Kurt Roper instructs the Duke offense with quarterback Anthony Boone nearby. Credit: TAKAAKI IWABU

Duke football has one more week of spring practice before the April 13 spring game in Wallace Wade at 4 p.m. (open to the public, by the way). In anticipation of that event, I chatted briefly with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper about what's been happening with the offense.

What have you guys been doing on the offensive side of the ball this spring?

Former Duke quarterback Thad Lewis made his first career start in the last week of the NFL's regular season. Credit: Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer

Last week, on his way from Cleveland back home to Miami, former Duke quarterback Thad Lewis stopped by campus to speak with the media. He was all smiles, not surprising considering he was a few days removed from his first NFL start.

As the Browns third-string quarterback, Lewis realized that he would have to wait patiently for his opportunity. But he never doubted that it would come.

“In the back of my mind, I knew that everything would present itself at the right time,” he said. “The only thing I kept telling myself is that it’s not my time. When the time comes, it will present itself, and I just need to make sure that I’m ready. A lot of guys do, they go in a shell and forget who they are.”

When Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy both were sidelined with shoulder injuries, Lewis started the Browns final game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their No. 1-ranked defense. In a 24-10 loss, Lewis completed 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown (to UNC alum Greg Little) and one interception.

“Lewis performed reasonably well and better than most expected,” wrote Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.