 |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven games into the 2003 season, Duke athletics director Joe Alleva fired head coach Carl Franks and temporarily turned the program over to defensive coordinator Ted Roof. On that Sunday in October, Alleva gave Roof "no chance" of keeping the job on a permanent basis.
Five games, two memorable wins and one anticlimactic coaching search later, Roof defied his own boss' odds and dropped the "interim" tag from his title.
With Miami and Virginia Tech joining the ACC and a schedule that includes seven bowl teams, Roof will again be given no chance this season. And actually, that's fine with the 40-year-old former Georgia Tech linebacker, who after 17 years as an assistant, enters his first full season as a head coach with a 2-3 record.
"Before you can get to great, you have to get to good," Roof said. "Right now, we're building to get to good."
The Blue Devils have rarely been good since Steve Spurrier left for Florida in 1990. But in Roof's five games, they showed signs of hope, ending a 30-game ACC losing streak with a win over Georgia Tech and closing the season by beating rival North Carolina ... something that hadn't been done since Spurrier's final ACC game.
Now the Blue Devils have to continue the momentum from that improbable finish without Chris Douglas, the school's career rushing leader, or Ryan Fowler and Matt Zielinski, a pair of All-ACC defenders.
As a redshirt freshman, Schneider started eight games but threw more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (four). He has the best arm and natural ability of the trio but must improve his decision-making. Chris Dapolito and Curt Dukes, a transfer from Nebraska, are both mobile but undersized.
Junior Cedric Dargan is the best of the running backs. He has the task of replacing Douglas, who gained 1,138 yards last fall. Dargan (264 yards, five touchdowns in 2003) will have four new blockers in front of him. Right tackle Christian Mitchell is the lone starter back on the offensive line.
Under new coordinator Marty Galbraith, the Devils will throw more short and intermediate pass routes and use multiple formations. That means returning receivers Lance Johnson and Senterrio Landrum should be active, but Roof is counting on sophomore tight end Ben Patrick and freshman receiver Chancellor Young to emerge.
The Devils have depth and experience on the defensive line with both starters returning at end, including junior Phillip Alexander (6.5 sacks), and three veteran tackles.
Senior linebacker Giuseppe Aguanno will move from outside to inside to replace Fowler in Roof's 4-3 scheme. And three of the starters return in the secondary, including vastly improved corner Kenny Stanford.
The Blue Devils, as Roof likes say, do not have enough talent to overcome needless mistakes. Roof's first full season will depend on the development of Schneider. He showed the talent in 2003 but will have to adjust to a new offense and a new offensive line. Roof's team showed a desire and intensity it previously lacked under Franks. That much will have to carry on for the Devils to equal last season's win total of four. Even with upsets, their schedule is too unforgiving to expect much more.
• Click here for a complete list of 2004 Team Previews from Athlon
|
| To Purchase the 2004 College Football Preview from Athlon Sports, click here. |
