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SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS

Coach: David Cutcliffe (eighth season, second at Duke; 48-37 overall, 4-8 at Duke)

2008 record: 4-8 overall, 1-7 ACC

Home field: Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941), Durham

KEY QUESTIONS FOR DUKE

Is Duke really a bowl contender this season?

Definitely maybe. Second-year coach David Cutcliffe insists last year's group was a good team with a bad record, and he believes this year's group is a bowl team. Hmmm. The Blue Devils would need to win at least seven games to be eligible because they've scheduled two lower-division opponents. That means Richmond, Army and N.C. Central are must-win games. So, too, are Virginia and Maryland. That still leaves Duke two wins short, with their best chances coming against Miami, Kansas and the rest of the Big 4. In the parity-filled ACC, it could happen. But it's a long shot.

Is Thaddeus Lewis really the ACC's second-best quarterback?

A three-year starter, Lewis heads into his senior season after being named second-team All-ACC last year. That's impressive in a league that also includes first-teamer Russell Wilson (N.C. State), Riley Skinner (Wake Forest) and T.J. Yates (North Carolina) -- and those are just the in-state guys. But Lewis' numbers suggest he's the real deal. He led the league by averaging 197.4 yards passing per game. He completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 15 touchdowns against six interceptions. Duke regularly plays three-receiver sets and likely will use the tight end more this season, so Lewis' numbers could be even better.

Where will Duke see the biggest improvement?

No doubt: the running game. Last season, Duke finished 11th out of 12 in the ACC in yards rushing per game and dead last with an average of 3.0 yards per carry. The Blue Devils had nine rushing touchdowns. But Duke's single-back offense could get a huge boost from the return of senior Re'quan Boyette, who missed all of last season because of injury. Boyette's backup, Jay Hollingsworth, was the team's top runner last year.

Can Duke's defense stop the run?

If the Blue Devils really want to go to a bowl, they must improve upon the ACC's ninth-ranked defense. And the key is stopping the run, where Duke ranked next-to-last a year ago. The good news is big DT Vince Oghobaase is an NFL-quality player. He plays next to NG Charlie Hatcher (voted the team's most improved defender), and Es Patrick Egboh, Wesley Oglesby and Ayanga Okpokowuruk round out a strong line. Oh, yeah, MLB Vincent Rey is coming off back-to-back 100-tackle seasons.

-- Compiled by Jeff Mills

2008 results

James Madison W 31-7

Northwestern L 24-20

Navy W 41-31

Virginia W 31-3

at Georgia Tech L 27-0

Miami L 49-31

at Vanderbilt W 10-7

at Wake Forest L 33-30 (OT)

N.C. State L 27-17

at Clemson L 31-7

at Virginia Tech L 14-3

North Carolina L 28-20

Schedule

Sept. 5 -- Richmond, 7

Sept. 12 -- at Army, noon (CBS-College)

Sept. 19 -- at Kansas, noon (Versus)

Sept. 26 -- N.C. Central, 7

Oct. 3 -- Virginia Tech

Oct. 10 -- at N.C. State

Oct. 24 -- Maryland

Oct. 31 -- at Virginia

Nov. 7 -- at North Carolina

Nov. 14 -- Georgia Tech

Nov. 21 -- at Miami

Nov. 28 -- Wake Forest All kickoff times TBA unless noted

DUKE INFO

Tickets: $10-$40. Call (877) 375-3853.

Official athletics Web site: goduke.com

Local radio affiliates: WIST-98.3, WBAG-1150

Coach's call-in radio show: Tuesdays at 7 p.m., only on WDNC-620

Coach's TV show: Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., Fox Sports Net South

Offense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

LT 79 Kyle Hill 6-6 285 So

76 Conor Irwin 6-4 265 Fr

LG 67 Mitchell Lederman 6-7 305 Jr

75 Robert Drum 6-6 275 Jr

C 62 Bryan Morgan 6-3 255 Jr

65 Jeffrey Cowart 6-6 305 Jr

RG 68 Brian Moore 6-3 275 Fr

71 Jon Needham 6-7 300 So

RT 77 Jarrod Holt 6-6 310 Sr

66 Pontus Bondeson 6-6 275 Jr

TE 87 Brett Huffman 6-4 240 Jr

22 Brandon King 6-2 245 Jr

WR 83 Austin Kelly 6-2 200 Jr

2 Conner Vernon 6-0 185 Fr

WR 26 Donovan Varner 5-9 170 So

17 Sheldon Bell 6-4 210 Jr

WR 37 Johnny Williams 5-10 185 So

81 Tyree Watkins 6-1 195 Fr

QB 9 Thaddeus Lewis 6-1 215 Sr

19 Sean Renfree 6-3 210 Fr

RB 21 Re'quan Boyette 5-10 205 Sr

27 Jay Hollingsworth 5-10 195 So

K 47 Nick Maggio 6-4 200 Jr

Defense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

DE 90 Patrick Egboh 6-5 245 Jr

99 Wesley Oglesby 6-6 255 Jr

DT 3 Vince Oghobaase 6-5 305 Sr

55 Brandon Harper 6-3 305 Jr

DT 93 Charlie Hatcher 6-3 285 So

97 John Drew 6-2 315 Fr

DE 91 Ayanga Okpokowuruk 6-3 250 Sr

41 Eriks Reks 6-5 230 So

LB 8 Abraham Kromah 6-1 225 Jr

52 August Campbell 6-3 215 Jr

LB 31 Vincent Rey 6-0 245 Sr

39 Adam Banks 6-3 235 Jr

LB 56 Damian Thornton 6-2 240 Jr

50 Tyree Glover 6-2 240 Fr

CB 7 Leon Wright 5-9 175 Sr

1 Zach Greene 5-10 170 Fr

CB 20 Lee Butler 5-10 185 So

16 Chris Rwabukamba 5-10 175 Jr

S 23 Catron Gainey 6-2 205 Sr

38 Jordan Byas 6-2 200 Fr

S 40 Matt Daniels 6-1 200 So

4 Walt Canty 6-1 205 Fr

P 49 Kevin Jones 6-2 200 Jr