SB Nation - Jeremiah Mathis

2012 TEs: A Solid, Experienced Bunch

TikiUVA — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:45:02 -0000

Previous UVA Football
Position Breakdowns

* Quarterbacks
* Running Backs
* Fullbacks
* Wide Receivers

For a number of years, Virginia has been known as Tight End U. A lot of that came from Heath Miller, but there have been a number of UVA TEs to go on and play in the NFL. Big Money, of course, is the most famous, but Tom Santi, John Phillips and Patrick Estes are also in that group.

The past couple of seasons, the Hoos have gone away from using the TE in the offense. Part of that is offensive philosophy, and part is personnel. The Hoos simply haven't the same quality of TEs. In 2007, three UVA TEs (Joe Torchia, Jonathan Stupar and John Phillips) combined for 93 catches, 974 yards and 7 TDs. Two years ago, four UVA TEs combined for just 38 catches, 377 yards and 5 TDs. Last year, those numbers dropped to just 20 catches, 147 yards and 2 TDs.

Those numbers probably can't go down much more, but will they go up? Is the TE going to remain an afterthought in the Virginia offense?

Admittedly, last years' numbers are skewed by the fact that Colter Phillips played hurt for much of the year. He missed 3 games, and never really seemed to catch up. He enters his senior year as the starter and certainly would like to go out on a high note. Phillips is a big target, at 6'6" and over 250 pounds, making him an ideal 3^rd down target. He has decent speed, but not really game breaking speed. He is mostly used on underneath routes and is a reliable option there. However, with the speed the Hoos have on the outside, I think we might see Phillips (and the other TEs) used a bit more on deeper routes, in an effort to keep opposing safeties honest.

Phillips is a solid blocker, especially in the ground game. But his backup, Paul Freedman, is the better blocker of the two. Freedman is a bit bigger, at 6'6" and 260 pounds, and is better at engaging a defender and keeping him out of the play. Freedman is a real asset in the ground game, helping to seal the edge on outside runs. He is a good receiver with solid hands and a knack for getting open, but isn't quite the athlete that Phillips is.

The most athletic of the group of TEs is Jake McGee. McGee came into the program as a QB, although nobody was too surprised when he moved to TE. McGee has put on probably 30 pounds since entering college. Now a 6'5" 240 pound TE, McGee has the speed to stretch the field vertically, as we saw in the spring game (:18, 5:10). McGee isn't much of an in-line blocker right now, but he can be useful as a downfield blocker on screens and runs. McGee figures to get plenty of looks in certain packages as a guy who can get into the seam and make some big plays.

The final member of the quartet is Jeremiah Mathis. Mathis was originally a DE, and therefore is still a little bit behind the curve on things like route-running. However, Mathis is a big target (6'3" 245), and is a better athlete than a guy that big should be. Mathis has very good footwork, and makes for a good red zone target.

The other interesting name at TE is Rob Burns. Burns just recently made the switch from DE to TE. He isn't ready to contribute at TE right now, but with 4 solid contenders ahead of him that isn't a problem. At 6'7", Burns has the potential to be an above average blocker and also a dangerous red zone threat in the years ahead.

The TEs are a diverse group, with a variety of skill sets. Colter Phillips is the best all around TE, and will be the starter. But McGee provides a burst that the others can't match, and Freedman is a good enough blocker to act as an extra OT. It will be interesting to see how much the TEs are integrated into the offense, especially in light of the depth and talent at WR.

Recruiting Rewind: Class of 2009

Justin Ferber — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:41:00 -0000

A wise man once said that recruiting is like showering. If you don’t do it regularly, you’re gonna stink. If you ask any die-hard Virginia fan, they’ll surely tell you that recruiting well within the Commonwealth is imperative to having success in the ACC.

With that said, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to go back four recruiting cycles, to the 2009 class, and see how they all turned out. These guys would mostly be either fourth-year seniors or redshirt juniors, so their careers are well underway, and some inferences can be made.

For this little trip down memory lane, I used the Rivals recruiting rankings, as they are the most comprehensive for that recruiting cycle. 25 prospects signed letters of intent with Virginia in that cycle, 16 of them being Virginia natives. There were 5 4-stars, 11 3-stars and 9 two-stars in the class, good for 33^rd best class in the nation. No, this was not a terrible job by Al Groh and his staff on the trail, although 9 two stars is quite a few for a program that aspires for success in the ACC. The 2009 class was Virginia’s first full recruiting cycle following their 9-3 2007 season, the best under Groh. The coaching staff also had nowhere to go but up, after a disastrous 2008 class that only included FOUR prospects from the Commonwealth of Virginia. FOUR!

So let’s take a look at the 2009 class, what went right, what went wrong, and what happens when a coach gets very, very desperate to save his job.

Oday Aboushi (4*): Aboushi was one of the highest ranked members of the ‘09 class, and has been one of the most productive since arriving on Grounds. Aboushi never redshirted, and played in six games as a true freshman in 2009. Since then, he has started every game, almost all of them at left tackle. In addition to his on-field exploits, Aboushi has thrived off the field as well. He was named a captain for the upcoming 2012 season, and last fall he was invited to Washington, DC to be honored by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, at a banquet for Muslim-American athletes. Aboushi, who is originally from Brooklyn, committed to the Cavaliers about a month before signing day, and he has definitely turned out to be one of the best players for Virginia from the 2009 class.

LoVante Battle (2*): Not as much to report here. Battle, a Phoebus High alum, did not redshirt in his first season at UVA. Quite a perplexing move by Al Groh and the coaching staff, considering he only played special teams, recording one tackle on the season. Since then he has basically been a special teams player, with a few appearances on defense in blowouts. Battle was moved to fullback during spring practice this year, and will compete to replace graduation senior Max Milien at the position.

