It’s time to preview another Miami opponent and this week we will preview Duke football. Duke comes into this game with an identical record to Miami (5-3) and is also coming off of a loss; to Pittsburgh in OT. I am going to take a look at the Pittsburgh game for a couple of reasons: 1. The game was on the road and I like to look at teach team in the same manner for which they will face the Canes. 2. The game was a high-scoring affair, and given that it will show ways Miami’s offense can have success against their defense and what does the Miami defense need to prepare for to have success on that side of the ball.
Offense
Duke on offense runs a lot of pro principles and isn’t a true spread team in the sense that they look to stretch the defense with space and tempo. They’re going to do a lot of reading of the defense and looking to take advantage of what the defense is giving them. Here, you see they stand up the receivers right near the LOS so that they can be blockers or route runners on the edge. They also can do quick wham blocks and seal blocks on the edges. Their QB serves as an extension of their run game quite often and they use him in a way that gets him with an extra blocker when he has designed runs. On this play they run the TE up-the-seam and the pass is incomplete.
They really use their TE much more than a typical college team does. Not necessarily in number of targets, but in the things they ask him to do. He has to threaten the seam, block on the edge, block in a 3-point stance, run option routes, and find soft spots in a zone defense. #87 will be a key to what they do against our defense and the LB’s will need to find him on every play. Very next play they run the TE up-the-seam and then he runs a square-in. The LB that is closing to his this LB got lost in zone coverage and the TE just squared in behind him for a 1st down. LB’s get concerned with the running ability of Jones and their attention gets lost of what is behind them in zone coverage. Teams play a lot of zone with their LB’s to counteract Jones’ running on them when they’re in man-to-man coverage and have their back turned. This is what I mean by the Duke offense finding where a weakness is with the defense and exploiting it until an adjustment is made.
Next play is the TE running a shallow cross for a completion. They’re running tempo to keep the same LB on the field and not allowing Pitt to sub him out and they’ve seen on film that the LB has trouble with a TE in space and are exploiting it. (Not pictured)
The Duke offense is predicated on simplicity with short passes and executing against what the defense is soft on. #87 gives away a lot of what they’re doing on offense because of how involved he is on each play. Whether it’s crack blocks, wham blocks, screen blocks, seam routes, QB runs, whatever they’re doing, it is key that #87 wins his assignment. (Commentary)
Duke puts the TE into the backfield on this play and he is a lead blocker for the RB. Duke puts a read element into the play to hold backside pursuit, but it will be critical that Miami tackle well in this game to get Duke out of their offense. This offense is predicated on being in 2nd & 5, 3rd & 3 all game long so they have all of their plays available.
In the run game, Duke runs a lot of split-zone, which is basically the OL “splits” into two sides and works to zone the defenders to that side with down blocks. The H-back then leads the RB up into the hole. It is important that the LB’s read their keys quickly and spill the blocks of the H-back in the hole so that the RB doesn’t have a two-way go in the middle of the field MOF).
We saw in the Toledo game that our DE’s really like to fly up-the-field and get that edge on the T’s. In that game the Toledo QB just stepped into that open area repeatedly for big gains. Duke runs this play purposefully and really likes to run Jones in the red zone. If the ends are going to get upfield in this game it is imperative that we replace a defender into those spots. Jones is difficult to bring down with one man as it is and if he gets open space like this against Miami he will run for a bunch of yards and Duke will score points.
Duke will use their #2 QB in the Wildcat and split Jones out wide as well. This is most likely a play they will run in the red zone, but it’s on tape for Miami to see. QB scores on a keeper right up-the-middle. They actually put Jones in motion into that jet sweep motion you see and then the QB fakes to the RB next to him and ran up-the-gut. So they’ve got a couple of variations they could run in this game. I’d ignore the Jones fake though because I doubt they will play to get him going east-west against our speed. He’s a downhill guy.
