Duke Post Game Thread

[Zerostatic]

Man, a win would've felt so good. I can't wait to see how we look against all the G5 opponents coming up. The last 2 games makes me think bowl eligibility is a very realistic hope. If we barely miss out on a bowl game/winning season it really does make you wonder if going the all G5 route in scheduling is the smarter strategy to make ourselves a more attractive candidate for a P4 conference. Watching G5 schools get invites when they only play 1 or 2 (or none) P4 schools a year while we try to "prove" ourselves with more games against P4 doesn't really work if you're not beating those teams.

 

[DCUconnfan]

This board never ceases to amaze me. While i generally agree in no moral victories, anyone that watched the game should have been excited that we were literally leading in Q4 and deflated that we lost. Nothing more. How quickly we forget what we looked like at Maryland. One more week, more improvement. Teachable moments. We actually have athletes now - so much of what i saw mistake wise is correctible.

I, for one (that seems like just a few), am still glad i hammered the season win over.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Yeah that one slipped away, but Duke is still a very good team and we gave them a scare and that's nothing to scoff at. This team is building that winning swagger and it's going to pay off by the end of the year with a bowl game

 

[AllHusky]

Irrelevant. Roberson is better than Evers too.

Zion Turner was better than Evers.

I thought I read that Zion(who I really liked) is 3rd string at Jaxville St??

 

[Jetskies]

please end sammis' suffering and relieve him of the OC burden that clearly is taking him away from his natural home of OL coach. get a coordinator.

 

[Jetskies]

Well, UConn lost a very winnable game. I think Fagnano gave UConn the best chance to win today as he is an experienced QB and Evers is not. People seem to underestimate Fagnano's game experience and and Evers lack of game experience. I don't doubt that Evers shows well in practice, but practice is not a game and being able to react in a live game is the most important attribute a QB needs. UConn's coaches know this, but it seems they think Evers can develop quickly and help UConn win games so he is the starter.

re: evers - my concern is by the time he shows true "development", we'll be 1-6 and the season is lost, barring a miraculous back half of the schedule. and most of those losses will have been "shoulda won" kinds of games, like tonight.

at some point you pull the plug, this is an unforgiving world of football. Make the throws or go sit down.

 

[Omahabound]

I don’t believe either one of the QB’s (Evers/Fagnano are the answers. Why are Wins in the 2024 season even considered important.

Find a QB who the program can recruit develop and retain, to bring the Football Program to a point where it’s not a detriment. Yet, every week it’s about the W/L record this year. I’m not suggesting they don’t try and win, but until the talent is on the roster (mainly QB) to compete at the levels you want to be at as a Program, it’s a problem.

If Fagnano was a freshman or sophomore he would be the unquestioned starter. Why is that same approach not taken with Welliver or Macdonald? The 50-55% completion percentage by the QB is not gonna work. I don’t care how mobile they are. The Pocket Passers are what sustain football programs.

 

[Hoophound]

At this point, I’ll take the moral victory. I think we have FBS talent and we have the potential to win 6-7 games. However, the offiense needs to be run better. Sammis makes wtf play calls at bad times, essentially wasting downs when things are chugging along just fine. I thought Evers showed some potential but ultimately, I think he’s just too careless with the ball. He locks in on Bell over and over and he makes very dangerous off target throws. He just doesn’t seem accurate enough and he doesn’t see the field. I feel like he will break our hearts often by making those up for grabs throws over and over.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

At this point, I’ll take the moral victory. I think we have FBS talent and we have the potential to win 6-7 games. However, the offiense needs to be run better. Sammis makes wtf play calls at bad times, essentially wasting downs when things are chugging along just fine. I thought Evers showed some potential but ultimately, I think he’s just too careless with the ball. He locks in on Bell over and over and he makes very dangerous off target throws. He just doesn’t seem accurate enough and he doesn’t see the field. I feel like he will break our hearts often by making those up for grabs throws over and over.

Watching the replay right now, and I agree with this take.

 

[RedStickHusky]

So, the tricky part of the play is a design for your pocket passer to throw on the run. That'll get 'em...
I don't see them in practice or the film room, but I see them enough to think that NE does some things (a thing?) better than JF and that JF does some things (a thing?) better than NE. We'd like to be able to do all the things. Maybe they split some time?

 

[willie99]

Not a moral victory kinda guy, I'm happy to see the team compete, but it's time to start winning

 

[scotty0330]

Bring back Teggart.

Or even Nuzz for that matter

 

[scotty0330]

Bro, their QB is why they won the game...

He can still be the reason but his point is he no Riley Leonard which is also valid.

The team competed but still looked lost when it mattered most. Not having a competent kicker doesn’t help either

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Instead of bemoaning a close game, maybe we should be celebrating UConn is on the path to returning to the quality of teams we saw a dozen years ago. It's likely the Huskies will make a bowl game this season.

