swiseman@heraldsun.com; 419-6655
DURHAM – Consecutive 3-9 seasons, each including one ACC win, have left Duke football coach David Cutcliffe open to creative thinking.
Some of the thoughts he and his staff have conjured up to help the Blue Devils win more will be put into place when the team begins spring practice today.
“We play good,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve just got to play good enough to win.”
Cutcliffe enters his fifth season at Duke, having gone 15-33. While those 15 wins are four more than Duke managed in the eight years preceding his arrival, he yearns for far more success.
“We’ve come to the edge over and over again,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve got to take that giant leap.”
In hopes of getting there, Cutcliffe is having rising junior Brandon Braxton move from wide receiver, where he started last season, to safety this spring.
Redshirt sophomore Issac Blakeney, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound player who missed last season due to academic issues, is moving to tight end.
“That will be his best chance to impact our team,” said Cutcliffe, who praised Blakeney’s combination of size, speed and strength.
Cutcliffe said Blakeney will get a look at defensive end as well as the team searches for ways to improve its pass rush. He’s not the only player who might find himself turned loose to find quarterbacks.
He plans to hold extensive drills during spring practice to see who has the ability to help a defense that recorded only 17 sacks in 12 games.
“I want to find some people who can rush the passer,” Cutcliffe said.
On offense, Duke has a plethora of quarterbacks in camp and available for work this spring.
Sean Renfree, a redshirt senior who has thrown for 6,022 yards and 28 touchdowns over the last two seasons, is the incumbent. But Duke also has redshirt sophomores Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette available.
Boone shared time with Renfree at quarterback last season, showing the ability to run and pass. He recorded four rushing touchdowns.
Connette filled that role in 2010 before a shoulder injury knocked him out last season.
Incoming freshman Thomas Sirk graduated early from Baker County High School in Glen St. Mary, Fla., and is taking classes at Duke this semester. That makes him available for spring practice as well.
Because Connette and Boone have running ability, Cutcliffe and his staff are working on formations that will include two quarterbacks on the field at the same time. One would line up at different positions, be it slot receiver, tight end or in the backfield.
“There are a lot of ways to make plays,” Cutcliffe said.
Duke will be without six potential starting players due to injury this spring.
Tight end Braxton Deaver (knee) and defensive end Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo (ankle) had surgeries last month and are still recovering.
Defensive end Kenny Anunike recorded four sacks in three games before a season-ending knee injury last September. He’s still recovering from surgery and won’t take part in contact drills this spring.
Anunike is technically a senior for the 2012 season. But Duke is seeking a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA for Anunike, who has been plagued by injuries his entire college career.
Safety Augie Campbell (shoulder) will not participate this spring as he recovers from his injury.
The Blue Devils will also be without starting wide receiver Conner Vernon (foot) and starting linebacker Kelby Brown (knee). Both are limited for this spring and could possibly participate before spring practice ends.
Duke does have 41 players returning from last year’s team who saw significant playing time. The Blue Devils return four starting offensive linemen and will welcome back Brian Moore, last season’s projected starting center who missed the season with a broken arm.
But Cutcliffe has told everyone that playing time is completely up for grabs. Production is the main factor.
“I’ve told them `Go take someone’s job,’” he said. “Coming off 3-9 seasons, don’t you think there are some jobs available?”
NOTE: Safety Jeremy Cash will participate in spring practice after transferring from Ohio State in January. Cutcliffe said Duke is helping Cash appeal to the NCAA to allow him to play for the Blue Devils this fall. If the appeal is denied, he would have to sit out the 2012 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
