Preview: Q&A with the News & Observer’s Steve Wiseman

Preview: Q&A with the News & Observer’s Steve Wiseman

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It didn’t take much time to watch the tape for Middle Tennessee Head Coach Derek Mason to be impressed by the 2024 Blue Devils.
 
“We’re talking about a well-balanced football team on offense and defense and special teams,” Mason said of Duke, who travels to Murfreesboro for a 3 p.m. kickoff against his Blue Raiders on Saturday on ESPNU and the Blue Raider Network. “You don’t get to 3-0 by accident.
 
While the start of the season has not been without challenges for the Blue Devils, who are coached by Manny Diaz, a former MTSU defensive coordinator (among many other stops), in Diaz’s first year at the helm. Duke has had to come from behind in two of their three wins so far this season, winning in double overtime at Northwestern and holding off UConn at home in back-to-back weeks. But Mason said that level of resilience and focus shown shows up on tape.
 
By Monday morning’s weekly press conference, the MTSU head coach was able to rattle off several names of impact players for Duke, from Texas transfer quarterback Malik Murphy to New Mexico State transfer running back Star Thomas.
 
“Offensively with Malik Murphy, their quarterback, running this spread system with a really good running back in Star (Thomas) and some well complemented receivers outside, they’re doing some really good things in terms of being able to push the ball down the field,” Mason said.
 
On defense, Mason focused on redshirt senior safety Jaylen Stinson, who Mason remembered recruiting when Stinson played for Opelika High School just outside of Auburn, as well as Stinson’s partner in the defensive backfield, free safety Terry Moore.
 
“This is an adequate secondary that challenges everything you do,” Mason said. “They hit. They find ways to create chaos on the back end with some of their disguises. But more than anything else, they’re going to be a challenge for our guys and our guys are going to take the challenge.”
 
But while the return of an ACC foe to Murfreesboro on Homecoming weekend is exciting for everyone around the MTSU program, Mason also knew that much of his focus had to be on fixing what needs to be corrected after back-to-back losses in September, including adapting to who is available this week for the Blue Raiders. Through three games, at least nine different projected preseason starters have missed games for MTSU, something Mason is hopeful will change soon.
 
For now, however, Mason is focused on who he does have available, including getting younger players that maybe weren’t expected to be contributors right away up to speed.
 
“We’ve got to slow it down for them so these guys can be really productive,” Mason said. “That’s really what I see with the attrition and the next up mentality. But you must make it, so guys aren’t thinking, they’re just going to play the game of football.”
 

To learn more about Duke ahead of this weekend’s game, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton reached out to Steve Wiseman, who covers Duke for the News & Observer, based out of Raleigh, N.C. The pair chatted about the start of the Manny Diaz era, the Blue Devils’ offensive and defensive identity and what Duke hopes to gain in their quest to stay undefeated.
 

 
1. After a strong run under Mike Elko that saw him leave the Blue Devils to take the job at Texas A&M, Duke has been unblemished so far this season under new coach Manny Diaz, a coach many in Murfreesboro are still familiar with. What was the general reaction around the program to Nina King tabbing Diaz to take over the program and how do you assess his start so far?
 
Answer: Hard to argue much with the start since Duke is 3-0. Most Duke fans were impressed that Nina King was able to land a former head coach, but one who had a winning record at an ACC school. Convincing strength coach David Feeley to stay on from Elko’s staff was a major move to stabilize things for both Diaz and King. The players believe Feeley’s conditioning plan was key to success the last two seasons. All those good vibes have continued under Diaz. 
 
2. Derek Mason commented this week that Duke quarterback Malik Murphy was a dual-threat QB that preferred to stay in the pocket, an observation that correlates with his stat line through three games (78-for-122 for 801 yards and eight touchdowns through the air, just one non-sack rushing attempt for two yards on the ground). How has Murphy impressed as a passer and is there any area he or the coaching staff are looking for him to improve as the season goes on?
 
Answer: Murphy has a big arm and hasn’t been shy about showing it off. Last Saturday against UConn, Murphy completed five passes of 20 yards or more, including a 45-yard pass to Jordan Moore and a 36-yard touchdown pass to Eli Pancol. Duke attempted another deep ball on third-and-1 but it was incomplete. Murphy and the coaches keep saying they are just missing on throws like that, and they are confident they can hit on more of them as the season progresses to really open up the offense.
 
3. While Jaquez Moore is listed as the starter in Duke’s depth chart, but former All-CUSA New Mexico State transfer Star Thomas has clearly been the running back of choice through three games for the Blue Devils, particularly coming off a 122-yard night against the Huskies just last week. How has Thomas made an impact early in the rushing game? Is that an area of the offense still developing for the Blue Devils, with the team averaging under 100 yards on the ground per game so far this season?
 
Answer: Thomas stepped in when Moore was injured early against Northwestern and had a big game (122 yards) against UConn with Moore still sidelined. Duke wouldn’t have won those games without his strong play. Landing Thomas in the transfer portal gave Duke an experienced reserve for just this circumstance. Sophomore Peyton Jones has a bright future, but Thomas is reliable, and that move has already paid off.
 
4. Manny Diaz, as veteran Blue Raider fans know well, always coaches a defense that will keep his team in any game they play, as Duke has done in come-from-behind wins these past two weeks thanks to some timely takeaways on the defensive side. How has Diaz and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke maintained the program’s defensive identity through the coaching transition and who’s thrived so far on that side of the ball this season?
 
Answer: Duke’s defense was among the ACC’s best last season so landing a new head coach with a defensive background like Diaz was a perfect move. That level of play has continued early this season. Diaz and Patke design schemes that put players in position for tackles for losses. Duke has 34 through three games, which is No. 2 nationally. Safety Jaylen Stinson and linebacker Alex Howard have put up big tackle numbers thus far. Safety Terry Moore already has two interceptions.  
 
5. The Blue Devils are multi-score favorites in Murfreesboro for their final non-conference game before ACC play. What do you think will constitute a successful day for Duke on the road, given the close margins of victory in recent weeks?
 
Answer: Duke needs this win to further solidify its chances to make a bowl game for the third consecutive season. Duke has ACC games next with North Carolina, Georgia Tech, SMU, Miami and NC State, plus Florida State which, while struggling, has loads of talent. So, the Blue Devils need all four nonconference wins. Duke fans would certainly feel better going into the UNC game (Sept. 28) coming off a comfortable win rather than another tight game.
 

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