Game 1: Duke 8/30

[fearthephoenix]

This weather has made me more excited for College Football than ever.

Opponent: Duke Blue Devils (0-0; 0-0 ACC)
Game Date & Time: Friday, August 30th, 2024
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium - Durham, NC

Offensive Outlook:
25 year old Returning Quarterback that ended last season strong
Potentially outstanding receiving core (Brayboy, Dalton, and Dieke)
A unknown yet potentially decent RB group (Baker, Frederick, and Thomas)
Older and Experienced Offensive Line
Returning TE in Cody Hardy, who needs to be active in the passing game and remain a monster run blocker

I believe that Drew Folmar has weapons this year and he really utilized them towards the end of the ‘23 season. This offense needs to be able to put the ball down and go. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Maximize the receiving opportunities and then let the big men be physical.

Defensive Outlook:
I will put the Elon back seven again many in the FCS.
The front four determines how dominate this group can be.
Louro, Nnaeto, and Johnson need to step up.
We return speed at DE, but they have to play big
Patierno, Tyson, and Veloz can be dominant but have to stay disciplined, especially against the run.

Dovonte Edwards can coach a defense and we have seen it, but his growth from the struggles of last season, especially against the run, will be the story in this game and this season.

Special Teams:
Consistent year in and year out. Going to be needed to be consistent and make plays.
Going to need Yurk’s boot and Berkowitz to be confident.

Overall:
I am dreaming big because I expect Duke to come out and try to play bully ball. We have to sustain drives and win third down on both sides of the ball. I am not sure about the depth of this team and I really do not want to find out. I think it will be a battle, but Duke’s size will likely be the difference. But, if Duke is sloppy and underestimates the Phoenix, I can definitely envision them walking out of Wallace Wade with their first FBS win.

[phawkes]

If you're gonna dream, dream big. If Riddle and Mellette couldn't do it (2010: Duke 41, Elon 27) . . . well. My biggest concern--PROTECT DOWNING!

Go, Phoenix!

[eu96]

Vegas has us +23.5 on the spread. I’m taking that action.

[fearthephoenix]

Aug 26, 2024 8:53:34 GMT -5 phawkes said:

If you're gonna dream, dream big. If Riddle and Mellette couldn't do it (2010: Duke 41, Elon 27) . . . well. My biggest concern--PROTECT DOWNING!

Go, Phoenix!

That 2010 season was a disaster in the beginning though. Lembo was all but gone. Yet I definitely agree, I just need these guys to escape injury free.

[bjiyf]

Folmar’s GOT TO GO!!!

[phoenixla]

Aug 30, 2024 20:24:50 GMT -5 bjiyf said:

Folmar’s GOT TO GO!!!

Very uninspired on offense. I didn’t think Downing had what it takes last year and he still doesn’t. No internal clock. No urgency to get the ball out. I didn’t expect is to win this game but we have the skill players to compete. QB and O-line is severely lacking.

The D has played tough but no chance if the offense can’t move the ball.

Watched the WCU vs. NC State game last night. WCU D is going to give our offense a lot of trouble. Unsure about NC Central next week.

[bjiyf]

How many times do you run a pass play where the receiver is behind the line of scrimmage and you lose 2-5 yards befor you realize IT DOESN’T WORK FOLMAR!!!!!!!!!

[bjiyf]

4th & 3 so run the ball because it’s worked so well in the first 3 QUARTERS!! So incompetent.

[bjiyf]

Duke will be lucky to win 3 ACC games this year.

[fearthephoenix]

That was rough. No sugar coating anything.

The GOOD:
Jeff Yurk has a monstrous leg and boomed some punts tonight
Durham and Walker on the call. Give me these two on every Elon sport.

The BAD:
Our DB’s were a few dropped passes and missed throws by Murphy from being embarrassed tonight.
The Defensive Line generated zero pass rush and barely heard Patierno, Tyson, and Veloz’s name.

The UGLY:
Folmer. Another year and another abysmal FBS game. We returned way too much for this type of performance. Duke was ok but I saw too many piss poor sets and execution. I don’t know why he kept calling these zone read handoffs when Duke players were just getting multiple guys in the backfield at will. There was no pace, no tempo, and no creativity in the offense. It became predictable and Manny Diaz is a defensive minded coach, he annd his staff easily read though the basic play scheme the Phoenix used tonight.

I see bjyif called out Downing, but the Offensive Line has FOUR Redshirt Seniors and they simply looked like they had zero experience. I get it is Duke and a Power Five DL, but I think it was said multiple times on the call, it was a simple rush and bend. But our OT’s had no idea how to stop it.

It’s disappointing because had we lost a close game where we executed, I could take some positives. However, I leave with more questions and with a team that beat us down last year, a playoff team that gave NC State a scare, and a team with a HC that has given us fits in the past all the next three weeks, they better figure it out and fast.

Go Phoenix.

[eu96]

Everybody is on Folmar, but let’s not absolve TT. On the 3rd down play before the 2Q field goal attempt, Duke was set up in overage conceding a 4-6 yard run. TT should have been on the headset telling Folmar we MUST have points on this drive. Play for the FG. An extra 2 yards would have made the difference, and it would have prob been a 3-3 game going into half. Instead, Duke takes the great field position and strikes for a 10-0 lead…effectively ending the game IMO. You could see us demoralized walking off the field at halftime. Hard to say with a straight face a 26-3 game came down to one play, but I kinda feel like it did.
BTW..Elon is prob trending #1 on Twitter this morning. Spread was 23.5, and TT orders a red zone FG with 18 seconds left. Lots of happy and mad people commenting on that!

[bjiyf]

Agree 100%. Ultimately, it’s on TT anyway. Also, just before the half we had 57 seconds with 1 timeout & didn’t even try for a score. Don’t we have a hurry up offense? What does this say to the players?

I wasn’t expecting a win, but I would’ve bet big money that we’d have had at least one TD and 2-3 FG.

[fearthephoenix]

We didn’t go hurry up at all yesterday and I have no idea why. Duke defenders were dancing and had full energy in the start of the 4th because we did absolutely nothing to gas them. I just do not know Folmar’s offensive philosophy and Trisciani has stuck with him because it looks painfully similar to what we saw last year. Hope I am wrong