CHAPEL HILL - Duke seniors Thaddeus Lewis and Leon Wright said the Blue Devils must return to the drawing board after their 19-6 loss to North Carolina on Saturday.
Both said they knew the game against the Tar Heels would be hard-fought, but their team didn't show up when they needed to, namely late in the game. They walked off the field at Kenan Stadium under fireworks, disappointed at the outcome.
DURHAM — Duke coach David Cutcliffe said on Tuesday that there was no reason for his players to grow a big head after a convincing 49-28 victory over N.C. State on Oct. 10.
"I certainly wouldn't think we should get big-headed about anything around here," he said. "The only thing I want them to be is confident."
Confidence is a word Duke coaches and players were using freely to describe how they feel after an off week headed into Saturday's contest against Maryland (2-5, 1-2 ACC) at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe wants to be clear: There is no quarterback controversy stemming from his decision to pull starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and replace him with backup Sean Renfree on Saturday in the Blue Devils’ 35-19 victory over Army.
"This is not that kind of team [to have a quarterback controversy]," Cutcliffe said. "We just have so much improving to do."
Things are looking up at Wallace Wade Stadium, with Duke returning a fourth-year starter behind center this fall.
Here's the injury report for Saturday's ACC regular season finale between rivals Duke and North Carolina. Though he's listed as questionable, Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis is expected to play some.
DUKE
Out: RB Clifford Harris (arm); DE Wesley Oglesby (leg); S Matt Daniels (leg) -- OUT
Questionable: QB Thaddeus Lewis (foot); DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk (leg)
Probable: CB Jabari Marshall (leg)
NORTH CAROLINA
Out: OL Kevin Bryant (wrist); OL Michael Dykes (knee); RB Anthony Elzy (shoulder), OL Zack Handerson (shoulder); LB Mark Paschal (neck); TE Zack Pianalto (leg); RB Devon Ramsay (shoulder); WR Brandon Tate (knee).
Questionable: WR Cooter Arnold (ankle); DB Charles Brown (ankle); WR Brooks Foster (knee); OL Aaron Stahl (shoulder).
DURHAM — Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis will play against North Carolina in the ACC season finale for both squads on Saturday. Duke coach David Cutcliffe confirmed that Tuesday afternoon but he also said they weren't sure how much Lewis could play against the Tar Heels.
Lewis has been nursing a sprained foot since the Clemson game. He did not play in Duke's 14-7 loss to Virginia Tech last weekend. But he returned to practice on Sunday and practiced more on Tuesday. Cutcliffe said Lewis still isn't taking full reps. Backup QB Zack Asack started against the Hokies, breaking Lewis's streak of 33 consecutive starts.
The biggest name is Duke's Thaddeus Lewis, who sprained his left foot at Clemson, missed practice Tuesday, and has been limited the rest of the week. If he doesn't start, it would break a string of 33 consecutive starts.
DURHAM — Duke QB Thad Lewis is listed as "doubtful" for Saturday's ACC tilt at Virginia Tech. He injured his left foot during the dismal loss at Clemson. Lewis did not practice on Tuesday and has been limited the past two days. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Since emergency QB/starting RB Clifford Harris is out for the game, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said WR Austin Kelly would slip in should anything happen to backup QB Zack Asack and third-stringer Mike Cappetto.
DURHAM — Duke junior QB Thaddeus Lewis is still day-to-day after injuring his ankle in Duke's loss at Clemson on Saturday. Junior backup QB Zack Asack, took his place during Duke's weekly press conference and said he hadn't been told who would start at Virginia Tech later this week.
Lewis has started 33 straight games. The only other time he missed time due to injury was when he got knocked out of the Virginia Tech game at Lane Stadium two years ago. Marcus Jones, now the starting strongside linebacker, replaced him then.
DURHAM — One look at Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis tells you what kind of job the Duke offensive line —LT Cameron Goldberg, LG Kyle Hill, C Bryan Morgan, RG Rob Schirmann, and RT Fred Roland — is doing in 2008. Lewis looks fresh as a daisy.
Duke quarterbacks, namely Lewis in all but a portion of one game, had been sacked 85 times in 24 games the past.
In 2006, it was average of 3.3 times per game at a loss of 5.87 yards per sack. In 2007, it was an average of 3.75 times per game for an average loss of 6.2 yards, In 2008, so far, it's down to twice per game at an average loss of 4.6 yards.
