Going down to the wire
Late FG lifts White team to rain-soaked win
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
April 23, 2006

The drama was nowhere close to that of the Music City Bowl.
Nor was the scoring, but Virginia coach Al Groh could hardly complain with the desire displayed in his team's annual Spring Game at Scott Stadium.

Thanks to a 44-yard field goal as time expired from walk-on placekicker Noah Greenbaum, the White team secured a come-from-behind 10-7 win over the Blue team in front of an announced crowd of 7,869 fans.

As Greenbaum's kick sailed through the uprights the players from the defense-stacked White team spilled onto a rain-drenched field offering a celebration that, to a lesser degree, resembled that from the Cavaliers' emotional 34-31 bowl win over Minnesota in Nashville.

"It was certainly not an atypical Virginia game coming down to the end like that," Groh said. "It kinda reflected the last game that we played. I guess that is fitting."

The White was forced to rally after the Blue team jumped out to an early lead on a first-quarter touchdown run by Jason Snelling.

The scoring drive was highlighted by a 20-yard completion from Christian Olsen to tight end John Phillips, who soared into the air to make an acrobatic catch as linebacker Jon Copper delivered a hit.

"That was a real good drive for us," Olsen said. "That was our second drive of the game. That was a play that me and coach [John] Garrett talked about [Friday]. We hadn't run it all spring, but just watching, knowing what they were going to check when we came out in a certain formation, I knew it was going to be there.

"We did it last year versus Boston College, so we said first time we get in third-and-long, that's going to be the play. I told John Phillips before the play, 'The ball's coming to you.' [The defense] did the exact same check that we expected and you know, it worked out well for us."

Snelling, who has been shifted from fullback to tailback, scored three plays and one defensive pass interference call later on a 2-yard run up the gut.

The senior finished with 10 yards rushing on six carries, but also added two receptions for 24 yards.

"[Snelling's] going to certainly be one of the featured performers this year," Groh said. "There's going to have to be some things happen when he gets the ball, and he did a good job with that today."

The score remained unchanged until the White team countered with a 2-yard TD run from Cedric Peerman in the third quarter. That scoring drive, which went 80 yards on 11 plays, was highlighted by a 30-yard reception by Kevin Ogletree on a pass from Kevin McCabe.

The game appeared to be headed for a soccer-style draw after Greenbaum missed a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, prior to Chris Gould's wide-right miss from 46 yards out for the Blue team with a little more than a minute left.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameel Sewell, who completed 6 of 15 passes for 53 yards, quickly marched the Blue team down the field - it went 44 yards in six plays. The final play of the drive, a dump pass from Sewell to Peerman, turned into a 27-yard reception and set up Greenbaum for the winning kick from the left hash mark.

The White team finished the 40-minute game with 213 yards of total offense (141 passing, 72 rushing), easily more than its counterpart from the White team.

Despite having the services of a number of the program's offensive weapons, including Olsen, Snelling and wide receiver Deyon Williams, the Blue team managed just 24 yards on 17 rushing attempts and 62 yards passing.

The numbers mean very little to Groh. He admitted he is looking at the bigger picture, namely the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 2, as the main priority.

"As I have said on a number of occasions, it is really too early and probably harmful to try to draw conclusions," Groh said. "We're allowed 44 practices before the first game and we have had 15, so we have made positive progress here through this timeframe. It has been a good offseason program and a positive and productive spring camp."

NOTE: Virginia coach Al Groh got his fourth, and perhaps most meaningful, verbal commitment for the Class of 2007 on Saturday.

J'Courtney Williams, a 6-foot-4, 217-pound outside linebacker told the Cavaliers' coaching staff of his decision.

Williams, who is from Christchurch, was considered one of the top 100 players in the country for the Class of 2007 by Rivals.com in its pre-evaluation period.

Williams, who also plays tight end, had drawn interest from Clemson, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

Virginia is expected to take a look at Williams at safety upon his arrival in 2007.
 

Snelling just an Average Joe for Cavs
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
April 23, 2006

Should you have walked in on an early morning, offseason training session by Virginia's football team, you would have thought you had crashed a convention of service station attendants - all of 'em answering to the name Joe.
That's exactly how the Cavaliers' coaching staff wanted it, 65 Average Joe's, a Team of Joe's if you will, all working toward the same goal. No superstars in sight. Not a prima donna on the premises.

Regular or unleaded?

Instead, every Wahoo wore the same plain, blue button-up shirt with the little circle on the left pocket. Every circle was emblazoned with the same thing: "Joe."

It was the brainchild of strength coach Evan Marcus to encourage team unity, something Virginia thrived on after an offseason that included booting off three likely starters for this season, including former Butkus Award runner-up Ahmad Brooks at linebacker.