 

[Kolumbo]

This was posted on a Duke message board regarding Coach Mora's postgame comments

"Opening Statement:
“We played our butts off against a really good football team on the road, and that's encouraging, but it's not good enough. It's not good enough. We have to win road games and that's the step that we have to take. That's the breakthrough that we have to make. And in order to do that, we all have to be better. What that means is that every single day, we have to do everything we're doing, better. With more discipline, with more focus, with more intensity, with more intent, with more passion. We can't make excuses. We can't give other people excuses. And if we do that, we have a chance to be a good team and if we don't, and we will, when I say if we don't, I don't mean that negatively because I know that we will, we’re going to get things going. I'm proud of them, but at the same point, I think we're all incredibly disappointed. We see what we can be, but we're not that yet. And we have to work religiously until we become that, and we will.”"

UConn Quotes - Duke University

UConn Quotes

goduke.com

FB: Duke 26, UConn 21

Two good things happened on Thomas last run where he slid down at the 4 yard line. That allowed Duke to run out the clock with the V-formation... essentially no risk. He prevented himself from being viciously tackled and possibly fumbling. He/Diaz also earned the praise of UConn's coach...

forums.dukebasketballreport.com

 

[Kolumbo]

^ ^

On Duke head coach Manny Diaz:
“Let me make this point too. I just want to say something about their head football coach, Manny Diaz. He is a pro, and what he did at the end of the game, that's how football is supposed to be played. And too many college coaches don't play football that way. He respects the men that play the game. He respects the game. And for him to tell his guy to concede and then take a knee three times and end it, that's how football coaches are supposed to act. So, my hat is off to him, and I told him that after the game. That was respect and that's respect for the game and the kids that are playing it. I think every football coach should have to watch the end of that game so they understand what this game is supposed to be played like.”

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Why are you asking such a dumb question?

1 - it is not a dumb question, it is a question posed to bring the discussion back on point.

2 - obviously you refuse to answer.

 

[CL82]

good game. Both teams left a lot of plays out there. Encouraged, but not happy.

This will be the way I will feel probably around Wednesday. Today, I'm angry that we did not take advantage of an eminently winable P4 road win.

 

[CL82]

anyone that watched the game should have been excited that we were literally leading in Q4 and deflated that we lost

This is what "deflated that we lost" looks like.

 

[uconnyankee]

He would have completed more passes and given us a better chance to win.

But go ahead and die on that hill.

What evidence suggests that? You’re speculating at best.

‘Die on that Hill’??? Is that the new boneyard catch-phrase for making a point?

You’re comparing Dukes defense to Merrimack’s and suggesting some level of equality. Maybe you should come off the hill.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I'll try again: from what you should be able to remember from approximately 19 months ago, were there posters on the men's basketball forum blasting Tristen Newton?

People underestimate how important he was.

 

[freescooter]

Man, a win would've felt so good. I can't wait to see how we look against all the G5 opponents coming up. The last 2 games makes me think bowl eligibility is a very realistic hope. If we barely miss out on a bowl game/winning season it really does make you wonder if going the all G5 route in scheduling is the smarter strategy to make ourselves a more attractive candidate for a P4 conference. Watching G5 schools get invites when they only play 1 or 2 (or none) P4 schools a year while we try to "prove" ourselves with more games against P4 doesn't really work if you're not beating those teams.

I’ve been saying this for years. We go 1-3 best case, probably 0-4.

 

[UConnJim]

So an FCS QB playing with FBS talent looked good against a middle of the road FCS team. I'm shocked.

I just don't get how some people don't think an experienced FCS QB can perform at the FBS level. And, Fagnano's stats at UConn show he is a capable QB and has played against NC State and Maryland. Look at Matt Sluka at UNLV. Transferred from FCS Holy Cross to FBS UNLV and UNLV is 3-0 with wins at Houston, at Kansas, and an FCS at home.

Right now, Fagnano is the better QB as he is more experienced and he sits in the pocket. Evers is inexperienced and tends to roll out of the pocket which decreases his passing accuracy. I'm sure Evers looks really good in practice as he is physically talented, but he needs to perform better during games and improve his feel for the game. I have to believe that the coaches think he will improve which is why he is starting.

 

[PAGS]

I don’t think Duke is a very good team…they definitely have some more talent in the skill positions which helped them get the win. I am still optimistic that this team can get 6 wins and a bowl (hopefully if someone takes UConn). They definitely stand a chance to win against FAU, Temple, Buffalo, Rice and UMass. That’s 6! Still gotta play those games, stay healthy and WIN them. Definitely seeing some improvement in the defense and I believe they’ll improve week to week! Getting Yates back will be huge too. If they’re sticking with Evers, I feel like they need to make his legs more of a threat. He needs to have more designed runs! Still think Joe throws a better ball!. Stop with the BS razel dazel!