense we ran with Fagnano had tons of pocket passes. Why the offense looks totally different between the two is beyond me.

 

[Redding Husky]

Duke’s announced attendance (20,174) seemed optimistic.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Has it occurred to any of the doomsayers that the staff believes once Evers has a reasonable amount of experience he will be able to do far more than Fagnano?

One thing that I find quite amusing is that last season, there were a handful of posters complaining that Fagnano was our starting QB (until he got hurt), claiming that the only reason he won the job was because Charlton knew him from Maine. Some of those same characters are now b!tch!ng that Fagnano is the backup.

 

[superjohn]

Just a reminder that Evers was a foot on the line from taking the lead in the 4th quarter of this game. I don't know if he's the best QB that we can field, but I know he gave us a chance to win. This Nick vs Joe stuff is getting tired.

The coaching staff sees them both every day, and at some point, you've gotta trust their call. The team is noticeably getting better. We're not there yet, but it's giving me faith in the staff that they're doing the right things...

Why do you have to trust their call?

 

[ZooCougar]

Has it occurred to any of the doomsayers that the staff believes once Evers has a reasonable amount of experience he will be able to do far more than Fagnano?

One thing that I find quite amusing is that last season, there were a handful of posters complaining that Fagnano was our starting QB (until he got hurt), claiming that the only reason he won the job was because Charlton knew him from Maine. Some of those same characters are now b!tch!ng that Fagnano is the backup.

Irrelevant. Roberson is better than Evers too.

Zion Turner was better than Evers.

 

[BigTenFan]

Money? I don't even think Ruelas had a scholarship.

He did not.

 

[Redding Husky]

Kicking has become such a science that high schoolers are reliably hitting from 40+ now. It's weirder that we can't.

The kicker that played high school football with my son hit from 60 routinely in practice and from 45-50 in games.

 

[History Geek]

I don't think they're rolling him out to protect him. I think they are doing it to let him tuck and run. The offense we ran with Fagnano had tons of pocket passes. Why the offense looks totally different between the two is beyond me.

His throws on the run are much less accurate than his pocket passes, which of course makes sense. To your point, tuck and run is option 2, so it should stay in the playbook. Accuracy on the run has to improve to the just “less accurate” level. I’m a proponent of letting him develop on the job. Hebis young.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Why do you have to trust their call?

I can only speak for myself, but in large part I view the esteemed football minds who are currently crying foul about Evers starting over Fagnano (many of whom a year ago claimed nepotism when Fagnano being named starter) is in a small way the football equivalent of those on the Boneyard who in February 2023 claimed Newton was not a good enough point guard.

 

[Jimdish255]

I can only speak for myself, but in large part I view the esteemed football minds who are currently crying foul about Evers starting over Fagnano (many of whom a year ago claimed nepotism when Fagnano being named starter) is in a small way the football equivalent of those on the Boneyard who in February 2023 claimed Newton was not a good enough point guard.

The results speak for themselves.

 

[Buffett10]

Gotta love the yard. Last yr Joe’s release was too slow, he had no arm strength and was slow through progressions but a blowout win against an FCS team and people are saying all of that is now good enough to win against a decent fbs team lol.