Jones looks for #87 on most pass plays. Doesn’t mean he goes there, but he at least looks at him on most pass plays. Here, the LB’s come up because Jones has run the ball a few times and he hits the TE right behind them. A big game for our LB’s to show up and make some plays. They cut the field in half for Jones and give him a couple of quick looks to throw. If the play isn’t there he’s quick to pull his eyes down and run.
Duke is methodical, dink-and-dunk and then they hit you with a trick play. Outside zone, handoff to the WR on the reverse, who flips it back to the QB, who throws it deep to the TE who was wide open but dropped it. You have to know where the TE is against this offense on every play. He will lead you to the ball. (Not pictured)
This offense is built upon the back of the QB being able to run, having TE’s who are multiple in what they can do, and quick WR’s who can catch-and-run over the middle. Here the edge defender jumps outside on the read, the QB pulls this and nearly houses it. He waits for the defense to flow towards the runner and actually goes to the right of the C here rather than taking that lane to the left you see here and the defense clears and he gashes them.
Rahming catches a TD on an out-breaking route earlier, now he catches one on an in-breaking route. He’s super quick and has great hands. Jones plays very poorly when he is pressured, but if he has time to stand there and survey the field he has a great arm and is pretty good.
It’s not just Miami that has trouble with the CB blitz. Jones never sees the slot corner blitz, loses the ball, Pitt takes over. Big play in this game as Duke was driving right down the field.
Duke will absolutely press an advantage on offense. They run the exact same play on the next one with tempo and pressure blows it up. The interior of our DL is going to be a key in this game so that Jones can’t run wild on us. Pop passes and motion are built into the plays mainly between the 20’s. Duke turns into a power running team in the red zone, but between the 20’s it’s a lot of eye candy. Jones will just keep the ball and keep the ball and keep the ball on 3rd and short. Miami will want to punish him and hit him relentlessly in this game to wear on those legs in the 2nd half. 3rd and long and it is all about TJ Rahming (#3). Hopefully Miami will hit him and bump him as well because he’s by far their best receiver in space. (Commentary)
Defense
This is a play that is a staple of the Miami offense. A read-option run to the field side of the formation. If the edge man crashes, the QB has to pull the ball and create an opportunity for themselves. Here, #90 clearly crashes hard on the run and the QB keeps the ball and scores easily on this play. The OL is pulling to the field side which draws the defense to that side and Pitt has flexed their TE out wide to give a 4-receiver look, just as Miami often does. It’ll be key for Rosier to keep the ball on this play at various times in the game rather than forcing the give like we have seen at times this year. Great block on the edge by their WR.
On 3rd downs look for Duke to test our OL with fire zone blitzes or cross double-A gap blitzes. On this play, they line the Mike up over the C (#67) and send him. Then they stunt their edge from the right side of the OL and loop him around into the gap between the LG and the C. The RB has to take the stunter but doesn’t have the weight to handle the DE. The DE comes free and sacks the QB. Pitt doesn’t have anything threatening the MOF and the QB has nowhere to go. It will be key for Miami to pick up stunts and fire blitzes in this game because Duke likes to bring pressure on 3rd down.
Pitt just gashed Duke on the edges in the running game. Here they give on the jet sweep to #19 around the edge and #84 gets a seal block and he takes this to the 5-yard line. We know Miami will not use motion in this game, but it at least shows ways that Duke is vulnerable on the edges in the running game if we decide to attack it with RB’s or with bubble screens.
Pitt tried to run wildcat in the red zone several times in this game and had little-to-no success. Most likely because Duke sees it so much in practice. If Miami wants that to be a big part of their game plan this week, it might be the week to have DeeJay throw it. (Commentary)
Here you can see how Duke gets gashed on the edges as they are aggressive to the inside. The RB gets it on the dive with fake jet sweep motion through first. The FB has an easy play to just seal #59 who is already showing his numbers on his own. The RB cuts this outside and picks up 20.
