Duke’s Weak Spots to be Tested Against Georgia Tech

The Duke Blue Devils enter their bye week with the loss to Georgia Tech in the rear-view mirror. Multiple miscues have caused sleepless nights for the players during this week, but there is no reason to panic.

Entering Saturday's home matchup against Georgia Tech, there were some glaring issues from Duke's perspective. Some of those issues were clear talking points for the coaching staff and players during last week's preparation.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Jackson Hamilton (17) looks on during the second half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Here are a couple of shortcomings that the Blue Devils had to address during last week's game against the Yellow Jackets.

Red Zone Efficiency

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Anderson Castle (4) runs with the ball during the first half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Finishing drives has been a major downfall for Duke's offense at times this season, and that continued to be the case on Saturday. The good news is, these missed opportunities were self-inflicted wounds and are easily correctable.

The Blue Devils left at least 13 points on the board, starting with a bad exchange on a handoff between Darian Mensah and Anderson, which led to a scoop-and-score for the Yellow Jackets.

Duke also botched a field goal snap later in the first half and missed a costly field goal late in the game that would have made it a one-possession game.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz looks on during the first half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Head coach Manny Diaz spoke on these miscues during his postgame press conference on Saturday.

"We came up empty on two field goal attempts, which in a game as close as it is in the fourth quarter, those points all matter," Diaz said. "Even just the ability to make our [field goal attempts] in that situation would have kept the game dynamics very different."

As mentioned, these mistakes are not inconceivably impossible to correct. A fumble and botched snap are more than manageable to fix during practice. Those miscues really come down to simple execution, which these players are capable of addressing during the bye week.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) runs with the ball during the first half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Yes, the red zone offense is still a work in progress, but expect the Blue Devils' offense to be sharper in these situations moving forward.

Third-Down Defense

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils tight end Chandler Rivers (0) runs out before the first half of the game against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

This aspect of the game was a mixed-bag review because Duke's defense in the first half was suffocating against the pass and run.

Heading into the game, it was well-documented that the discrepancy between the Blue Devils' defensive struggles on third downs and the Yellow Jackets' elite efficiency on converting third downs was evident.

However, in the first half, Georgia Tech converted two-of-six third downs, which was well below their 47% conversion rate. Duke's defense forced Haynes King into uncomfortable third-and-mediums throughout the entire first half.

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) runs with the ball and is defended by Duke Blue Devils linebacker Luke Mergott (34) during the first half of the game at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

That script flipped in the second half when the Yellow Jackets converted four-of-six third downs, finishing the game converting 50% in those instances.

It's difficult to say that it was abject failure from the Blue Devils' perspective, but the defense simply ran out of gas in the third and fourth quarters. Overall, it was a strong performance from a defensive standpoint.

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