Amid personnel moves, Duke's offense turns over a new leaf

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

In an effort to notch its first winning season in nearly two decades, Duke has decided to turn back the clock – on offense, at least.

Last year's team earned the program's first bowl berth in a generation thanks to an upper-echelon passing game, one led by the senior triumvirate of quarterback Sean Renfree, wide receiver Conner Vernon and running back Desmond Scott. With this trio gone, the Blue Devils have embraced a new identity on offense.

Think wholesale changes. "The game has changed," coach David Cutcliffe said Monday, via Laura Keeley of The News & Observer. "The field is the same size that it has always been, and the defense is bigger, faster and stronger. We're reverting right back to single-wing football is what we're doing, where you have these weapons at your disposal, misdirection, anything you can do."

Yes, the single-wing offense. That's the option, folks, and Duke, one year after reaching a bowl, is turning over a new leaf. That will help punch up a long-impotent running game; in addition, Cutcliffe and his staff have spent the last two or three years recruiting the skill players needed to run the system. How will the offensive alteration go for the Blue Devils? Either way, this will be interesting.

Spring dates: Duke got started on Mar. 4 and will hold its spring game on Apr. 13.

2012 record: 6-7 (3-5).

Returning starters: 14 (9 offense, 5 defense).

Five players to watch: QB Anthony Boone, WR Isaac Blakeney, OT Perry Simmons, DE Kenny Anunike, CB Ross Cockrell.

Spring questions:

1. How will this work? The number of returning starters listed above is a tad misleading. Not the total number – the Blue Devils do have 14 returning starters. It's the number on each side of the ball: Duke returns seven defensive starters, only two of those seven are moving over to the offensive side of the ball. One is safety Brandon Braxton, who will attempt to fill a void at wide receiver. The second is former defensive tackle Nick Sink, who steps in at tight end. Want to control the edge with the option? Then put a 285-pound former tackle at tight end.

2. What's the learning curve up front? After spending multiple seasons in Cutcliffe's pro-style system, Duke's offensive line must adapt to a new blocking scheme in 2013. The line is very experienced – four starters are back from last season – which could be a bonus (it always is) or a detriment (the older guys need to learn new tricks, which can be difficult). While certain aspects of the passing game will remain intact, it's absolutely vital that Duke get its offensive front in a rhythm with the tweaked running game before the end of spring drills.

Position battles:

1. Wide receiver. Jamison Crowder will become quarterback Anthony Boone's unquestioned go-to target out wide after cracking the 1,000-yard mark a season ago. Crowder will have to match last year's impact without Vernon drawing attention, however. The Blue Devils also have some bigger bodies to call upon in the slot, like Isaac Blakeney and Erich Schneider, but the offense needs to locate another receiver to team with Crowder in the passing game. Senior running back Juwan Thompson can help pick up the slack.

2. Secondary. The Blue Devils lost four defenders with starting experience along the back end (including Braxton), leaving the lone returning contributor, senior cornerback Ross Cockrell, in a much-needed leadership position entering spring drills. The lack of experience is striking, especially with senior safety Anthony Young-Wiseman limited during the spring due to injury. While the Blue Devils could eventually start four seniors (there's a chance), freshmen and sophomores are bound to litter the two-deep.