If the running game gets going, there will be chances deep. Pitt has missed a couple of deep shots into double-coverage already, but this one was wide open and is a walk-in TD. Have to hit these when we get the chance. This is a fake corner, back to the post, route and he gets #30 to open to the corner early. The shallow cross by #11 holds that S from getting into the deep zone and this WR runs open deep and the QB hits him. Duke has very little in the way of pass rush without a blitz.
This defense is disciplined and tackles well. They’re not very fast, but are assignment sound. Miami is not going to beat them with misdirection and motion, we have seen that already. They can beat them with speed to the edges though. It will be important for Rosier to keep and get the ball to the edge on QB runs. It will be important to throw the bubbles to the outside and make Duke run and try to tackle in space. I am confident Miami can move the ball on this defense as they setup well for what we do on offense. (Commentary)
Special Teams
Deon Jackson is a nice kickoff returner. He’s not an elite athlete so he’s more of a 35-yard threat than a TD threat, but he’s tough to bring down. Solid, fundamental team on returns.
Collin Wareham- Average K has made 5-6 of FG attempts, 32-34 on extra points. Duke likes to go for it on 4th downs so he gets few opportunities.
Austin Parker- Good punter averaging 43.2 yards per punt.
Personnel
#17 QB Daniel Jones- 6-5, 220 pounds. Huge and tough in the run game. 118-183 (64.5%), 1457 yards (8.0 Yards/Attempt), 13 TD, 4 interceptions. Main cog that makes them go and has NFL buzz.
#18 Quentin Harris- 6-1, 195 pounds. Love to bring him in to run Wildcat in the red zone. We will see him at some point in this game.
#25 Deon Jackson- 6-0, 220 pounds. Big, strong athlete. He’s their best RB on film. Has a nice burst and is difficult to tackle. 101 carries, 5.4 yards (5.3 YPC). 10 rec, 157 yards (15.7 YPC).
#3 TJ Rahming- 5-10, 170 pounds. Small slot WR who will make plays. Have to hit him and get him off his routes.
#80 Daniel Helm- 6-4, 255 pounds. Part of their TE duo that sets up so many of their plays. 11 catches, 108 yards (9.8 YPC).
#87 Noah Gray- 6-4, 240 pounds. 12 catches, 160 yards (13.3 YPC).
#81 Davis Koppenhaver- 6-4, 240 pounds. Red zone specialist has 5 touchdown passes.
#96 Chris Rumph II- 6-3, 225 pounds. Skinny Freshman DE has turned into their best pass rusher as the season has gone along. He’s from Gainesville, FL. Leads them with 3.0 sacks (7.5 TFL).
#44 Joe Giles-Harris- 6-2, 240 pounds. Thumper type LB who leads Duke in tackles with 69 (5.5 TFL).
Conclusion
Duke is a problem on offense. They run a nice system that puts the defense in a bind and doesn’t try to be fancy. If something is working, they will continue to run it until the defense proves they can stop it. They run their QB often and rely on staying ahead of the chains. Their TE’s are fairly interchangeable and need to be identified as they will take you to the ball. For the defense to stop Duke we are going to need the LB’s to make plays in coverage and get the QB down when they have a chance to hit him. The interior of the defensive line is going to be huge in this game. We know the DE’s are going to get upfield and that leaves lanes for the QB to run through. If the DT’s aren’t getting pressure the QB can step through them and hurt Miami. This will be a game to get physical with their receivers because they are so quick and flood zones over the middle the best way to slow that down is to get your hands on the receivers early. I look for Bandy to play a huge part in stopping Rahming and for Mike Jackson to draw more time covering Johnathan Lloyd, a physical WR who is a good blocker.
Miami can move the ball on this team and will need to do so with more edge runs rather than trying to slam the ball into the middle off of dive plays. Giles-Harris thrives on playing downhill so those plays are right into his strength. He struggles more in space and multiple teams have taken advantage of this on the edges of running plays as well as with screens and shallow crosses. This game plays perfectly into Miami’s scheme on offense, so I do look for them to score some points.