Luke Bowanko (3*): This guy’s career appears to be on the right track. After redshirting in 2009, Bowanko played in five games in a reserve role, before getting the starting job at left guard in 2011. Luke started every game in 2011, and is penciled in to start at right guard in 2012. Now THIS is how it should work.

Sean Cascarano (3*): Up until now, Cascarano has been a backup offensive tackle, who played sparingly. After redshirting in ‘09, Cascarano played in 17 games over the next two seasons. Although he didn’t participate in spring practice due to injury, he is projected to start at left guard for the Hoos this season.

Paul Freedman (3*): Freedman has been a backup tight end for the past few years, but he has contributed to the offense. Freedman started five games in 2011, replacing the injured Colter Phillips. Although he has played in all 25 games of the Mike London era, Freedman has only recorded 19 receptions and 1 touchdown. Freedman is another example of a guy who probably could’ve benefited more from being redshirted his first year, but the previous coaching staff decided not to do so.

Will Hill (3*): There seems to be a recurring theme of guys in this recruiting class who didn’t get redshirted their first year but didn’t play many meaningful snaps either. Will Hill is one of those guys too. Hill has made strides over the past few seasons, making his first career start in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl back in December. Hill is expected to start at defensive tackle, and has been named a defensive captain as well.

Quinton Hunter (4*): Hunter was pretty much a total bust for UVA. Not because he’s a bad person or anything like that, sometimes these things just don’t work out. In 2009, Hunter played Hunter asked for the opportunity to try and play quarterback, which was his position in high school. That didn’t work out, and Hunter quit the team. A few months later, he transferred to JMU, where he plays wide receiver.

Perry Jones (2*): Without a doubt, "Superman" was the steal of UVA’s 2009 class. Jones’ only other offers were BC and Navy, and he was surely undervalued because of his size. After playing sparingly in ‘09, Jones has started all but one game since. Credit Al Groh and his staff for finding a gem in Jones, and know that there are plenty of college coaches that wish they had offered Perry now.

Corey Lillard (3*): Played a total of 10 plays in 2009, and then promptly transferred to Liberty. It appears he played only played one season there, before moving on.

Jeremiah Mathis (2*): If nothing else, Jeremiah Mathis has proved to be versatile. Halfway through 2010, Mathis moved from defensive end to tight end, and even scored a touchdown a few weeks later against Maryland. Pretty impressive stuff. Mathis caught two touchdown passes last year; one from Watford and one from Rocco. UVA has a bunch of tight ends that should factor into the offense in 2012, Mathis included.

Connor McCartin (2*): McCartin’s career was unfortunately cut short by a string of concussions. After a concussion during training camp last August, McCartin was told that he would never be able to play football again. McCartin, who had previously been a contributor on special teams, still remains actively involved with the team.

Ross Metheny (3*): Metheny never started a game for Virginia, after being beaten out by Mike Rocco and David Watford in camp last summer. He could be seen on game days sending in signals to the QB in a very animated fashion. Knowing that he would almost certainly never take a meaningful snap at Virginia, Metheny transferred to South Alabama following the 2011 season.

Morgan Moses (4*): Moses prepped at Fork Union in ‘09, before recommitting to Mike London and the Cavaliers on signing day in 2010. He then became Virginia’s highest ranked commitment in back to back classes, a rarity in college football for sure. Moses played more and more as the 2010 season unfolded, and started every game at right tackle last year. Moses, a mountain of a man, has lived up to the hype, and figures to play in the NFL someday soon.

Justin Renfrow (3*): Renfrow redshirted in ‘09 and played very little in 2010 before playing in 6 games last year. Renfrow, who has apparently gained 40 lbs since arriving in Charlottesville, figures to make an even bigger impact next season, with the departure of several key defensive linemen. Renfrow has the ability to clog the interior line, taking up blockers and opening up rushing lanes for speedy pass rushers coming off the edges after the quarterback.

LaRoy Reynolds (3*): When he arrived at UVA, LaRoy Reynolds was slotted to play safety. After playing a year on special teams in ‘09, Reynolds was moved to outside linebacker, and has started all but one game since. As he has spent more time at the position, Reynolds has looked more and more comfortable in Jim Reid’s defensive scheme. Reynolds uses his safety speed to fly around and pursue ball carriers on a regular basis. Reynolds has also been named a captain for the 2012 season, and his career in Charlottesville has worked out nicely so far.

Kevin Royal (2*): Nothing to see here. It’s usually not good when a wide receiver has more career tackles (1) than receptions (0). Royal rarely played in his career, before being dismissed from the team earlier this year.

Bobby Smith (3*): Very quiet career for Bobby Smith so far. He redshirted in 2009, played in 3 games in 2010, and none in 2011. He has yet to record a stat of any kind.

Tim Smith (4*): Tim Smith has had an interesting career at Virginia so far. Smith showed some flashes in 2009, when he started 3 games and scored 2 touchdowns. He suffered a setback in 2010 however, when he missed the final 10 games of the season with a foot injury. Smith was granted a medical hardship waiver, not unlike the one UVA basketball player Mike Scott received after missing most of the 2010-2011 campaign. Smith returned better than ever in 2011, starting ten games and averaging 17.1 yards per catch. Although it could be fair to say that Tim Smith has not quite lived up to his 4-star ranking, labeling him a bust would be absurd. Smith figures to be UVA’s #1 receiver next season, and with two years of eligibility left, Virginia fans expect big things from him in the future.

Jake Snyder (3*): After redshirting in 2009, Jake Snyder played a bunch in 2010, then started 12 games in 2011. He is the only starter on the defensive line from 2011 that will be on the team when they kick off the season against Richmond in September. Snyder has had a solid career thus far, and he is going to need to get even better next year for to help anchor a defensive line full of new faces.

