DURHAM - David Cutcliffe isn't trying to compete with Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, but the Duke football coach can help folks who want to drop a few pounds.

Since arriving from Tennessee in December, Cutcliffe's Blue Devils have collectively lost 302.6 pounds, which he hopes will result in increased team speed, quickness and better conditioning.

Cutcliffe will find out more during the 15 days of spring practice, which begins Wednesday morning and concludes April 19 with a Blue-White game. A concert is also planned for extra entertainment.

"[The players] look different, are moving differently," said Cutcliffe, who is trying to change a program in need of a cultural overhaul. "Their attitude has been tremendous.

"If I had to pick a theme for what we want to accomplish, it would be to compete from the first horn to the final horn in every phase."

Compete in practice. Compete in games. Compete in the ACC.

Nineteen starters return from last year's 1-11 team, but they won't be handed their old jobs. All 77 players will be evaluated, and some position shuffling likely will occur.

The Blue Devils might not have seen the intensity they'll encounter Wednesday morning. At Mississippi, where Cutcliffe went 44-29 and produced bowl teams, 19 players had to get IVs the first day of practice.

"I'm not going to do that this time," he said. "I'm a little smarter, older, but we'll get after it pretty good. The heat's going to get turned up."

Cutcliffe's "biggest concern" is finding a way to shore up the special teams, a Duke downfall in recent seasons. He plans to put the best players on those units, period, and will be looking for trusty punters, place-kickers and long snappers.

Then he'll focus on toughening the defense, creating more turnovers, putting a foot as well as an arm in the offense and finding playmakers.

"Defensively, getting people in the right places, getting speed on the field is critical to be successful,'' he said. "Offensively, we have to establish some semblance of a running game. Becoming a more physical team is a necessity in this league."

Last year Duke gave up 33.2 points per game and 5.8 yards a play. The Devils averaged just 64 yards rushing and depended heavily on the passing of quarterback Thaddeus Lewis (202.5 yards per game) and the receiving of Jomar Wright (56 catches) and Eron Riley (40 receptions).

Based on tape study, Cutcliffe said Lewis and Zack Asack flash a favorable "presence" and sufficient arm strength. Spring practice will tell him more about their decision-making.

While Duke's talent is beneath most of its ACC opponents, Cutcliffe said there are enough good players to win.

"I'm tired of hearing people blame Duke for its football program," he said. "It's not Duke's problem. It's our problem. Let's quit making excuses."