I expect Miami to bounce back at home, where they play much better at night. Duke will move the ball and probably score some points, but Diaz will make enough adjustments in the second half to give Miami the win, 27-17.
Offense
Duke on offense runs a lot of pro principles and isn’t a true spread team in the sense that they look to stretch the defense with space and tempo. They’re going to do a lot of reading of the defense and looking to take advantage of what the defense is giving them. Here, you see they stand up the receivers right near the LOS so that they can be blockers or route runners on the edge. They also can do quick wham blocks and seal blocks on the edges. Their QB serves as an extension of their run game quite often and they use him in a way that gets him with an extra blocker when he has designed runs. On this play they run the TE up-the-seam and the pass is incomplete.
They really use their TE much more than a typical college team does. Not necessarily in number of targets, but in the things they ask him to do. He has to threaten the seam, block on the edge, block in a 3-point stance, run option routes, and find soft spots in a zone defense. #87 will be a key to what they do against our defense and the LB’s will need to find him on every play. Very next play they run the TE up-the-seam and then he runs a square-in. The LB that is closing to his this LB got lost in zone coverage and the TE just squared in behind him for a 1st down. LB’s get concerned with the running ability of Jones and their attention gets lost of what is behind them in zone coverage. Teams play a lot of zone with their LB’s to counteract Jones’ running on them when they’re in man-to-man coverage and have their back turned. This is what I mean by the Duke offense finding where a weakness is with the defense and exploiting it until an adjustment is made.
Next play is the TE running a shallow cross for a completion. They’re running tempo to keep the same LB on the field and not allowing Pitt to sub him out and they’ve seen on film that the LB has trouble with a TE in space and are exploiting it. (Not pictured)
The Duke offense is predicated on simplicity with short passes and executing against what the defense is soft on. #87 gives away a lot of what they’re doing on offense because of how involved he is on each play. Whether it’s crack blocks, wham blocks, screen blocks, seam routes, QB runs, whatever they’re doing, it is key that #87 wins his assignment. (Commentary)
Duke puts the TE into the backfield on this play and he is a lead blocker for the RB. Duke puts a read element into the play to hold backside pursuit, but it will be critical that Miami tackle well in this game to get Duke out of their offense. This offense is predicated on being in 2nd & 5, 3rd & 3 all game long so they have all of their plays available.
In the run game, Duke runs a lot of split-zone, which is basically the OL “splits” into two sides and works to zone the defenders to that side with down blocks. The H-back then leads the RB up into the hole. It is important that the LB’s read their keys quickly and spill the blocks of the H-back in the hole so that the RB doesn’t have a two-way go in the middle of the field MOF).
We saw in the Toledo game that our DE’s really like to fly up-the-field and get that edge on the T’s. In that game the Toledo QB just stepped into that open area repeatedly for big gains. Duke runs this play purposefully and really likes to run Jones in the red zone. If the ends are going to get upfield in this game it is imperative that we replace a defender into those spots. Jones is difficult to bring down with one man as it is and if he gets open space like this against Miami he will run for a bunch of yards and Duke will score points.
Duke will use their #2 QB in the Wildcat and split Jones out wide as well. This is most likely a play they will run in the red zone, but it’s on tape for Miami to see. QB scores on a keeper right up-the-middle. They actually put Jones in motion into that jet sweep motion you see and then the QB fakes to the RB next to him and ran up-the-gut. So they’ve got a couple of variations they could run in this game. I’d ignore the Jones fake though because I doubt they will play to get him going east-west against our speed. He’s a downhill guy.
Jones looks for #87 on most pass plays. Doesn’t mean he goes there, but he at least looks at him on most pass plays. Here, the LB’s come up because Jones has run the ball a few times and he hits the TE right behind them. A big game for our LB’s to show up and make some plays. They cut the field in half for Jones and give him a couple of quick looks to throw. If the play isn’t there he’s quick to pull his eyes down and run.
