Duke kicks off the Manny Diaz period by welcoming FCS foe Elon to Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils enter the halftime locker room in a low-scoring struggle with the Phoenix, main 10-0:
5 observations
Murphy’s debut in Duke blue: After months of anticipation, switch quarterback Maalik Murphy lastly took his first official snaps in a Duke soccer uniform, yielding combined ends in the opening half-hour of play. On the Blue Devils opening drive, Murphy went 5-for-7 for 50 yards as Duke drove down the sphere earlier than settling for an early Todd Pelino discipline purpose. The Inglewood, Calif., native started to wrestle a bit because the half progressed, lacking some throws down the sphere and failing to maneuver the chains. The previous Longhorn made up for his struggles simply because the half was about to finish in the course of the Blue Devils’ solely landing drive, the place Murphy linked with receiver Eli Pancol on a 55-yard go to set Duke up within the pink zone. The Blue Satan quarterback racked up 149 complete yards within the air.
New defensive identification: Head coach Manny Diaz’s new-look, high-energy protection additionally debuted within the first half. The Blue Devils defensive position was the star of the present, because the unit collected sacks on every of Elon’s first 4 possessions. Duke instantly held the Phoenix to a three-and-out after an enormous sack from redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Wesley Williams, and adopted that show up with one other two sacks on Elon’s second possession. Whereas Diaz’s males did enable the Phoenix to drive down the sphere late within the half, they finally racked up a staggering 5 sacks and gave up no factors in only one half of play.
Working rapidly: Duke’s offense appears to be like significantly totally different from what followers have grow to be accustomed to. New offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer’s pass-happy offensive scheme was placed on full show within the first half. The Blue Devils employed a particularly fast-paced, no-huddle offense, prioritizing brief passes to the staff’s weapons on the skin. Whereas the scheme was extraordinarily profitable on Duke’s opening drive, the staff’s offensive momentum stalled because the half progressed, save for the ultimate possession. Particularly, the Blue Devils struggled to get drives going and convert on third-down conditions, although Pancol’s catch and run late within the half finally salvaged a mediocre show.
Rebuilt offensive line: The departures of linemen Graham Barton and Jacob Monk to the NFL have raised questions on how Duke’s new-look offensive line will carry out. Within the first half, the unit yielded combined outcomes, blocking fantastically within the passive recreation however struggling to create working lanes for star again Jaquez Moore. Murphy was not sacked within the first half and was not pressured on most passing makes an attempt, however Moore solely mustered 21 yards on the bottom in half-hour of play.
Forcing the Phoenix into third-and-long conditions: Duke’s dominant protection usually made massive stops on early downs, placing Elon in troublesome conditions on third down. Massive sacks performed a task in slowing down the Phoenix, however a powerful displaying in opposition to the run additionally was essential. Elon usually opted to concede and run the ball on third-and-long fairly than risking a turnover by going for the conversion.
By the numbers
174 complete yards on offense: Duke struggled to maneuver the ball throughout massive parts of the primary half, however because of massive performs early and late, finally completed with 174 complete yards within the opening half-hour. Apart from an early 24-yard catch and run by star Jordan Moore, the Blue Devils had a tough time pushing the ball down the sphere. A part of this lack of explosiveness could possibly be attributed to Brewer’s offensive scheme, nevertheless it additionally could possibly be as a consequence of a scarcity of early-season chemistry between Murphy and his new receiving core. Nonetheless, with lower than two minutes remaining within the half, Murphy discovered Pancol over the center to provide him confidence going into the locker room.
5 sacks: Duke’s protection exploded out of the gates with three sacks on the Phoenix’s opening two drives, and finally completed with 5 within the half. The Blue Devils saved Elon quarterback Matthew Downing continuously below duress, because the redshirt senior was continuously pressured even when he wasn’t taken to the bottom. Diaz has preached the significance of making unfavourable performs on the defensive finish, and that emphasis mirrored itself significantly within the season’s opening half of play.
25 complete speeding yards: Final season, the working recreation was a staple of Duke’s offense amidst the staff’s flurry of accidents on the quarterback place. However early in opposition to Elon, the Blue Devils struggled to determine a presence within the working recreation, usually placing Murphy in a troublesome place to transform on lengthy third downs. Moore rushed for less than 21 yards on eight makes an attempt, and backup working again Star Thomas almost costed Duke by fumbling the ball deep within the Blue Satan’s territory
A play that mattered
Duke’s offense lastly got here to life late within the half, as Murphy linked with Pancol at midfield, earlier than the graduate large receiver broke a couple of tackles and took the ball for a 55-yard catch-and-run. The Blue Devils instantly capitalized as Moore took the ball into the top zone for a 7-yard rating to provide Duke a 10-0 lead into the locker room.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly e-newsletter. Cancel at any time.
Rodrigo Amare is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity.