David Cutcliffe: "We had 62 missed sacks a year ago"

Coach Cut talks about improving pass rush

David Cutcliffe was asked about the team’s pass rush and explained what Duke is doing to improve it after Duke finished twelfth in the ACC in sacks last year.

“We had 62 missed sacks a year ago,” he said. “So sometimes, when you win the battle and you don’t get the prize, winning the battle’s not enough. You need to win the battle and get the prize.”

As Duke enters ACC play, sacks will be harder to come by, so Duke needs to make the most of the chances it gets.

“There’s never going to be, against a good team, that many opportunities. So if you go one of four, that’s not good enough. That’s like dropping foul balls. It can cost you. There’ll be a home run coming if you do it.”

Duke needed to find a way to improve its sack totals and practice it without actually hitting quarterback Quentin Harris in practice.

“We don’t hit our quarterback,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve come up with creative ways. We’ve spent more time doing one-on-one pass rush than we ever have.”

Cutcliffe also was asked about the intimidating environment of a night game at Virginia Tech.

“I think, as an athlete, every player likes those environments,” Cutcliffe said. “Yeah, it’s going to be problematic to hear. When momentum goes in their direction, it can become harder to regain it.

“Or,” Cutcliffe added, “you find out that there’s something in you that you hope lives there and stays there. I think you embrace those times.”