"This is kind of a Joe team," said Coach Al Groh after Saturday's Spring Game. "There aren't very many name players on the team. That doesn't mean that there aren't any talented players on the team, but they're certainly no name, no real big-name players on the team. Hey, we're all the same."

Making the move

Perhaps the most symbolic of all the Joes on the UVa team is senior running back Jason Snelling. Now there's your Average Joe.

A workhorse fullback for the past three seasons, Snelling has moved his 233 pounds (down 12 from his former fullback days) to running back, where Virginia hopes that everybody knows his name this season. He's plodded along for three years without hardly any recognition but works hard, is a leader, and never complains.

Heck, even though he played in every game for the first time in his career in 2005, having overcome some medical issues, he only started three times because Virginia usually began games fullback-less thanks to either a three-wide receiver or two-tight end set.

More than meets the eye

Still, the Chester native and a product of L.C. Bird High School managed to lead ACC fullbacks in rushing for the second straight year. His 5.6 yards per carry ranked fourth in the league among players who had at least 150 yards rushing.

While Snelling lined up mostly at fullback last season, UVa coaches began to experiment with him at the tailback spot some toward the end of the year. He was also dangerous in the one-back set because, not only can he run, this fullback had some kind of hands.

Of his seven career touchdowns, four of them are off receptions he made as a freshman when then-quarterback Matt Schaub threw his way 38 times, matching Snelling's jersey number.

Now, Groh is banking on Snelling's versatility and durability to terrorize opposing defenses this fall.

"To a large extent, [Snelling's] dreams and aspirations of his college career are going to be packed into one season," Groh said of his big tailback. "From the team standpoint, it's going to be important that we get a real big season out of him."

That's why Joe, or, er, Jason Snelling has been working extra hard this spring to get ready for the fall.

"I've been concentrating on the finer details of knowing all the different looks, my fakes, pass-blocking techniques," Snelling said after he rushed six times for 15 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's game. "Running the ball is natural. It's the other aspects - catching, blocking - that I can always try to get better at, which was my main focus."

The fact that Snelling missed only one of the 15 spring practices was considered a bonus by the 5-foot-11 back. He was plagued by a medical condition that he doesn't like to talk about during his sophomore season but bounced back strong last year, which has convinced him that this could be a special season for him.

"I haven't had the [medical] issues this spring," Snelling said. "It's something I'm probably going to have to deal with for a while, but I'm taking the right steps to take care of it and so far it has been working."

While he declines to go into details, Snelling said that the symptom of the condition that most prevents him from playing is severe headaches. Because he hasn't had to deal with that much for the past season and spring, it has been a major boost to his game.

"It makes a big difference by being out here for 14 out of 15 practices," he said. "That's how you get better, hone your skills. When I had the off-and-on situation, I couldn't do that or even be in the position to know if I was going to be ready to play."

A bruising, power runner who delights in punishing would-be tacklers, Snelling's 325 yards on the ground last season was the most by a Cavalier fullback since Charles Way in 1994. That came on 58 carries, about the number of rushes the big back said he would like to have after UVa's first two games this fall.

"The runner's dream is to run the ball," Snelling said with a grin. "If that's the situation, where I carry it 25 or even 35 times a game, I'm all for that. I know I can do it. I look forward to some games like that where I can just pound it and wear the defense down."

Last season, Virginia would use Snelling as a change-up back. The Cavs would run Wali Lundy or Cedric Peerman or whomever, all lighter backs, for a few quarters, then bring in the battering ram.

"As you can see, he's not fun to tackle," Groh said. "He packs a pretty good punch."

If you're looking for testimony, go no further than his teammates.

"He's a load," said preseason All-American cornerback Marcus Hamilton. "You have to gang-tackle a guy like that and if you don't hit him low, he's just run you over."

Defensive end Chris Long tells another story.

"Snelling's like a train, a little train," Long laughed. "I always make fun of him because I tell him he's an undersized offensive guard. But I believe he's the best fullback in America ... he could be one of the best running backs in America because he's that talented. I have nothing but respect for him."

Snelling said he feels lighter on his feet with the loss of 12 pounds, almost like he was the 217 he reported in as a freshman. But he gradually added poundage but still had to work hard and adjust to the gain, while still keeping his skills.

Now, he's ready to see what he can do as a lighter, yet still powerful running back.

The Little Train. The Little Train Who Could. He's just another Average Joe - for now.

 

Lanier staying at UVa
Cavs assistant spurns Florida offer
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
April 23, 2006

After Rob Lanier was fired as head coach at Siena following the 2005 season, one of the first people to reach out to him was Virginia head coach Dave Leitao.
Leitao, who had just taken over at UVa, wound up hiring Lanier as an assistant.