Duke is methodical, dink-and-dunk and then they hit you with a trick play. Outside zone, handoff to the WR on the reverse, who flips it back to the QB, who throws it deep to the TE who was wide open but dropped it. You have to know where the TE is against this offense on every play. He will lead you to the ball. (Not pictured)
This offense is built upon the back of the QB being able to run, having TE’s who are multiple in what they can do, and quick WR’s who can catch-and-run over the middle. Here the edge defender jumps outside on the read, the QB pulls this and nearly houses it. He waits for the defense to flow towards the runner and actually goes to the right of the C here rather than taking that lane to the left you see here and the defense clears and he gashes them.
Rahming catches a TD on an out-breaking route earlier, now he catches one on an in-breaking route. He’s super quick and has great hands. Jones plays very poorly when he is pressured, but if he has time to stand there and survey the field he has a great arm and is pretty good.
It’s not just Miami that has trouble with the CB blitz. Jones never sees the slot corner blitz, loses the ball, Pitt takes over. Big play in this game as Duke was driving right down the field.
Duke will absolutely press an advantage on offense. They run the exact same play on the next one with tempo and pressure blows it up. The interior of our DL is going to be a key in this game so that Jones can’t run wild on us. Pop passes and motion are built into the plays mainly between the 20’s. Duke turns into a power running team in the red zone, but between the 20’s it’s a lot of eye candy. Jones will just keep the ball and keep the ball and keep the ball on 3rd and short. Miami will want to punish him and hit him relentlessly in this game to wear on those legs in the 2nd half. 3rd and long and it is all about TJ Rahming (#3). Hopefully Miami will hit him and bump him as well because he’s by far their best receiver in space. (Commentary)
Defense
This is a play that is a staple of the Miami offense. A read-option run to the field side of the formation. If the edge man crashes, the QB has to pull the ball and create an opportunity for themselves. Here, #90 clearly crashes hard on the run and the QB keeps the ball and scores easily on this play. The OL is pulling to the field side which draws the defense to that side and Pitt has flexed their TE out wide to give a 4-receiver look, just as Miami often does. It’ll be key for Rosier to keep the ball on this play at various times in the game rather than forcing the give like we have seen at times this year. Great block on the edge by their WR.
On 3rd downs look for Duke to test our OL with fire zone blitzes or cross double-A gap blitzes. On this play, they line the Mike up over the C (#67) and send him. Then they stunt their edge from the right side of the OL and loop him around into the gap between the LG and the C. The RB has to take the stunter but doesn’t have the weight to handle the DE. The DE comes free and sacks the QB. Pitt doesn’t have anything threatening the MOF and the QB has nowhere to go. It will be key for Miami to pick up stunts and fire blitzes in this game because Duke likes to bring pressure on 3rd down.
Pitt just gashed Duke on the edges in the running game. Here they give on the jet sweep to #19 around the edge and #84 gets a seal block and he takes this to the 5-yard line. We know Miami will not use motion in this game, but it at least shows ways that Duke is vulnerable on the edges in the running game if we decide to attack it with RB’s or with bubble screens.
Pitt tried to run wildcat in the red zone several times in this game and had little-to-no success. Most likely because Duke sees it so much in practice. If Miami wants that to be a big part of their game plan this week, it might be the week to have DeeJay throw it. (Commentary)
Here you can see how Duke gets gashed on the edges as they are aggressive to the inside. The RB gets it on the dive with fake jet sweep motion through first. The FB has an easy play to just seal #59 who is already showing his numbers on his own. The RB cuts this outside and picks up 20.
If the running game gets going, there will be chances deep. Pitt has missed a couple of deep shots into double-coverage already, but this one was wide open and is a walk-in TD. Have to hit these when we get the chance. This is a fake corner, back to the post, route and he gets #30 to open to the corner early. The shallow cross by #11 holds that S from getting into the deep zone and this WR runs open deep and the QB hits him. Duke has very little in the way of pass rush without a blitz.