Javanti Sparrow (2*): Sparrow played 23 special teams snaps in 2009, as part of Al Groh’s attempt to re-create Sherman’s March by slashing and burning every redshirt in sight. The following June Sparrow was suspended for an entire year for failing to uphold his end of the bargain in the classroom. There was talk of Sparrow rejoining the Cavaliers prior to the 2011 season, but that never happened. Barring some unforeseen change, Sparrow’s college football career is over.

Hunter Steward (2*): Steward never played in his two years at UVA, then transferred to Liberty. The End.

Brent Urban (2*): Urban redshirted in 2009, before playing in only 3 games in 2010. The Canada native saw his playing time increase last season, appearing in every game. With Cam Johnson graduating and Billy Schautz recovering from his leg injury, Urban could play an even bigger role in 2012. For a fairly unknown 2-star Canadian prospect, Virginia got decent value here.

Cody Wallace (2*): The New Jersey native prepped at Fork Union in 09, before redshirting in 2010. Wallace only played in two games in 2011 as a reserve offensive lineman. He is currently listed as the second-string left guard, behind Sean Cascarano. There is still a chance he could play a good deal of meaningful snaps this year, with some new faces set to join the offensive line.

Dominique Wallace (4*): Wallace was one of the most heralded of Virginia’s 2009 commits, and one of the least productive. Wallace played in the first three games of 2009, before suffering a season-ending injury. He was credited with a medical hardship redshirt, but never got to cash it in. Wallace quit the team before the start of the 2010 season, but elected not to transfer, and continue his pursuit of a UVA degree. The four-star back was yet another example of a burned redshirt, but unlike a lot of guys in the 2009 freshman class, he actually played some meaningful downs.

Tucker Windle (3*): Another burned redshirt?!?!? Oh, COME ON! Windle has been mostly a special teams player throughout his career in Charlottesville. He was another guy who played in 2009, and it probably wasn’t worth it. He was only used on special teams for the first half of the year, before starting the final game of the season against Virginia Tech. Since then, Windle hasn’t started a game, and has been used almost exclusively on special teams. Whether Windle’s playing time defense is increased in 2012 remains to be seen.

After all that, let’s look at how UVA did overall. By my count the 2009 class included 6 players who were solid successes or better (Aboushi, Jones, Tim Smith, Moses, Snyder, Reynolds), 8 role players/contributors (Bowanko, Hill, Freedman, Mathis, Windle, Cody Wallace, Urban, Renfrow), and 11 who were either total busts or haven’t played much (Hunter, Lillard, Dominique Wallace, Steward, Sparrow, Bobby Smith, Battle, McCartin, Metheny, Royal, and Cascarano). 8 of those 11 guys are no longer part of the program. Being placed in that final category isn’t necessarily a reflection of their talent, work ethic, or character, but rather just how much they have actually achieved on the field. It is also worth noting that Sean Cascarano, Cody Wallace and Tucker Windle’s statuses on this list are somewhat in limbo, and all of them could end up in the role player category or the bust category when all is said and done.

So, what happened here? Well, for starters, this classes’ overall talent wasn’t overwhelmingly high. 9 two-star players is simply too many for a program of Virginia’s caliber. Granted Perry Jones turned out to be one hell of a steal, but for every Perry Jones there’s a Javanti Sparrow and a Hunter Steward. Al Groh and his staff lost far too many in-state recruiting battles to Virginia Tech to stay relevant, and 2009 was no different. The Hokies landed a bunch of Virginia natives who ended up as major factors in their system over the past few years, leaving UVA to try to find diamonds in the rough to fill out their class. Most of them didn’t work out.

Another obvious problem with this class was the work of a desperate coach. Groh burned a bunch of redshirts in 2009, which proved to be his final season in Charlottesville. After a 0-3 start, Groh threw a bunch of freshman into the fire, in a last ditch attempt to save his job. He did not have the luxury to worry about the future of the program after losing to William and Mary, and it showed. Far too many players were put on the field, only to play sparingly. Imagine if Perry Jones, whose redshirt was unnecessarily burned in ‘09, had 2 more years left at UVA instead of 1?

Hopefully Mike London and his staff can avoid some of these pitfalls that Groh and his staff fell into. In the mean time, there is still some talent from the 2009 class still in the program, so hopefully the coaches and those players make the most of their remaining time in Charlottesville.

Virginia Football: 2013 Recruiting Early Look

TikiUVA — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:00:38 -0000

Virginia Head Coach Mike London has landed two successive strong recruiting classes. Now that the 2012 class is sewn up and 2013 recruiting has got a head of steam, we thought we'd take a look ahead at the teams needs going forward. What will be the Hoos biggest needs for 2013? Who are some of the top names both in-state and nation wide that will be on the Hoos radar?

Let's start by taking a look at some of the raw numbers. In the past few days, three UVA players have left the team for one reason or another. QB Ross Metheny, WR Kevin Royal and DE Thompson Brown are no longer part of the program, which frees up 3 scholarships. By my count, this gets us to exactly 85 scholarship players for the 2012 roster, assuming none of the incoming recruits end up at a prep school for the season.

Of those 85, just 13 of them will be seniors in 2012. That includes such team leaders as Perry Jones and LaRoy Reynolds, as well as key contributors such as Steve Greer and Oday Aboushi. This also includes our top two TEs, Paul Freedman and Colter Phillips. It is possible that certain players will not be invited back for their 5^th years in 2013. This includes guys like Bobby Smith, who have had minimal (or no) impact on the field. Of course, should a guy like Smith step up in 2012 and have a solid year, he would likely earn his place on the 2013 roster.

