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Cutcliffe warns against letdown
Coach says Devils need to stay hungry against 2-5 Terps
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Published: October 21, 2009
DURHAM - Coach David Cutcliffe has seen significant improvement in his Duke football team in the past month, but he said that something's still missing that's very important to him.
Cutcliffe wants his team to have the respect of opponents on the field instead of getting it from outsiders, beginning this Saturday against struggling Maryland at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Cutcliffe said he doesn't want his Blue Devils to be influenced by oddsmakers, some of which have set Duke as the favorite, or by fans who think that another victory is assured because myriad problems have beset the Terrapins.
"I'm excited for them that they're playing better, but that's all that we've done at this point in time," Cutcliffe said. "Hopefully they'll respond and stay hungry."
Duke is coming off an open date last Saturday that provided relief on two fronts. Players slowed by injuries had time off to recover, and everyone had extra time to prepare for Maryland, which Duke last played in 2004.
No current Duke player has ever been in a game against Maryland. Cutcliffe has known Coach Ralph Friedgen of Maryland for many years, but he has no idea of the level of Maryland's talent or what plays it will run, because of the five-year gap between games.
The answer to that problem, according to Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, is to spend more time in the video room this week reviewing Maryland game tape. Lewis said that Duke began preparing last week for Maryland during its time off, although the heavy work didn't start until this week.
After throttling N.C. State by 21 points and playing Virginia Tech close, Duke is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the ACC and is capable of doing more, according to Lewis.
"We just feel like we're a team that has an opportunity in front of us and we need to capitalize," Lewis said. "We can go forward or we can fold. We just want to continue to work hard. I don't think nobody's feeling cocky."
Brett Huffman, the Blue Devils' starting tight end, would have preferred playing last week to build on the momentum of the win over the Wolfpack instead of taking Saturday off. But Huffman said he understood that some of the Blue Devils needed rest. While the break had its advantages, it also created the possibility that the Blue Devils could lose the rhythm that it had upon leaving Raleigh.
Lewis and Huffman said that they aren't worried that Duke will be out of sync against Maryland (2-5, 1-2 ACC). Cutcliffe said he does have concerns, based on yesterday's morning practice.
Yesterday's practice came after a light workout on Sunday. The light Sunday workout is part of Duke's normal routine. Practice last week ended on Thursday after Cutcliffe gave his players Friday and Saturday off.
"I'm glad it's officially not an open date," Cutcliffe said. "Open dates are good. They serve their purpose, but it's always a little difficult to roll back into rhythm. I wasn't totally pleased. I thought we were a little bit sluggish this morning. We got a little better as it went on."
A win on Saturday would mark a first for the Cutcliffe coaching era. Duke hasn't won two of its first three ACC games since 1994, when a team coached by Fred Goldsmith won its first four conference games.
"We know in the back of our minds that we need this as far as ACC goes and bowl games go," Huffman said. "We're looking to win this game and absolutely believe we can."
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