This defense is disciplined and tackles well. They’re not very fast, but are assignment sound. Miami is not going to beat them with misdirection and motion, we have seen that already. They can beat them with speed to the edges though. It will be important for Rosier to keep and get the ball to the edge on QB runs. It will be important to throw the bubbles to the outside and make Duke run and try to tackle in space. I am confident Miami can move the ball on this defense as they setup well for what we do on offense. (Commentary)
Special Teams
Deon Jackson is a nice kickoff returner. He’s not an elite athlete so he’s more of a 35-yard threat than a TD threat, but he’s tough to bring down. Solid, fundamental team on returns.
Collin Wareham- Average K has made 5-6 of FG attempts, 32-34 on extra points. Duke likes to go for it on 4th downs so he gets few opportunities.
Austin Parker- Good punter averaging 43.2 yards per punt.
Personnel
#17 QB Daniel Jones- 6-5, 220 pounds. Huge and tough in the run game. 118-183 (64.5%), 1457 yards (8.0 Yards/Attempt), 13 TD, 4 interceptions. Main cog that makes them go and has NFL buzz.
#18 Quentin Harris- 6-1, 195 pounds. Love to bring him in to run Wildcat in the red zone. We will see him at some point in this game.
#25 Deon Jackson- 6-0, 220 pounds. Big, strong athlete. He’s their best RB on film. Has a nice burst and is difficult to tackle. 101 carries, 5.4 yards (5.3 YPC). 10 rec, 157 yards (15.7 YPC).
#3 TJ Rahming- 5-10, 170 pounds. Small slot WR who will make plays. Have to hit him and get him off his routes.
#80 Daniel Helm- 6-4, 255 pounds. Part of their TE duo that sets up so many of their plays. 11 catches, 108 yards (9.8 YPC).
#87 Noah Gray- 6-4, 240 pounds. 12 catches, 160 yards (13.3 YPC).
#81 Davis Koppenhaver- 6-4, 240 pounds. Red zone specialist has 5 touchdown passes.
#96 Chris Rumph II- 6-3, 225 pounds. Skinny Freshman DE has turned into their best pass rusher as the season has gone along. He’s from Gainesville, FL. Leads them with 3.0 sacks (7.5 TFL).
#44 Joe Giles-Harris- 6-2, 240 pounds. Thumper type LB who leads Duke in tackles with 69 (5.5 TFL).
Conclusion
Duke is a problem on offense. They run a nice system that puts the defense in a bind and doesn’t try to be fancy. If something is working, they will continue to run it until the defense proves they can stop it. They run their QB often and rely on staying ahead of the chains. Their TE’s are fairly interchangeable and need to be identified as they will take you to the ball. For the defense to stop Duke we are going to need the LB’s to make plays in coverage and get the QB down when they have a chance to hit him. The interior of the defensive line is going to be huge in this game. We know the DE’s are going to get upfield and that leaves lanes for the QB to run through. If the DT’s aren’t getting pressure the QB can step through them and hurt Miami. This will be a game to get physical with their receivers because they are so quick and flood zones over the middle the best way to slow that down is to get your hands on the receivers early. I look for Bandy to play a huge part in stopping Rahming and for Mike Jackson to draw more time covering Johnathan Lloyd, a physical WR who is a good blocker.
Miami can move the ball on this team and will need to do so with more edge runs rather than trying to slam the ball into the middle off of dive plays. Giles-Harris thrives on playing downhill so those plays are right into his strength. He struggles more in space and multiple teams have taken advantage of this on the edges of running plays as well as with screens and shallow crosses. This game plays perfectly into Miami’s scheme on offense, so I do look for them to score some points.
I expect Miami to bounce back at home, where they play much better at night. Duke will move the ball and probably score some points, but Diaz will make enough adjustments in the second half to give Miami the win, 27-17.