Lanier has returned the faith.

On Saturday, the Virginia assistant coach turned down an offer to join Billy Donovan's staff at the University of Florida.

Lanier, who had no comment on the development, was offered the assistant's position that became vacant when Anthony Grant left to become head coach at Virginia Commonwealth earlier this week.

According to a source, the National Champions flew their entire coaching staff to Texas on Friday in an effort to woo Lanier, who was in the Lone Star State on a recruiting trip.

However, after a meeting with Leitao, Lanier decided to stay put.

"I'm pleased Rob Lanier is remaining as a member of our coaching staff," Leitao said in a press release. "Rob has made significant contributions to our program and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Rob is an integral part of what I consider an outstanding staff."

Lanier's decision to remain in Charlottesville is great news for Wahoo Nation.

The 37-year-old New York native is known for having a great rapport with players. He's helped secure one of Virginia's better recruiting classes in recent memory. If Solomon Tat rectifies his visa problems and signs his letter of intent, Virginia will have three incoming players who are rated within the top 150 by Rivals.com (Will Harris and Jamil Tucker are the others).

With recruit Johnnie Lett's announcement that he will play next season at Hargrave Military Academy before enrolling at Virginia in 2007, UVa has a scholarship at its disposal. Lanier's decision to stick around will only help in the staff's efforts to land another high-caliber player.

Before joining Leitao's staff, Lanier was the head coach at Siena for four years, taking the Saints to the NCAA Tournament in 2002.

Prior to Siena, Lanier worked as an assistant at Texas (1999-2001), Rutgers (1997-99) and St. Bonaventure (1992-97).

 

Virginia nearly flawless in win
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
April 23, 2006

With less than 10 seconds left in the first half of the Virginia-Bellarmine game on Saturday, UVa goalie Kip Turner lofted a length-of-the-field pass that looked like it belonged in an NFL Films feature on Johnny Unitas.
All that was missing was some of that old-school NFL Films music.

As the ball hung in the air, Virginia freshman Gavin Gill looked like a wide receiver on a fade pattern as he tried to sprint underneath it.

However, the pass wound up being just out of Gill's reach, and the half came to an end.

This was about the only play that didn't turn out exactly the way Virginia drew it up.

As expected, No. 1-ranked UVa had no problems with Bellarmine. Virginia remained undefeated, steamrolling its way to a 21-10 win on Senior Day at Klockner Stadium.

Like almost everybody who has faced Virginia this season, Bellarmine - in just its first season of playing a full Division I schedule - had no answers for Virginia's speed and precision passing.

The Cavaliers (12-0), who led 16-3 at the intermission, did pretty much whatever they wanted. The final score would have been more lopsided if Virginia coach Dom Starsia hadn't emptied his bench in the second half.

"It was a difficult game to orchestrate," Starsia said. "It might not have been a work of art, but I thought there were moments when we played pretty well. I thought we shot the ball well overall.

"They had a little bit of an awkward style, so you knew it was going to be a little funky that way, but I think it was good we got back to game speed again."

Matt Poskay, Danny Glading, Ben Rubeor and Matt Ward scored three goals apiece to pace a well-balanced Virginia attack. Eleven UVa players scored.

Virginia's next game will be in the ACC Tournament final in Baltimore on Sunday against the North Carolina-Maryland winner.

UVa easily defeated both schools on their own home fields this season.

"It truly doesn't matter," said Starsia, when asked if the team had a preference. "We know both teams well. It's a little bit like a backyard brawl whether it's Carolina or Maryland. It's going to be a great game."

Added Glading: "Either opponent I would love to play. It would be a fun rematch to play either one of them. They're both good teams. I guess we'll see how it plays out."

Due to the cancellation of the Duke game last Saturday, Virginia had not played in 14 days. Coming into the Bellarmine game, Starsia wanted his team to shake off any rust it might have. He hoped his team would come flying out of the gates.

The Cavaliers did just that.

Less than a minute in, Glading caught the ball to the left of the Bellarmine net. The freshman faked as if he was going to fire a shoulder-high shot, then launched a bouncing shot that beat Knights goalie J.C. Hutchins between his legs.

All three of Glading's goals came in the first quarter.

"I was comfortable," Glading said. "The ball was moving well and I kind of reaped the benefits of some other guys on the team making some great plays. It turned out well."

The game's most exciting goal came at the 7:10 mark of the first half. As Virginia midfielder Matt Poskay was being heavily checked in front of the Bellarmine goal, he managed to fire a behind-the-back shot that put UVa up 5-0.

"It was my last option there," said Poskay, who also had a career-high two assists (to the amusement of Starsia). "He was practically holding me down in the front, so I had to go behind the back and it went in."

