Raleigh News & Observer Logo

DeCock: Triangle teams suddenly have QB questions | Raleigh News & Observer

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Support
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Sponsorships
    • Stay connected
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Social Media Directory
    • N&O Store
    • Buy Photos
    • Databases
    • Archives
    • Newsletters

    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Health
    • Local
    • North Carolina
    • Nation/World
    • Science
    • Thumbs Up
    • Traffic
    • Weather
    • Weird News
    • All News
    • Counties
    • Durham County
    • Johnston County
    • Orange County
    • Wake County
    • All Sports
    • Baseball
    • Canes
    • College
    • Columns & Blogs
    • High Schools
    • NASCAR & Auto Racing
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Panthers
    • Soccer
    • Schools
    • Duke
    • East Carolina
    • NC State
    • North Carolina
    • All Politics
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • State Politics
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • PolitiFact
    • PolitiFact NC
    • Rob Christensen
    • Under the Dome
    • All Business
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Health Care
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Shop Talk
    • Stocks Center
    • Technology
    • All Living
    • Video Now
    • Best-Kept Secrets
    • Blogs
    • Celebrations
    • Comics
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Games and Puzzles
    • Home and Garden
    • Horoscopes
    • Mouthful
    • Past Times
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Video Now
    • Arts News
    • ArtsNow
    • Books
    • Contests
    • Dining
    • Entertainment
    • Games
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Television
    • On the Beat
    • Happiness is a Warm TV
    • All Opinion
    • Columnists
    • Dwane Powell
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters
    • Opinion Shop Blog
    • Other Views
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Advertise with us
    • Place Ad
    • Apartments
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Jobs
    • Legals
    • Obits/In Memoriams
    • Weddings
    • Today's Daily Deal
    • Special Sections
    • Today's Circulars
    • Rewards
    • Photo Store
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Legals

Luke DeCock

DeCock: Triangle teams suddenly have QB questions

By Luke DeCock - staff columnist - ldecock@newsobserver.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 11, 2013 12:00 AM

It’s funny that in a week when each of the Triangle’s ACC schools could have at least one alumnus starting at quarterback in the NFL, none of the Triangle schools can count on its current starting quarterback.

Bryn Renner didn’t play for North Carolina last week at Virginia Tech; he has a few extra days to let his left foot heal before the Tar Heels host Miami on Thursday. Brandon Mitchell has been out since the third series of N.C. State’s season with a broken foot but could return, in a part-time or full-time role, Saturday against Syracuse. And Anthony Boone is close to returning for Duke from a broken collarbone, but might not be ready to face Navy on Saturday.

That’s a lot of turmoil at one position, and for the first time in a while, some of it looks like it is starting to settle.

If Renner’s healthy, he’s a stone-cold starter, so there isn’t much of a decision there for Larry Fedora. Mitchell said earlier this week he was “50-50,” and Pete Thomas played reasonably well at Wake Forest despite the loss, so there’s less pressure on Dave Doeren to rush Mitchell back into action than there might have been earlier.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“Obviously, having him back helps our depth, but I’m not going to rush it either,” Doeren said. “I think to put him out there too early is not in anyone’s best interest and we have to make sure he is healthy and where he needs to be.”

Interesting deal at Duke

A similar dynamic is in action at Duke, where David Cutcliffe might face the most interesting situation of the three because Brandon Connette has been increasingly effective each week Boone has been out. Going into the week, Boone wasn’t cleared for full contact, but Cutcliffe still described him as “day to day,” leaving the door open for Navy. He’s officially listed as questionable, as is Mitchell.

“As far as making a decision as to what quarterback you go with, normally it’s pretty easy,” Cutcliffe said. “When you have a starter, and he’s ready to go, he just comes back and he’s the starter, is what you do. That’s certainly what my inclination always is. The tribute that’s involved here would be to Brandon Connette and how well he’s performed. He’s consistently gotten better.

“You don’t want to put Anthony in too early, get him hurt. We have the luxury where you don’t have to rush that. But also, I would see Connette continuing in some form of role, like we’ve always done with him here.”

NFL trifecta ... to this

Because Connette has been used in so many different positions at Duke – quarterback, tight end, running back, wide receiver, punt protector, even defense – it’s hard to place him in the lineage of Cutcliffe’s quarterbacks at Duke that goes from Boone to Sean Renfree to Thad Lewis.

Lewis, who is scheduled to start for the Buffalo Bills against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, is the second leg of the trifecta of potential Triangle NFL starters, with T.J. Yates the third. Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak said earlier this week Matt Schaub remains his starter, but it wouldn’t be any shock if Yates, the North Carolina product, gets a shot ahead of the struggling Schaub either this week or down the road.

N.C. State is still the runaway leader, with Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson and now Mike Glennon holding down starting jobs in the NFL – ironic, given the Wolfpack was one of only a few teams in the ACC that didn’t know who its starter would be to start the season, and still might not know Saturday.

  Comments  

Videos

US Olympian critiques the Carolina Hurricanes

Cary's Zack Schilawski turns from professional soccer to law

View More Video

Trending Stories

John Harris warned his father about legal red flags involving Bladen operative

February 20, 2019 02:13 PM

Will former President Obama attend the Duke-UNC game? Here’s the latest buzz.

February 19, 2019 06:30 PM

Zion Williamson injured during Duke-UNC game after foot blows through shoe

February 20, 2019 09:53 PM

Hurricanes owner Dundon takes over new football league

February 19, 2019 08:43 AM

Transgender woman has asked to be moved from a men’s prison. So far, NC has said no.

February 20, 2019 01:42 PM

Read Next

Zion’s shoe slew puts a different spin on UNC rivalry win

Luke DeCock

Zion’s shoe slew puts a different spin on UNC rivalry win

By Luke DeCock

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 12:32 AM

From the moment Zion Williamson’s left foot tore through the sole of his shoe and he left with a knee injury, this became the Duke-North Carolina game no one expected, predicted or foresaw. The Tar Heels pulled away to an 88-72 win and the Blue Devils have to regroup without their star.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LUKE DECOCK

The King keeps these jerks quiet for a night

Luke DeCock

The King keeps these jerks quiet for a night

February 19, 2019 10:45 PM
Hurricanes owner Dundon takes over new football league

Luke DeCock

Hurricanes owner Dundon takes over new football league

February 19, 2019 08:43 AM
This year’s UNC-Duke rivalry will tell the tale for freshman point guards

Luke DeCock

This year’s UNC-Duke rivalry will tell the tale for freshman point guards

February 19, 2019 04:14 PM
Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 16

Luke DeCock

Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 16

February 18, 2019 09:26 AM
As time ticks on Zion Williamson’s Duke career, he’s already a topic of NBA conversation

Luke DeCock

As time ticks on Zion Williamson’s Duke career, he’s already a topic of NBA conversation

February 16, 2019 09:37 PM
McElhinney making the most of a dream delayed, but not deferred

Luke DeCock

McElhinney making the most of a dream delayed, but not deferred

February 15, 2019 11:27 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Raleigh News & Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Triangletoday.com
  • Legal Notices
Advertising
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Our Ads
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • N&O Store
  • N&O Photos
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Report News
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use


Back to Story