Cutcliffe focuses on speed and discipline with 27-man class

Duke

Cutcliffe focuses on speed and discipline with 27-man class

By Josh Hailey

Feb 4, 2009

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One thing Duke football coach David Cutcliffe does not lack is optimism. The second year coach told the Wednesday afternoon that his 2009 recruiting class reminded him a lot of the class of 1934.

That would be the class that eventually went undefeated in the fall of 1938 and became known as the “Iron Dukes”. Pretty lofty expectations, but that is the attitude coach Cutcliffe is using to rebuild the program.

Cutcliffe called the class of 27 Duke signees “an emphasis on speed and skill and size and skill," and stressed the collection of athletes were a group of “disciplined young men from disciplined families.”

He noted that the biggest difference between Duke and the rest of the league was team speed, and that the issues had to be addressed, starting with the recruiting class of 2008.

Cutcliffe added, as he pointed out the window to Wallace Wade Stadium, “that field will see more speed than it’s seen in a long time…maybe ever.”

Recruiting begins with in-state talent, something Cutcliffe has emphasized since his arrival in Durham. That focus has paid off with in the form of signatures from some of the area's finest players, including Corey Gattis and Desmond Scott from Durham Hillside and Zach Greene from Leesville Road.

While keeping the best North Carolina talent from leaving the state's borders was important, Cutcliffe also recognized the fact that in order to compete in the ACC, Duke had to recruit nation-wide. During his travels from coast-to-coast, Cutcliffe was pleased to hear comments about how Duke football was back, and how players were really enjoying watching the style that the Blue Devils play

Most Recent Comments

RE: Cutcliffe focuses on speed and discipline with 27-man class

We'll just have to wait and see.
- Posted by Tarheelsvictory-57-82-93-05-09

I know, and I can't wait! When everybody got healthy, State was rolling. I wanted so badly to start the season over at that point. We couldn't then, but we can NOW, in September!

GO PACK!!!

TruthBKnown Returns

We'll just have to wait and see.

RE: Cutcliffe focuses on speed and discipline with 27-man class

You should worry about the Dookies beating your Wulfies this year. We will be ready for both of you.

GO HEELS!!
- Posted by Tarheelsvictory-57-82-93-05-09

I'm sure Duke will be a very capable team next year. So will Carolina (again).

But I'm not worried about ANY team on our schedule. I'm not saying no one will beat us. I know we can lose on any given day to any given team. But I believe if we're playing the way I think we can play, I won't be worried about any game on our schedule.

I believe State might be one of the preseason favorites to win the Atlantic division, and rightfully so (if we are). I'm telling you, all season long, when our offense was healthy, they played great. When our defense was healthy, they played great. The key to last season was injuries and depth. We can't control the injuries, so knock on wood. The depth is going to be very beefed up this year, at every position. Injuries could still kill us, obviously. But I think our depth will enable us to weather the injury bug (again, knock on wood!)

TruthBKnown Returns

You should worry about the Dookies beating your Wulfies this year. We will be ready for both of you.

GO HEELS!!

RE: Cutcliffe focuses on speed and discipline with 27-man class

WE WON IN 03!!! IT IS NOT LIKE THEY HAVE BLOWN US OUT OR ANYTHING WE JUST NEED GUYS THAT KNOW HOW TO WIN. ESP LATE IN GAMES
- Posted by gmoore2

My apologies, you're correct. Duke did win in 2003.

But Duke has still lost 18 of the last 19 against Carolina. That's a very long and dubious losing streak that needs to get rectified starting with THIS year! I guess it started in 2003, but it needs to resume THIS year!

WRAL Sports Fan

Duke