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| Joseph Yearby breaks a tackle (Photo Credit: Associated Press) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
It was a solid win for the 'Canes on Saturday night. While some still see Duke as a laughingstock, this team isn't anywhere near the joke they were 10 years ago. This win isn't a program defining victory, but a step in the right direction. With the win over Duke, the 'Canes are still alive in the Coastal and a favorite to play in the ACC Championship.
Offense
Quarterback: Brad Kaaya continues to improve, having his first game without an interception. Kaaya wasn't as sharp as he was last week, but he didn't force the action and made some impressive throws. It's apparent to anyone who watches this young man that he has tremendous arm talent, and can make all the throws required. Kaaya did take a couple of hits due to him holding onto the ball for extended periods, which is something to watch. Kaaya will be expected to improve in the coming weeks, and there's no reason to believe that he won't. Grade: B-
Running Backs: Duke Johnson didn't look fully healthy, yet he was still the best athlete on the field Saturday night. Duke ran for 155 yards, averaging over 6 yards per carry. His power continues to impress, but fans should keep a close eye on Duke's carries. It's time that Joe Yearby sees more playing time, because Duke needs extended rest, he can't carry the mail alone. Yearby finally flashed the skills that made him a big time recruit. He has tremendous speed, and he can make things happen in multiple areas. At this point, he's a better player than Gus Edwards, who continues to struggle. Edwards refuses to become the power back that he was projected to be, and continues to be maddeningly inconsistent. His fumble late in the game was a microcosm of what is quickly becoming a disappointing career. Grade: A-
Wide Receivers: Another solid performance from this group. Blocking continues to be an issue, so much that a simple bubble screen becomes an exercise in futility. Stacy Coley continues to be a non-factor, showing none of the skills he showed in his freshman season. Coley needs to step up if the 'Canes want to have an explosive passing game, but this may be an example of a player who doesn't have the drive to improve himself, as his most recent weight room numbers indicate. Herb Waters was the leading receiver this week, and continues to be a player to watch. Braxton Berrios is becoming a fan favorite, even though he only had one catch this week. Berrios' role should grow, especially with the emphasis on the pass in future weeks. Malcolm Lewis is the most consistent player at this position, and will continue to see a lot of targets. Grade: B-
Tight Ends: Clive Walford has come a long way from the error prone player he once was. Walford has slowly become the most reliable receiver on the team, catching almost everything thrown his way. Walford didn't see as many targets as he did last week, but that was a result of Miami not running as much play-action, and an over-reliance on 5 receiver sets. Walford will find his way back to the top of the play chart as the schedule gets tougher. Standish Dobard was a solid blocker this week, he didn't have any catches. This unit has been a pleasant surprise all season. Grade: B
Offensive Line: The best performance of the season. Brad Kaaya rarely had to deal with pressure, and Duke Johnson ran untouched into the second level all night long. The problem wasn't winning the battle in the trenches, it was keeping these young men healthy. Both Taylor Gadbois and K.C. McDermott left the game with injuries. This unit isn't deep, so the 'Canes can't afford to lose anyone for an extended period. Gadbois has steadily improved, the 'Canes definitely can't afford to lose him. Art Kehoe deserves some credit for this unit's improvement. Grade: B+
Defense
Defensive Line: Again, this unit didn't put any pressure on the quarterback. However, this unit was bailed out by an assortment of blitzes, which helped to open things up. This unit continues to be plagued by the lack of consistent push in the middle, and the inability of Michael Wyche to consistently contribute. This week, the unit was schemed around, but that can't happen every week. This unit will have to be far better if the 'Canes are to defeat Georgia Tech. Grade: C-
Linebackers: This unit was everywhere, making tackles in bunches. Denzel Perryman rebounded from last week, picking off a pass late. He also dropped another sure interception, then drew a penalty for doing punishment push-ups after the drop. Perryman wasn't the only 'backer who had a huge game. Darrion Owens, and Jermaine Grace played well, with Grace having the best performance of his young career. Thurston Armbrister continues to impress, but he has to become a better blitzer. Armbrister rarely gets to the quarterback, due to him not having the speed to get around the corner. Overall this unit was active, and did what was asked. Grade: B
Secondary: It took 5 weeks, but this unit finally showed up and played a complete game. This unit finally decided to tackle, and with the exception of Deon Bush, did an excellent job of stopping receivers immediately. Bush continues to struggle, choosing to go for big hits instead of the sure tackle. Nantambu Fentress continues to be an under-appreciated member of this program, coming up big on multiple occasions. The light may have finally turned on for Artie Burns and he's looking like a player that teams need to think about. Burns' athletic ability, and length are great weapons, if he can become a consistent player, watch out. Ladarius Gunter had an excellent interception, and did an outstanding job of taking Duke receiver Jamison Crowder out of the game. Crowder only had 47 yards on the night, far below his season average. This unit forced Anthony Boone into some awful throws, and anytime a secondary can force a quarterback to complete less than 50% of their passes, it's an outstanding performance. Grade: B+
Coaching
Offense: James Coley called a solid game, albeit with some questionable decisions. The reliance on bubble screens, even though the 'Canes have shown zero ability to block on the perimeter is troubling. Duke Johnson and Joe Yearby could have run for over 150 yards each, if Coley would have maximized the running game. It was obvious that Duke was getting whipped up front, why reinvent the wheel? It should have been obvious to Coley that Kaaya wasn't sharp, and that the passing game wasn't where it was last week. Sometimes, a coordinator has to force their opposing number to adjust. This game most likely would have ended in a blowout had Coley not gone away from the run game. Grade: B-
Defense: This is more like it. During the first three weeks of the season, fans were treated to an aggressive defense that looked nothing like the passive units of previous seasons. Against Nebraska, the unit looked passive, and adjustments were few and far between. While Duke doesn't have Nebraska's talent, or scheme, it's still a solid offense. The defense dominated this game, stopping Duke throughout. It remains to be seen whether this unit can be this solid over the long haul, but this was a solid step forward. Grade: B
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