Duke's defense is causing 'chaos' behind the line of scrimmage entering visit from No. 22 SMU

Updated Oct. 24, 2024 6:10 a.m. ET

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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Manny Diaz wasn't sure how quickly his new Duke team would take to his defensive scheme when he took over in Durham.

The Blue Devils coach immediately got a pleasant surprise, notably when it comes to getting after quarterbacks and putting offenses behind the chains. It's the biggest reason why the Blue Devils are headed into late October within reach of the Atlantic Coast Conference lead entering Saturday's visit from No. 22 SMU.

“In my experience, having installed this defense in a lot of different places now, we've never gotten the turnaround in terms of the chaos plays in the first six games like we have this year," said Diaz, the former Miami coach who spent the past two seasons at Penn State's defensive coordinator. "It normally clicks right around this time of the season. And I still believe we have another level defensively we can go to.”

So far, anyway, just keeping things going at this rate might be good enough for the Blue Devils (6-1, 2-1).

Duke ranks in the top 25 of the Bowl Subdivision ranks in total defense (22nd, 306.7) and scoring defense (17th, 17.3), but it's those “chaos” plays that stand out. Duke is seventh nationally in sacks per game (3.43) and leads the country in tackles for loss at 9.9 per game, which have created an average of 37.7 lost yards per game for opponents.

It started with a season-opening romp against Elon, with Duke tallying eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss — the latter figure being the most for the program in any game since 2007.

“They saw the proof, they saw the evidence, like 'Hey, we can really be the unit that Coach has been preaching," defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke said. "It’s kind of a momentum thing and they’re believing right now.”

And the Blue Devils have kept it going, with linebacker Alex Howard leading Duke in both sacks (five) and tackles for loss (11), while defensive ends Wesley Williams and Vincent Anthony Jr. (both with four sacks) and defensive tackle Aaron Hall (three) aiding that quarterback pursuit.

The Blue Devils put that on display against Florida State last week, racking up six sacks and 11 tackles for loss to earn their first win in program history against FSU (0-22 previously). The test will be tougher against new ACC member SMU (6-1, 3-0), which enters with the nation's 11th-ranked scoring offense (40.7) and having allowed just nine sacks in seven games.

“They're a team that plays hard, they showcase a lot of defenses, the blitzes, dropping back,” SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings said. “They showcase a lot of things, so we've just got to make sure we get everything in pre-snap and post-snap.”

Former boss

Before returning to SMU as head coach in 2022, Rhett Lashlee spent two seasons as offensive coordinator at Miami under Diaz.

“Manny’s awesome at creating winning cultures ... I’m definitely a better head coach for getting to work with him for a couple of years,” Lashlee said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the players playing. And so whoever can prepare their guys the best and then their guys go out and execute it, usually is what matters. But it’s a good storyline.”

Series history

Duke has won the only two games in series history by similar low scores. First came a 14-7 road win in 1952, followed by a 14-6 win at home in 1956.

Road success

SMU sure doesn't mind playing on the road. The Mustangs are coming off a win at Stanford that marked their eighth straight road win, which is the second-longest streak in program history behind a 13-game run from September 1981 to September 1984.

Rolling

Both SMU and Duke enter this game with plenty of momentum.

Duke's only loss came at Georgia Tech before an open week, and the Blue Devils have won eight of nine going back to last season to start 6-1 for only the fourth time since 1960.

Beyond its road run, SMU is still unbeaten in its new ACC home and is off to its best start since going 7-0 in 2021.

“You just create a lot of confidence in your program the more you win,” Lashlee said. “Look, they’re 6-1 and couldn’t be playing with any more confidence. I’d like to think we’re in the same boat, so should be” a good game.

___

AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report. ___

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