Kenny Anunike (84), a sixth-year senior, anchors an experienced defensive line. Credit: TAKAAKI IWABU

Continuing the build-up to the April 13th Spring game, here's a Q&A with Duke defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (if you missed it, a Q&A with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper ran earlier in the week here).

One news note: Ross Cockrell, a first-team all-ACC cornerback from last season, is out with an undisclosed minor injury. He will not play in the Spring game, giving even more exposure and experience to an otherwise extremely young secondary. With that, here's Jim.

How has it been going on defense this spring?

A close-up of Duke's new, grim reaper-style helmet stickers. Courtesy of Duke Sports Information.

Earlier this week, I wrote a story about Duke's transformation on defense. The unit that ranked either second-to-last or last in every meaningful ACC category last season currently ranks fourth in total defense, third in sacks and second in caused turnovers. Not a bad about-face in less than a year's time.

Speaking of faces, here is a close-up look at the new helmet stickers. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles introduced them to the players the Sunday after Duke's first game along with their accompanying slogan: the decision is mine.

Duke CB Tim Burton and the rest of the defense will have to tackle better if they want to hang with Stanford. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD-cseward@newsobserver.com

DURHAM—Imagine being David Cutcliffe or defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It's the preseason, and you've got a unit that is down three projected starters in LB Kelby Brown, S Jordon Byas and NG Jamal Bruce. CB Jared Boyd, LB Britton Grier and DE Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo are also unavailable to due injuries. So, what do you do?

DURHAM—While the overall theme of Duke’s preseason camp is “make plays that win games,” the defense has added another wrinkle to that idea.

“We’re selling to them the idea of being our homeland security,” third-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “We’re here to protect our end zone. We know as a defense that Duke football will not be great unless we have a defense that steps up and takes a lot of pride in not letting people score. People are going to make plays, but we need to keep our end zone secure.”