Making the Grade: Duke's First Quarter Report Card

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Now that Duke is a quarter of the way through the season it is time to see how this group of Blue Devils has done so far.

While grading a football team's performance can be a fairly arbitrary and subjective process, there is generally plenty of data to base your grading on.

So far this team hasn't lived up to preseason expectations, but there is still hope for this Duke squad to have some moderate success this year.

Offense: D+

Duke's offensive unit has been inconsistent all year. They have failed to find any balance with the exception of their most recent game against North Carolina Central.

The Blue Devils' running game has been nonexistent and prior to the aforementioned performance this past week, Duke had one rushing touch down and zero 100 yard rushing performances.

Most of the offensive responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of quarterback Thad Lewis and his able backup Sean Renfree. While both have put up respectable numbers at times, Lewis has struggled from having to deal with constant pressure or injury/illness.

Which ever the case, from the opening loss to Richmond to the shellacking from Kansas, Duke's quarterbacks have had to do it all.

One would think that a quarterback guru like Coach David Cutcliffe wouldn't mind that so much, however, even he would most likely admit that the rushing game has been a disappointment.

With the return of redshirt senior running back Re'quan Boyette and sophomore Jay Hollingsworth, Duke was anticipating a pretty effective one-two punch from their backfield.

That hasn't happened. 

Hollingsworth put up the most impressive performances but both are hurt and their status as of Monday is still unknown. 

Enter freshman running backs Desmond Scott and Patrick Kurunwune who added a nice spark against the Central Eagles.

Granted the Eagles aren't the likes of Kansas or even Army, but it was a welcome sight to see Duke run the ball down another team’s throat for a change.

Part of the problem is Duke's inexperienced offensive line. Cutcliffe knew coming into the season that was a weakness and other teams have exposed that weakness game in and game out.

If Duke can't sure up that unit by season's end expect more anemic performances. Also Duke may not end up with any healthy running backs, or quarterbacks for that matter.

The best part of the offensive unit so far has got to be the receivers. In multiple games, the Duke quarterbacks have hit multiple receivers who are making catches.

Duke is lacking the big play capability of Eron Riley; however, the group of wide receivers they returned have done a commendable job in his stead.

Defense: C-

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