So, it looks like the 2013 class will be on the smaller side, perhaps maxing at under 20 players. Let's take a look at the potential makeup of the class.

First and foremost, there are a few positions that need to be recruited every year. QB and RB are two, as is OL. We brought in 2 quality QBs this year, so I would expect no more than 1 this year. The coaches have their eyes on a few prospects for 2013, and if they miss on those, they may not take a QB. RB is a bigger need, because we lose Perry Jones after this year, plus the other 3 RBs on the roster (Kevin Parks, Clifton Richardson and Khalek Shepherd) are all rising sophomores. Getting a quality RB for 2013 is almost a necessity, just to keep the depth chart complete moving forward. There also aren't any true FBs on the roster, so the staff would probably take one, if they found the right guy.

OL is a bigger issue. There are a number of bodies on the line, but we may lose 3 starters after 2012. We'll probably try to bring in 2 or 3 OLs next year, with an emphasis on OT. Of course, if we know that Morgan Moses will be staying for his senior year, that number is closer to 2.

We brought in a number of WRs in both 2011 and 2012, so that position is well stocked. A number of the current WRs may end up at other positions (CB, TE) so there may be some spots open there. I expect the staff to bring in 1 or maybe 2 WRs, but likely not more than that. The TE position is one that has been somewhat de-emphasized over the past couple of years. Is that because of the players we have at the position, or is it because of the style of offense we run? I don't think anybody really knows. Regardless, we lose our top 2 TEs after this year, and the two remaining on the roster (Jake McGee and Jay Mathis) are relatively untested. Max Valles is expected to be a TE, and there could be another from the 2012 class (Kyle Dockin or Mario Nixon). I believe the staff would like to bring in at least one true TE in this class, and would take two if it was the right players.

So far, it seems pretty simple. One QB. One RB. One or two WR. One TE. Two or three OLs. The defense, sadly, is more of a problem.

The most glaring need on the defense is LBs. In 2012, the Hoos will have just 9 scholarship LBs on the roster (this includes 2012 recruits Kwontie Moore and Mark Hall). Three of those are seniors. While there may be a couple of guys moved to LB (Demeitre Brim, Kameron Mack are two possibilities), the position clearly lacks depth. I believe the staff will try to bring in as many as 5 or 6 LBs in this class. Anybody who moves down from Safety is likely to play outside, so MLB is the biggest need. We may bring in 3 guys capable of playing inside.

The DL is less of a pressing concern, due to the numbers of guys brought in the past couple of years. This is especially true at DE, where we have eight players who will be in either their first or second year on the field this year. On the inside, there are just five scholarship players, and Will Hill will be a senior. That makes DT a position of need, and I expect the Hoos to bring in 2 DTs. Keep in mind that a couple of DEs may move inside (Michael Moore, Courtney Wynn being the two most obvious). With the emphasis on passing games become more and more prevalent, generating pass rush from the DE positions is a necessity. Because of that, and the aforementioned possible switches from DE to DT, the Hoos will likely bring in one or two DEs as well.

The defensive secondary was another position that was stocked in the past couple of classes. Guys like Demetrious Nicholson and Brandon Phelps were brought in and have had immediate success. Still, with the team losing 4 DBs this year, and at least 1 more next year, there is a need there. The need isn't huge, but the staff does need to fill out the depth chart there. I expect the Hoos to bring in 2 or 3 DBs, with a larger focus on safety as the majority of the current safeties are still unknowns.

It should go without saying that all of this may change. Players get hurt. Players get in trouble. Unknowns may come out of nowhere to make big impacts. Walk-ons may earn scholarships due to perseverance and strong play. Any of those things, and many others, can affect the team's current makeup and the recruiting picture.

Top 2013 Targets

Now, let's take a look at some of the top targets both in state and nationwide.

At Quarterback, there were a couple of strong prospects in the state of Virginia that the Hoos were looking at, both of whom have already committed elsewhere. However, Brendan Marshall, out of Olney, MD is a guy the Hoos are high on.

As I mentioned, RB is not a huge need, but the Hoos would still like to take one this year. At this point, the Hoos have their focus on some of the top RB prospects in the nation, such as Virginia Beach's Taquan Mizzell and Philadelphia's David Williams.

As always the Hoos will take big time playmakers at WR such as Quan Jones and Eldridge Massington, both from Texas. The one WR prospect to keep your eyes on is Zack Jones, the younger brother of current UVA RB Perry Jones. While WR isn't a big need, TE may be. To that end, the Hoos have set their eyes on one of the top TE prospects in the nation, Pennsylvania's Adam Breneman.

There are a number of lineman on the Hoos radar, on both lines. One of our top OL prospects is Mike McGlinchey, who hails from Philadelphia and the same high school as Sean Singletary and Sammy Zeglinski. In state, Lynchburg's Braxton Pfaff is an interior lineman that is getting a lot of looks from the Hoos. The defensive line isn't a need for this class, so while the Hoos have their eye on a handful of guys, it would have to be a perfect fit at this point.

Linebacker, as I mentioned, is another story, where the Hoos have a huge need moving forward. As such, there are a number of LBs on the Hoos radar. One is Ashburn's Matt Rolin, another is Lorton's Oren Burks. Other names to remember are Maryland's Marcus Newby, Dorian O'Daniel, Marcel Ngachie , Reggie McGee and Micah Kiser. O'Daniel, Ngachie and McGee are all teammates at Good Counsel High School in Olney, which is also where current UVA players Vincent Croce and EJ Scott hail from.

In the defensive backfield, the Hoos are looking more at Safety than CB, but will likely take a couple of DB prospects. One of the top is Richmond's Tim Harris, who may well end up as our first commit. The top CB on our list might be Charles Clark, from Suffolk.

