The Blue Devils have to double their victory total from the 2011 season in order to qualify for their first bowl appearance since 1994. That's a tall task, but one that remains a goal for fifth-year coach David Cutcliffe.
"We've got to take a giant leap," he said.
It's another offseason of trying to figure out what details must be addressed in order to turn those close calls into victories.
The spring session is important for the Blue Devils as they try to identify more playmakers on offense to accompany veteran quarterback Sean Renfree and big-play receiver Conner Vernon. It makes for an exciting time because there are openings for important roles on the offense. There's lots of fine-tuning going on because even with Renfree's solid credentials the Blue Devils understand they must take full advantage of their offensive capabilities as there's ongoing questions about the defense.
"Overall, we're hunting another level of play," Cutcliffe said. "Last year, we really did play at another level, and that level isn't good enough."
The Blue Devils insist that they've become consumed with the details because it's the finer points and the so-called little things that have prevented them from achieving their missions the past couple of seasons.
"This is definitely not a three-win team," Vernon said. "It comes to finishing games. It's something you can't practice."
So with that, it means the detailed areas that can be emphasized in the practices can add up to bigger things in games by the fall.
Cultivating depth is also something that the Blue Devils are trying to accomplish this spring. They're getting some good looks at younger players in several positions, including at receiver and linebacker.
One of the things that Cutcliffe said he likes about the Blue Devils is that they've show an irritation with the back-to-back three-win seasons and that has planted motivational seeds for the spring.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The quest to continue to toughen up the Blue Devils appears to have no boundaries. Coach David Cutcliffe has been clear that there needs to be a new standard set in this category. He has tried to make the spring sessions as close to game conditions as possible in several ways. "There will be no such thing as a non-contact jersey on our quarterbacks," he said.
--WR Conner Vernon said he was committed to staying with the Blue Devils even though he sought an evaluation from the NFL regarding his potential draft stock. He's already a record-holder with the Blue Devils and he's bound to pad some of those statistics during his senior season. "I wasn't close (to leaving)," he said. "It was one of those things I did to see what they'd say. I was never on the fence."
--Coach David Cutcliffe has gained some more recognition during the winter as he has helped Peyton Manning with workouts as the NFL star recovered from surgeries. Manning was under Cutcliffe's what when Cutcliffe was offensive coordinator at Tennessee. That relationship is a feel-good story that has brought some attention to the Duke program because of Cutcliffe's role.
--How will the departure of Matt Daniels, who had been a standout at safety, impact the defense? The Blue Devils are trying numerous rotations among the safeties to see what combinations work best because Daniels' presence as a 2011 senior gave the defensive unit a comfort that no longer exists. With S Anthony Young-Wiseman and S Walt Canty, there are replacements with encouraging potential.
SPRING MOVERS
WR Blair Holliday -- Here's a player who had thrust himself into the mix for a receiving role and with a solid scrimmage performance he has shown the ability to find openings in the secondary. Duke's offense requires that multiple receivers fit into the system and Holliday could be working toward a key role.
TE Issac Blakeney -- A newcomer to the program, he has turned some heads with his spring work. With an opening at this position, he has made headway toward filling this role on Saturdays though the coaches will want to see how he handles a full array of responsibilities.
RB Josh Snead -- He's back after missing the 2011 with an injury and his ability for quick bursts has returned. He's the type of running back that the Blue Devils haven't had in recent seasons and some solid work in spring scrimmages has put him back on the radar.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
2012 OUTLOOK: The Blue Devils are coming off a three-win season when they felt there were opportunities for something much better. There's no easy path for the Blue Devils to reach the next level because they tend to be in the underdog role on a regular basis. This will be coach David Cutcliffe's fifth season at Duke and showing more progress in the win-loss column might start carrying more importance in the big picture. With a senior in QB Sean Renfree, this is a season in which some of the pieces should be in place to make some upward movement in the standings.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: It starts with QB Sean Renfree, who has been the focal point of the offense and the pass-first mentality isn't going away. Renfree has continued to receive kudos during the spring, so there's no drop-off anticipated from his performance. WR Conner Vernon is a four-year starter and he should take pressure off some younger wideouts who'll be needed to produce. The Blue Devils should be able to flood the perimeter with quality receivers, though there will be a period to see which of the younger wideouts emerge as big-play threats alongside Vernon. The running game is almost always a question mark for the Blue Devils and RB Desmond Scott has another chance to show he can be a complete and consistent performer. The offensive line has some holes to fill, but nothing that can't be remedied especially if C Brian Moore's leadership carries some weight in the middle.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: This will be the second season of a new defensive alignment and much of that should be more familiar for the Blue Devils. There's an urgency in finding a replacement for S Matt Daniels, who was the quarterback of the unit. LB Kelby Brown is a standout in the middle, but keeping him healthy tends to be an issue. The biggest questions could come across the defensive front because developing a better pass rush has been identified as one of the priorities. Linemen could be tested in several ways to see what works best in upgrading the pass rush. With CB Ross Cockrell developing into a solid player, the secondary could be in good shape if it's not left vulnerable by the some untested players in front of them.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: The Blue Devils have had some shortcomings in the past in these areas and upgrading them has been a priority. While help could be on the way, the spring work has belonged primarily to P Will Monday, who's handling kicking and punting. The Blue Devils felt too many big-play opportunities went by the wayside on kickoff returns last season so there will be a sampling of options to see what that can be improved.
TOP NEWCOMERS
LB Deion Williams -- The Blue Devils covet a player with athletic potential that's projected by Williams. He'll need to put on some weight (from 225 pounds) if he's going to stay at inside linebacker, but national ratings peg him as a top 30 recruit at that position so he'll look to make an early impact.
K Ross Martin -- The Blue Devils made a quick push to add Martin to the class, realizing the immediate need at the position. Rivals.com made him a No. 1 kicking prospect in the class and his range is something that caught the attention of coaches right away.
RB Shaquille Powell -- He comes from a winning program and his credentials include Parade All-American status. The Blue Devils continue to thirst for a running back to upgrade their rushing attack and they're willing to give Powell a shot to show that he can do that.
ROSTER REPORT
--S Brandon Braxton has been converted from receiver to give more options in the defensive backfield. His big-play tendencies on special teams are one reason for the Blue Devils to be optimistic about this position change.
--DE Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo had ankle surgery in January and so he's sidelined from spring drills.
--QB Anthony Boone says he sees himself as another rushing threat when he's in the game and he says the pass-oriented offense that the Blue Devils use can fit his skills as well. He's vying for the backup position behind QB Sean Renfree.
--C Brian Moore started the spring session with another wrist injury. He's the anchor of the offensive line.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Everyone is optimistic as they can be right now.
Everybody is out to prove." -- S Walt Canty on the Blue Devils' approach
to spring workouts during which the team now has access to its new
indoor practice facility.
