Johnson impressed by Duke's defense

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

While Duke has built its reputation this season on the arm of Thaddeus Lewis, who already has surpassed 2,500 total yards, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said the Blue Devils' defense has been quietly impressive.

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Andrew Shurtleff, AP Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has been very impressed by Duke's defense this season.

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During the past three games, Duke (5-4, 3-2) has allowed an average of 17 points per game. For the season, the Blue Devils are allowing an average of 23.6 points per game. Georgia Tech averages 34.7 ppg. The Devils run a 4-3 formation, and are led by defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase and defensive end Ayana Okpokowuruk, who have 22 sacks in their careers.

"They're throwing the ball for a lot of yards, but the bottom line is against North Carolina they only had 125 total yards of offense, and that game was tied at six late in the third quarter," Johnson said. "They've been better on offense, but I think on defense is where they're much improved."

Just as Johnson has said his team hasn't put together its best game, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said he's still waiting as well. In its 19-6 loss to the Tar Heels, the defense gave up 311 yards, but was on the field for 79 plays.

"Our team is a team that, at the stage were in right now, we have to play well in all three stages," Cutcliffe said. "In a game, all of them complement each other. That's how we were able to put together a win streak."

Salaries

USA Today published its annual list of coaching salaries on Tuesday. Private schools, such as Miami, Duke and Boston College, don't have to comply with the Freedom of Information requests that USA Today used to compile the information.

Florida State's Bobby Bowden, and his staff, led the ACC's public schools in salaries. Bowden's is $2,319,375, and the total for his assistants is $2,455,808. The others are: Tech's Johnson and his staff ($2,300,000, $1,680,000); Wake Forest's Jim Grobe ($2,172,127, N/A); Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer ($2,138,000, $2,037,172); Virginia's Al Groh ($2,072,339, $1,551,789); Maryland's Ralph Friedgen ($1,877,095, $1,817,490); North Carolina's Butch Davis ($1,702,000, $1,985,000); N.C. State's Tom O'Brien ($1,200,000, $1,642,684); Clemson's Dabo Swinney ($816,850, $1,857,730).