There's a basic early look at the Hoos 2013 recruiting picture. We will continue to keep you updated with news and highlights along the way.

The View from Scott: Duke Edition

Tim Mulholland — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:02:04 -0000

How many "Virginia hasn't..." streaks are we going to end this season? After watching Georgia Tech and North Carolina break streaks against us in Scott Stadium the last couple years, its nice to see us breaking some negative streaks of our own. Especially when one of them is "VIrginia hasn't beaten Duke since 2007."

Well, now we're starting new streaks. Three consecutive wins. Three consecutive ACC wins. Two consecutive road wins. A winning overall record on the road (we're 3-1, so guaranteed no worse than 3-2). A winning overall record. At worst, a .500 overall ACC record. Competing for division crowns.

This is nice, isn't it?

So let's get to it. What'd I see this weekend that needs commenting on? Plenty, both good and bad. Check in after the jump for my usual breakdown.

Defense

I really hope that all of the folks lambasting Virginia Defensive Coordinator Jim Reid for the performance of his squad in 2010 is doing an equally vocal job of commending him for that squad's performance in 2011. The Virginia defense has been very good this year. They're not perfect. There are certainly mistakes and holes. But they've done a lot more than anyone outside the program probably expected of them. I don't care who the team is (unless its one of those pass-happy Big XII teams) - holding an FBS opponent to 34 rushing yards is outstanding. The team ranks 26th in Total Defense (3rd in the ACC), 49th in Passing Defense (6th in the ACC), 25th in Rushing Defense (4th in the ACC) and 31st in Scoring Defense (4th in the ACC).

In just the second year of the Mike London/Jim Reid era, I'll take those numbers in a heartbeat.

Pass Defense

Now, having said all of those nice things about the defense as a whole, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this: Our pass defense scares me. Don't misunderstand me - they've been opportunistic and, with a little bit of luck (and/or butter fingers by opposing receivers), they haven't gotten beaten too badly. But the opportunities to get beaten are still there. We've got a true freshman starting at corner who is still learning the ropes and one safety who tends to be overly aggressive and get caught by play action. The former situation has burned us previously. The latter situation burned us against Duke. We'll need to lock that down to compete against Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Attendance

I've said repeatedly that I hate bringing this up every time. But until it changes, I'm not shutting up about it. An announced attendance of under 46k? That's less than 75% capacity. For a team that is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007, that is on a winning streak (and having won 4 of its five prior games and that, quite frankly, is just a fun team to watch. Not to mention, it was a gorgeous day in Charlottesville.

As always, I'll give credit where credit is due: the fans that were there were definitely into the game (esp after that 4th down pass interference call).

But seriously. What is everyone doing? Why can't we get butts in the seats?

Michael Rocco

I know I'm in the minority, but I never completely bought into the idea that the QB rotation with David Watford and Rocco was hurting Rocco's rhythm. He was still playing the majority of the snaps, still getting the majority of the first-team snaps during practice and it was clearly his job to lose.

And while I'm not yet willing to admit that I was wrong on that front (and I think I can point to a few quotes from Rocco himself to back me up there), I have to say - without the rotation, Rocco has been very solid. Over his last six games he has thrown nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. He's making better throws and, probably most importantly, he's not making the bad throws. With a running game as good as ours is, the latter is all we should really need from him. And he's delivered in that regard.

Perry Jones

Superman.

It's fitting. He does just about everything. He runs, blocks, catches, throws and returns kicks. Perhaps we should try him as a kicker just to complete his line card.

While Kevin Parks technically took the honors for leading rusher on the day in terms of yardage, Jones actually had the better day. His 15 carries for 74 yards (4.9 ypc) and a TD was only behind Parks (21 carries for 78 yards (3.7 ypc) and no scores) in the total yardage category.

But it was his insertion into the return game that sparked most comments on Saturday. His one punt return on the day went for 21 yards, accounting for 80% of the Hoos' return yardage (Dominique Terrell had two punt returns for 5 yards).

That said... I can't be the only one who is mortified at the idea of putting our team MVP in as a punt returner, can I?

Random Musings

I may be showing my true colors as a former band geek, but I quite like seeing the high school band members get to be out on the field at halftime with the Cavalier Marching Band. Especially when I see a half dozen or so from my own high school.
I really wish that Rocco and Darius Jennings could have connected on some of the hot routes that they missed. Jennings got to show off his speed quite a bit during the Miami game and I really want to see more of that in the open field.
Keeping with the defensive theme: Virginia leads the country in fewest points allowed during the first quarter all season. Only Southern Miss (7 points) and Maryland (3 points) have scored against the 'Hoos in the first quarter. Prior to this weekend, the Cavaliers were tied with Stanford for that honor. Stanford, however, allowed 8 points to Oregon in the first quarter en route to a 30-53 loss at the hands of the Ducks. That leaves Virginia in sole possession of that honor.
When Mike London and Anthony Poindexter get angry at the officials on any given Sunday, their outgoing and expressive demeanor makes it a sight to see. But when they're both wearing camouflage (for Military Appreciation Day)? Now that's a sight.
A player I'm excited to see getting into the action in a more visible way? Max Milien. He's always been a workhorse and it's great to see him getting some carries, receptions and yards.
A player I'm glad to see being involved after (what I consider) an odd transition? Jeremiah Mathis. He came into the program as a Defensive End and that's where he started out last year. But he switched to tight end because of our lack of depth at the position due to injuries and has stayed there since. His touchdown route and catch on Saturday was very well-executed.
Was I the only one shocked to learn that Kris Burd's touchdown against Duke was his first of the season? I guess looking back it makes sense, but it's just shocking to me that with his talent he hasn't gotten into the endzone before the 10th game of the season.
I love a pick 6. Thank you Chase Minnifield.
I hate having to watch a pick 6 from the concession line because the people in front of me can't order properly or count their money properly.
Just the simple fact that, 10 games into the season and with only two games remaining, we're in the hunt for a berth in the ACC Championship game... yeah... that feels good.

