Duke University football suffered its first loss of the season against Georgia Tech, 24-14. In the Blue Zone, we present three key takeaways, statistics, and what’s to come.
Three important points
1. Hefty fines
Duke committed seven penalties against Georgia Tech, costing the visiting team 55 yards. To make matters worse, the timing of these errors was unfortunate. The Blue Devils started the second half in good scoring position. The offense chose to go for it on fourth down from the Yellow Jackets’ 25 and apparently converted. Unfortunately, the catch was not made as a result of an offensive pass interference call by wide receiver Jordan Moore. The penalty set the Blue Devils back 15 yards and forced them to punt in what looked like a promising scenario.
As Georgia Tech continued to win the game, officials issued an offside warning to Duke. The Yellow Jackets gained 5 yards and were allowed to replay the down, resulting in a 10-yard rush. Later in the drive, the Blue Devil defense forced an incompletion on third down, forcing the Yellow Jackets to make a difficult decision. But long after the play went awry, a flag was thrown for assault on the passer. Georgia Tech took advantage of the opportunity and scored the winning touchdown, ultimately clinching the victory for the home team.
2. Poor attack efficiency
Duke’s offense was sluggish from the start, struggling to complete passes and find a rhythm early on. As has been the case all season, Durham’s team improved as the game progressed. However, one area where there was little improvement was efficiency on third and fourth downs. The Blue Devils were only 3-of-11 on third down. His fourth down average was technically 2-for-2, but he fails to recognize both missed field goals and fourth down conversions that are called back for offensive pass interference. Considering Duke couldn’t stay on the field, it’s no surprise that the Yellow Jackets were able to dismantle a tired defensive unit and continue winning games.
3. First quarter hardships
The Blue Devils started the first quarter in a similar fashion to last week. Quarterback Malik Murphy was 1-for-4 for just 2 yards. The defense was a little better, but they allowed a touchdown on the first drive of the game. Duke ended the first quarter trailing 7-0. Falling into a hole early cost the Blue Devils any edge they may have felt heading into the game. If Duke wants to bounce back from this loss, learning to play at a high level of intensity from the kickoff is essential.
3 key statistics
1. 245 rushing yards
Duke allowed 245 yards on the ground to Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were unable to stop the run and were able to tick down the clock, leading to them dominating the time of possession. Additionally, Georgia Tech’s run game was effective at chipping away at Duke’s defense, making the group tired and prone to errors such as committing penalties and ignoring coverage. For the Blue Devils to get back to winning ways, they have to do a better job of stopping the runs.
2. 3 vs 3
Georgia Tech went 3-for-3 on fourth down this weekend against a defensive unit that had been solid before the game. For Duke, those numbers are well below par, especially when combined with the fact that the Yellow Jackets went 7 of 16 on third down. Not being able to get off the field on third and fourth down allowed Georgia Tech to maintain possession, but it also prevented the Blue Devils from finding any offensive rhythm. As the game dragged on, Duke University was unable to make a stoppage and lost the game, suffering their first loss of the 2024 season.
3. 20:33
The Blue Devils held the ball for just 20 minutes, 33 seconds Saturday in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets scored nearly twice as many points, which reflects how dominant they were on both sides of the ball against Duke. For the Blue Devils to fight back against Florida State, they’ll need to do a better job of sustaining their offense, getting off the field defensively, and tipping the scales with favorable methods and timing of possession. Probably.
Looking to the future
Duke’s first loss of the season may have been disappointing, but the timing couldn’t have been better. The Blue Devils enter a bye week with a lot to reflect on as they prepare for a big game against Florida State in Durham.
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