How comfy is Manny Diaz with the Duke soccer's passing sport? – The Fayetteville Observer

Manny Diaz isn’t able to name Duke football‘s passing sport a completed product – however the second-year coach likes the place it’s headed.
Diaz received an prolonged have a look at the Blue Devils’ offense at their first scrimmage of 2025 over the weekend, with quarterback Darian Mensah going 20-of-29 for 264 yards. Henry Belin IV, who began for the Blue Devils of their bowl sport vs. Ole Miss, additionally noticed time, going 14-of-26 for 175 yards and a speeding landing.
The Blue Devils offense will probably be led by Mensah, who transferred to Duke from Tulane in December 2024. Mensah was one of many highest-touted transfers within the portal and is predicted to suit nicely underneath offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer’s fast-paced and pass-heavy offensive scheme.
At Tulane, Mensah began all 13 video games in 2024, going 189-of-287 (65.9%) for two,723 yards with 22 touchdowns.
“A part of what we’re doing, too, with the way in which we construct our coaching camp is let’s have a look at what Darian does greatest, let’s have a look at what the fellows that we have now do greatest as a result of, once more, loads of these individuals weren’t with us in spring observe,” Diaz stated on an August 11 availability. “So I feel we have made an enormous step.”
Duke’s extensive receiver room has been bolstered by transfers Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma) and Cooper Barkate (Harvard), alongside returning veterans Sahmir Hagans and Que’Sean Brown, plus a handful of true freshmen and different returners.
On the scrimmage on Saturday, Brown led the Duke wideouts with eight catches for 151 yards. Redshirt freshman Chase Tyler added 4 catches for 65 yards, whereas Anthony introduced in 4 catches for 60 yards and Hagans 5 for 45.
However Diaz is aware of there’s progress to be made with the Blue Devils passing sport.
“I feel there’s one other step to go,” Diaz stated. “And I will be very sincere, we’ll proceed to make strides because the 12 months goes on as a result of you get observe timing, then you definately get scrimmage timing, then you definately get into the video games, and it nonetheless continues to evolve.”
The Blue Devils are two weeks into fall camp and are set to formally open their season on Thursday, Aug. 28, internet hosting Elon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
“My expectation is that we’ll proceed to develop and turn out to be a greater and higher throwing offense because the calendar – the leaves begin to fall off the timber,” Diaz stated.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as a part of the USA TODAY Community. Attain her atasnyder@gannett.com or comply with her@annaesnydr on X, previously often called Twitter. 

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