Training Camp Battles

TikiUVA — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:56 -0000

Who will be the QB for the 2011 Virginia Cavaliers? Will it be the Michael Rocco, a coach's son? Will it be Ross Metheny, the lefty who has the longest tenure in the program? What about David Watford, the freshman phenom? And don't forget the wild card, Michael Strauss.

Going into training camp, this is the biggest question in the minds of fans, players and coaches. And obviously, it is the most important decision to be made during training camp. There are, however, other positions up for grabs that must be decided.

After the jump, we'll take a look at these battles, and give you all the particulars.

Free Safety

The incumbent – Corey Mosley

The challengers – LoVante Battle, Pablo Alvarez, Dom Joseph, Brandon Phelps

Mosley is a 5^th year senior, with 3 years as a starter. It isn't easy for a guy like that to get beaten out. But, Mosley had a tough year. He missed some time with injuries, was out of position far too often, and has always had a propensity for committing bad penalties at terrible times. This has opened the door for him to lose his starting spot. At the very least, expect to see other players get increased reps.

Battle and Alvarez are the top two candidates to unseat Mosley. Battle is the closer match to Mosley; but is that a good thing or a bad thing? Battle spent last year playing LB, although almost all of his playing time came on special teams. Battle is a junior, so this may be his last chance to really make an impact on defense. Alvarez looks like a more prototypical free safety, at 6-3 and near 200 pounds. He is rangy and should be good in a 2-deep zone. But, he has no experience on the field at this level, so he might not be ready.

Dom Joseph is also a 5^th year senior, which would seem to give him a leg up on the competition, but Joseph has spent his time at Virginia flipping between CB and S, which means he doesn’t really have the experience that you’d expect. Most of his playing time on the field has come at CB. Joseph will definitely get snaps this year, possibly in nickel and dime situations, but don't expect him to be starting at safety.

The true wild card in this discussion is Brandon Phelps. Phelps is a true first year, with dynamic ability. He was recruited as a CB, but with the talent and depth that we have there, it is possible he will see some time this year at S. Like Joseph, I don't expect him to start at safety, but that doesn't mean he won't end up there, especially if there are injuries in the secondary. Whatever happens this year, Phelps future is at CB.

I should note that the depth chart has Battle listed as the backup SS behind Rodney McLeod and Alvarez as the backup FS behind Mosley.

The prediction – Mosley will start the opener, but his playing time will decrease. He may come off the field in substitution defenses, for the more pass oriented players, like Joseph and Alvarez. It shouldn't surprise anybody if Alvarez is starting by the end of the season.

Cornerback

(Right: Demetrius Nicholson // via CavsCorner)

The incumbent – N/A (Ras-I Dowling graduated)

The contenders – Rijo Walker, Demetrious Nicholson, Brandon Phelps, Dom Joseph, Drequan Hoskey

Obviously, on one side, Chase Minnifield will be starting. This question is not about anybody fighting the preseason All-American for a starting nod, this is for the opposite side of the field. The first thing you notice here is that a couple of these names are also in the running at FS. This is due to the depth issues there, and the fact that we have a glut of CB talent right now. Regardless of who starts, expect all 5 of these guys to see the field this year in some manner.

The leader coming into camp is Rijo Walker, a true sophomore who saw the field last year on defense and special teams. This gives him a big leg up because he should be more adjusted to the speed of the game. Behind him are two incoming freshmen with big time talent. Tre Nicholson was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia, and was rated as one of the top 5 CBs in the nation by every recruiting service I can find. And I mentioned above, Phelps is also a dynamic playmaker at CB, and was rated as a top 20 CB in the nation.

Joseph, as I mentioned, is a senior who has moved back and forth between CB and S, and has never really stuck at either one. Again, figure Joseph to see playing time at both, perhaps in substitution defenses, but don’t expect him to start.

And, there is a wild card in the mix. Drequan Hoskey is a redshirt freshman who might be the fastest guy on the team. He's small, and that will hurt him against bigger WRs, as well as in run support. But if we are playing an opponent with a burner on offense, Hoskey may get some time. Most likely, Hoskey isn’t ready to see the field on defense yet.

The prediction – This one is tough, as there is no incumbent. With Chase locking down one side of the field, teams are going to be attacking the other side. This means you need to have a CB who can handle the physical aspects of the position, but also a guy who can handle the mental aspects. The guy opposite Chase is almost guaranteed to get beaten from time to time, and he can't get down on himself when he does. Nicholson strikes me as the kind of guy with the confidence to get burned and then line up for the next snap knowing it won't happen again. Nicholson is simply too good to keep off the field, and he'll be lining up opposite Chase for the first snaps against William and Mary.

Defensive Tackle

The incumbents – Matt Conrath, Nick Jenkins

The challenger – Will Hill

This one is weird. Conrath and Jenkins are both seniors, and both have three full years of playing time. Jenkins is a team captain. And both were relatively productive last year. This question isn't about any problem with Conrath or Jenkins, it is about Will Hill being too good to keep on the sidelines. Hill is a junior who has played in every game in his career, but has seen a grand total of 111 defensive snaps. Still, in just 92 plays last year, Hill had 1.5 sacks, compared to a total of 4.5 for Jenkins and Conrath.

Hill isn’t as big as either Jenkins or Conrath, but he brings a different skillset. He’s much faster laterally, and off the snap. He has better range than both. And he is still big and strong enough to win at the point of attack against interior OLs.

