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Duke running backs hurting for game vs. Virginia Tech
Blue Devils will begin ACC play against the powerful Hokies
AP Photo
Patrick Kurunwune scores a first-quarter touchdown vs. Central.
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Published: September 30, 2009
DURHAM - Duke will play its ACC opener Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium, but Coach David Cutcliffe isn't sure which running backs he'll have available against Virginia Tech.
The top three backs are slowed by various degrees of injury. The latest came in yesterday's morning practice, when Desmond Scott slightly strained a hamstring.
"We'll see how that plays out," Cutcliffe said. "I think he'll be all right."
Cutcliffe was unsure yesterday afternoon if Scott would be able to practice today. Cutcliffe said that his experience with hamstring injuries is that some do not show the full signs of damage for six to eight hours, and Scott had to leave after practice to attend class.
Scott, a freshman making his first collegiate start, rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries (6.2 ypc) and scored a touchdown last weekend in a 49-14 win against N.C. Central.
Scott and Patrick Kurunwune, a redshirt freshman, played because injuries slowed top backs Re'quan Boyette (leg) and Jay Hollingsworth (ankle). Boyette did not play, and Hollingsworth was limited to spot action and a catch for 2 yards.
"Re'quan and Jay are working more now in practice, but we're still in a day-to-day mode (with them)," Cutcliffe said. "Unfortunately, Desmond is kind of thrown into that mix. It'll probably be Thursday before I start even getting close to knowing who's going to be able to start there. You never have enough of those guys (running backs) to start a season."
Hollingsworth was listed as the starter on yesterday's depth chart, with Scott as the backup and Kurunwune (14 carries, 93 yards, 1 touchdown against N.C. Central) at No. 3.
Cutcliffe knows from experience that being at less than full strength against Virginia Tech is a decided disadvantage. Duke played Tech last season without quarterback Thaddeus Lewis (ankle injury) and lost 14-3, its eighth consecutive loss in the series.
Cutcliffe is confident that Duke will be healthier against Virginia Tech than it was last season, but he considers that helpful only to a point.
"This is a better Virginia Tech than (last season's) team," Cutcliffe said. "I think our team knows that. So we obviously have to be a better Duke team and find a chance in the fourth quarter to win the game.
"I think they're balanced on offense. I told our staff this is Beamer Ball Plus. They're the same defensively: big and physical. Their front's a year older. That front four is pretty durn good. I think they look a little faster on defense. Offensively they've got better balance. They're running some option, they're spreading the field, and they're making you defend more things."
The win against N.C. Central lifted the Blue Devils' spirits after a 44-16 setback at Kansas the week before. Duke is 2-2, and center Bryan Morgan said that the Blue Devils are ready for conference play.
"We're very anxious; we can't wait to get started," Morgan said. "We look a whole lot better (since the season opener). It's like night and day. Better steps, better techniques, everything. We feel real great. We're not worried about Saturday right now. We've still got to get better in practice each and every day."
bcole@wsjournal.com.
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