Duke Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

Duke football took a few steps back in 2016. Can the Blue Devils get things back on track this season or will it be more of the same this year?

The Duke Blue Devils are one of those ACC football teams you can never quite get a feel for. Although they went 1-7 in conference play last season, it was their play in the second half of games that left them reeling by season’s end.

The Blue Devils were outscored 96-153 in the second half of games in 2016. Depth, not skill, seemed to be their biggest Achilles’ heel. They also lost quarterback Thomas Sirk to an Achilles’ heel injury at the beginning of the 2016 season. Sirk has since transferred to the East Carolina Pirates. Daniel Jones didn’t do poorly in Sirk’s place. In 2017, he should improve a whole lot more with experience in the wide receiving corps.

Duke is a bit rough around the edges on defense. They return five starters, two of which led the team in tackles last season. Linebacker seems to be the strongest position as Ben Humphreys and Joe Giles-Harris lead the way.

The 2017 season could be another surprising year for the Duke Blue Devils, or it could be another dud. After going 4-8 last season, David Cutcliffe should make the adjustments entering his 10th season as head coach.