The prediction – Conrath and Jenkins will start the opener, but Hill will be in a rotation and will almost definitely be subbed in on passing downs, as he is simply a better pass rusher than either. By the end of the season, Hill may well be starting over Conrath.

Defensive End

The incumbent – N/A (Zane Parr left school early and entered the draft despite nobody thinking he was NFL ready)

The contenders – Bill Schautz, Jake Snyder

One DE spot is obviously manned by senior Cam Johnson, who has gotten some preseason accolades and looks primed for a huge year. But, when Parr left, a spot opened up on the defensive line that will have to be filled by an underclassman.There are a few fringe candidates beyond the two I've mentioned, but none really have a legitimate shot at starting.

Snyder and Schautz provide two vastly different looks as DEs. Snyder is the more prototypical DE, and was actually recruited to play as a 3-4 DE. Snyder is a big strong guy who can more than hold his own against the run but won't blow anybody away as an edge pass rusher. Snyder's biggest strength is going to be his motor, he will never stop fighting, especially when trying to rush the QB. Snyder's game is a nice complement to Johnson, because he is a strength guy as compared to Johnson's speed and quickness.

Schautz, on the other hand, was recruited as a LB and looks like one. He is much quicker than Snyder, and therefore is a better edge rusher. However, he is giving up nearly 30 pounds to Snyder, and so he will struggle at the point of attack against big OTs. Schautz' strength is going to be getting into the backfield quickly and wrecking havoc. He is more like Johnson as an athlete, although not as big nor as athletic.

The prediction – Snyder is the better bet as an every down DE, because he won't be pushed around as much. He should, at least, be able to occupy the OT and allow the OLBs to make plays. Schautz, however, will almost definitely be used as a rush DE in passing situations.

Middle Linebacker

The incumbent – Steve Greer

The challenger – Henry Coley

This is the second year in a row that Greer has had to fight for his starting spot, after winning multiple honors as a freshman. Last year, he ended up splitting snaps with Aaron Taliaferro. Despite being on the field less, Greer was more productive. This year, Taliaferro has moved to strong side LB, but there now Greer must face down a challenge from redshirt freshman Henry Coley.

Coley was a highly rated recruit, showing up as a top 50 inside LB by most recruiting services. He has more speed and lateral quickness that Greer, and he is still big enough to meet a RB in the hole and bring him down. Greer obviously has the experience, and has been very productive in his two years so far.

The prediction – Despite the temptation to start the more athletic player, Greer is too productive to be knocked off his perch. Greer will be the starter, but Coley will see snaps, especially in passing situations where his athleticism will be a greater asset. Coley may also see time on the outside, especially if there are injuries to be dealt with.

Tight End

The incumbent – Colter Phillips

The challengers – Jeremiah Mathis , Paul Freedman

For a school that has been known as TE U, we haven’t really had a dominant TE since Heath left in 2004. Last year, Joe Torchia was the unquestioned starter going into the season, but he was hurt after just 4 games, and never returned. So Phillips, Freedman and Mathis all stepped in.

Phillips led the TEs last year in just about every category including snaps. He is the leader going into camp, and the others will need to work hard to replace him atop the depth chart. Of the 3 contenders, Phillips is the best blocker, but that isn’t really saying much. All three are stronger as receivers than as blockers.

Freedman is one of several players on the roster who could’ve really used a redshirt year as a freshman. He seems to be perpetually behind the curve. Freedman hasn’t developed as a blocker as much as you’d like, but he isn’t a liability there. He is probably faster than Phillips, but still needs work as a router runner.

Mathis was on the defensive line going into last year, but transitioned to TE to help fill out the depth chart after Torchia’s injury. He showed a lot of progress there in a short amount of time, even catching a TD against Maryland. Going into this year, Mathis is locked in at TE, and will see playing time there. He isn’t near the blocker that either of the other two are, but he’s more athletic and therefore might be the best pure receiver. If he can improve his blocking to a passable point, he could become a very good TE.

The prediction – Phillips will be announced as the starter, but all 3 will see plenty of snap throughout the season.

Quarterback

(Metheny, Rocco, Strauss // via CavsCorner)

The incumbent – N/A (Marc Verica graduated)

The contenders – Michael Rocco, Ross Metheny, Michael Strauss, David Watford

Ok, we’ve reached the biggie. Our entire season could ride on this one question. Brian Schwartz took a closer look at each of the 4 candidates the other day.

It is now almost a week into camp, and none of the QBs have distanced themselves from the pack. Every day, it seems like a different guy was best. There is an old football adage that says "If you have 2 quarterbacks, you actually have no quarterbacks." I suspect that if you have 4 QBs, the line rings even more true.

All 4 have their strengths. Rocco comes from a football family, which includes former UVA assistant coach Danny Rocco. Rocco’s father is also a coach. This means that Rocco knows the QB position as well as anybody. He knows the playbook, and he knows what needs to be done. However, he probably has the least amount of physical ability of the 4 contenders. Rocco is also the biggest QB we’ve got, which would help on QB sneaks.

Metheny has the most time in the system out of the 4, and he is also the lone lefty. I’m not sure why that would matter, but it is interesting nonetheless. Metheny is the tallest QB, a benefit considering the size of some of our OLs. Metheny has decent athleticism, but he isn’t really the type to make plays with his legs. He also has an awkward throwing motion, and almost seems to be pushing the ball at times.

Strauss has the best arm of the bunch, and by a wide margin. Strauss is a gunslinger type of QB, who will attempt any throw at any time. This can lead to big plays – for both the offense and the defense. If the light comes on for Strauss, his physical ability will be hard to keep off the field. The problem is, he probably would need to be on the field for the light to come on. And if he is on the field too early, it could spell trouble for the Hoos.

