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Duke coordinator Jonathan Patke praised the defense's energy and physicality in the 17-3 Tulane win, but the unit still allowed three gains of at least 20 yards and missed 12 tackles, per PFF. The opener set a better effort standard; tackling and explosive-play prevention remain corrections, not solved weaknesses.
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Duke used 25 defenders across 60 snaps against Tulane, with nobody playing every snap. Luke Mergott and cornerbacks Dylan Flowers and Kyon Loud were the only players to reach 50 snaps. Patke says playing time will change with performance rather than remain fixed at opener levels.
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Duke defensive tackle Owen Wafle earned a larger role after producing two pressures and a run stop in just five snaps, according to Patke. Wafle had been banged up during camp but was ready for the opener; no new injury limitation or exact future snap allocation was announced.
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Patke said Duke linebacker Elliott Schaper should have received defensive snaps against Tulane and hopes to involve him going forward. Schaper dressed but did not play on defense; this signals a possible rotation addition, not a confirmed starting change.
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Duke's STAR listing reflects personnel flexibility: Will Felder Jr. is a hybrid linebacker/safety, while Mergott mostly played middle linebacker last year. Nick Morris Jr., Kendall Johnson and Mergott started together against Tulane. Manny Diaz says the scheme can accommodate the best matchup personnel and wants the deep linebacker group, including Bradley Gompers, involved.