Duke used a big second half from its defense, another typical superstar game from running back Nate Sheppard and a bounce-back game from quarterback Walker Eget to earn a massive victory over Illinois on the road on Saturday.
But how did each position unit and the coaches perform? Here are our weekly grades for the 2-0 Duke Blue Devils.
Quarterback: A
Walker Eget didn’t hold back when grading his Week 1 performance, calling it “not so good.” In Week 2, he vastly improved, showcasing why Diaz and his staff decided he should be the one to lead Duke’s offense following Darian Mensah’s departure. He made the throws when needed, and when in doubt, found Nate Sheppard out of the backfield.
The touchdown throw to Jonah Burton on the first drive likely relaxed him in
a huge way.
Running backs: A+
Not much more can be written about Sheppard, who showed once again why he is one of the best running backs in the country. Despite knowing who they had to stop, Illinois still couldn't stop him: he ran for 147 yards and a touchdown and made a difference in the passing game, catching 5 passes for 41 yards and two scores.
CJ Campbell had some good runs in relief.
Wide receivers/Tight ends: A
Jonah Burton had a big game, catching 4 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Jeremiah Hasley was a reliable target for Eget. I'd like to see more from Kavon Simmons.
Defensive Line: B-
No sacks and only one tackle for a loss, but the guys upfront did a decent job of slowing down the Illini on the ground, with Illinois rushing for just 111 yards.
Linebackers: B-
Nick Morris’s return continues to be a great story as he racked up nine tackles, five coming solo. Luke Mergott was quiet, but is still a steady force for Duke’s defense.
Secondary: B-
It was a tale of two halves, as the Duke secondary couldn’t stop Illinois’ passing game, especially wide receiver Collin Dixon, who had three touchdowns before the half in the first two quarters. Then, perhaps challenged at halftime, they stepped up, with Evan Smith coming up with a huge interception in the fourth quarter.
Special Teams: A-
When you don’t notice the special teams, that is a great sign. There were no mistakes, and the fake punt call, executed perfectly, changed the balance of the game.
Coaching: A
With two veteran coaches in Diaz and Bret Bielema, you are going to have a battle of which one makes the biggest adjustments at halftime. On Saturday, that was Diaz and his staff, especially on defense, as the Blue Devils held the Illini to three points in the final 30 minutes.
Diaz also knew who his best player was: Sheppard.
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke 31, Illinois 27: Position grades for the Blue Devils