As I mentioned above, the last choice is David Watford. Watford is a physical specimen, even if he's bit small. He is, by far, the most athletic QB of the 4, and the only one who will consistently make plays with his feet. He has a strong arm, and a decent pocket presence. Enrolling in January gives him a bit of a leg up, but he still has a long way to go in terms of learning how to be a QB.

The prediction – With the talent we have on offense (aside from QB, of course) the option here should be the safe one. All we need is a QB who can hand the ball off to our plethora of runners, and get the ball out to our plethora of receivers. For this reason, both Strauss and Watford are out. While both of them provide a skill that the other two do not have, neither of them are going to be able to manage a game the way offensive coordinator Bill Lazor wants. Rocco and Metheny came into camp as the leaders, and remain so. My guess is Rocco starts the opener, but both Rocco and Metheny see equal playing time until and unless one of them separates.

25 Reasons to Look Forward to Virginia Football 2011

Brian J. Leung — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:24:52 -0000

It's just a short 25 days before opening kickoff against William & Mary. Here are 25 reasons, in no particular order, why this guy is excited about Virginia Football in 2011.

1. Second-year head coach Mike London is ready to turn early recruiting success into on-the-field success.

2. All-American Chase Minnifield is back for his senior year and is ready for a bowl game.

3. William & Mary: Sweet Revenge. Actually, just looking forward to seeing all those Tribe alum say "Oh, we played you guys in football?" after a loss this year despite coming out of the woodwork two years ago as though they were lifers.

4. Adventures of Cav Man. How is it that we are able to last nine straight months without seeing this in Scott Stadium?

5. David Watford. I know he's not the frontrunner right now, but I am really excited about the possibility of seeing this guy and all that poise I keep hearing about.

6. The revised 4-3 defense. Defensive coordinator Jim Reid said that he oversimplified the transition to a 4-3 scheme last year and failed to challenge the players enough.

7. Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor. I'm excited to see him if for no other reason, because he looks so much like Dillon Panthers head coach Eric Taylor. You know who I'm talking about.

8. Obviously, the quarterback battle. It's everyone's guess whether it'll be Michael Rocco, Michael Strauss, Ross Metheny or David Watford with the start. I hope whoever it is, he steps up big time. And fast.

9. A lack of off-the-field distractions. Last year, there was a lot going on with the team in terms of shock that London was showing up at their classes and the like. No surprises this year, guys. Hopefully this means that boys will be focusing on football when it matters.

10. Morgan Moses. He lost 20 pounds over the summer, but is still a massive 335. This sophomore beast says he feels different - faster, lighter. Really looking forward to seeing what this tackle can do this year.

11. Sundresses in the south. Yep.

12. Hype machine. As the season progresses and hopefully the Ws start rolling in, I'm really excited to see who else we can pull together in the Class of 2012. 757 or bust!

Four more reasons to get pumped for Virginia Football! (In contravention of No. 9 above)

13. More crying on the field. Look. I get it. We got joked on a LOT for Mike London's emotional breakdown on the field after the big win over Miami last year. That's something I'm willing to deal with if it means more big upsets.

14. Chase Minnifield. Yep, I'm listing him again, but I know that he opted not to enter the draft this year (Hey, if Zane Parr had good reason to enter the draft, so, too, then, should have Minnifield). So I'm looking forward to seeing him increase his stock - hopefully.

15. Kris Burd. Despite ankle injuries last season, he had 799 yards in 58 catches. He says he's 100% healthy now, so I'm hoping he crosses the thousand yard threshold.

16. Renewed Rivalry. When the Cavaliers out-recruited the Hokies on National Signing Day earlier this year, the Hokie Nation fan base completely lost it, wondering what Beamer's problem is and questioning their life worth in general. This is the start of a momentum shift in the commonwealth, and at the very least, I am looking forward to having this rivalry be competitive again.

17. Tight End U. Who's the playmaker of this group this year? Colter Phillips, who started 10 of 12 games last year? Jeremiah Mathis, whose buzz continues to grow on a day to day basis? I haven't had the chance to go to any of the open practices, so I'm curious who's standing out on this front.

18. I got my bowling shoes picked out! I know I shouldn't be thinking this far ahead, but I'm hoping and a'praying that we actually get to play in December this year!

19. November. Okay, fine. Before we even think about December, I guess I should get excited about maybe, maybe winning a game in November.

20. Relatedly Duke. WE CANNOT HAVE A GRADUATING CLASS WHO HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BEAT DUKE. No but seriously.

21. Rodney McLeod and Corey Mosley. With the hype machine chugging along at full strength surrounding Chase Minnifield, I'm looking forward to seeing this pair of safeties come up with a big season, especially early on, as teams do everything they can to avoid Minnifield.

22. Health and happiness. For the first time in what seems to have been a long while, Virginia's got an almost all-healthy team heading into the season. This is a big difference as compared to the noticeably lacking receivers corps from last spring. The only injury I've noticed so far is Morgan Moses' boot, which is supposedly just a sprain that is not expected to present any issues. Freshman Clifton Richardson also has some hamstring problems.

23. Bourbon. Always something to look forward to when football season is upon us. Not that bourbon goes away during the rest of the year. It just tastes a little sweeter in the fall.

24. Freshmen. This is going to be a recurring storyline all year, I think. The top-25 class that London brought in this year is going to have an immediate impact on this team, and I think many of them are going to be working very hard, very fast. London said that he's impressed with, in particular, CB Demetrius Nicholson and WRs Darrius Jennings and Dominique Terrell.

25. WINNING. Remember that feeling, guys? This is the MIKE LONDON ERA. This guy is excited about 2011 Virginia Football because Mike London is righting this ship!