The goal drew a roar from the 1,508 fans in attendance.

"He's so nifty," Glading said. "He can shoot from anywhere - his hip, behind his back, right in front. That was just a great shot."

Starsia said Poskay hardly ever takes a bad shot.

"In a case like, with the bad angle, he went behind his back," Starsia explained. "It may have looked a little showy but it was the right play to make."

Virginia's defense stymied Bellarmine (6-8). The Knights didn't get on the scoreboard until a goal by Adam Gardner at the 3:03 mark of the first quarter.

"We were just excited to get back here on our field and get after it against someone other than ourselves," Poskay said. "Now it gets exciting. We have five days now to work hard and then see who we play on Sunday."

 

U.Va.'s Snelling hopes to outrun his demons, put up big numbers
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Jason Snelling missed just one of the 15 football practices Virginia conducted this spring.

That might not sound like much of an accomplishment. But for Snelling, a fifth-year player who has had an on-again, off-again career, it represents a step forward, one that gives the Cavaliers hope that the bruising running back might finally become a major part of their offense.

"I've had a rocky road with injuries and health and medical problems," Snelling said after Saturday's spring game at Scott Stadium. "I'm hoping to have a complete season."

Snelling hasn't had one yet. After showing great promise as a freshman fullback in 2002, Snelling's been beset by injuries and a medical condition that causes dizziness and debilitating headaches.

He took the 2003 season off to deal with his condition, but it recurred each of the past two years, causing Snelling to miss practices and limiting his participation in games.

Snelling is optimistic that the condition is finally under control. If so, he's slated to start at tailback, after three seasons at fullback. "He's going to certainly be one of our featured performers this year," coach Al Groh said.

Snelling's waited a long time for the chance to be the go-to guy. He came to Virginia after running for 3,300 yards as a four-year starter at Richmond's L.C. Bird High.

A natural tailback, Snelling moved to fullback to avoid being buried behind Wali Lundy and Alvin Pearman on the depth chart. He packed on nearly 30 pounds over the years, going from 217 as a freshman to 245 last year.

Snelling retained his tailback skills, catching 31 passes as a freshman in 2002. After redshirting in 2003, he averaged 7.3 yards on 26 carries in 2004, but missed five games with a leg injury.

Snelling rushed for 325 yards last year but was in and out of the lineup. He played in every game for the first time in his career. He made little more than a cameo appearance, however, on some weeks when he was unable to practice. In one four-game stretch he didn't have a carry. He had 45 carries the next four games, but none in Virginia's Music City Bowl victory.

Missed practices made it difficult for Snelling to stay sharp. He was most effective in a single-back set late in the year and was told he'd probably switch to tailback this season.

The move has been liberating. Snelling said he never felt completely comfortable at 245 pounds. He's down to 233 now, still big enough to inflict punishment but not heavy enough to feel sluggish.

"I feel a lot lighter on my feet," he said.

Snelling carried six times for just 10 yards and a touchdown Saturday, working behind a patchwork offensive line. He envisions himself as the type of back who can wear down a defense over four quarters.

Virginia has not had a power tailback in years. Pearman, barely 200 pounds, relied on quickness. Lundy played most of his career in the 210-pound range.

Snelling gives the Cavaliers a different look. "He's not a guy you want to hit," defensive end Clint Sintim said. "He's a bull. A big bull."

Snelling's got the attitude to go along the bulk. Tired of waiting, he knows this is his last chance.

"To a large extent," Groh said, 'his dreams and aspirations of his college career are going to be packed into one season."
 

Cavs pound Miami to win series
UVa Roundup
From staff reports / Charlottesville Daily Progress
April 23, 2006

In Coral Gables, Fla., the Virginia baseball team continued its torrid pace in the Sunshine State, pounding Miami, 15-8, on Saturday to win the series.
The Cavs, who improved to 34-9 on the season (13-8), had taken the series opener 8-2 on Friday and have now won five of their seven ACC series.

Mike Ballard will try to follow-up his no-hitter from last week when he takes the mound in today's finale, which is set to start at 1 p.m.

ROWING CAPTURES SEVENTH ACC TITLE: In Clemson, S.C., the Virginia women's rowing team cruised to its seventh consecutive ACC Championship. The Cavaliers won all four competitions, finishing first in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, and novice eight races.

The Cavaliers' second varsity eight boat earned ACC Crew of the Year honors, and Caitlin Mixter (coxswain), Kerry Maher, Melanie Kok, Sara Lippa, and Crystal MacLeod were named to the All-ACC Team.

RAIN SUSPENDS MEN'S GOLF TOURNEY: In New London, N.C., rain suspended play during the second round of the ACC Men's Golf Championships at the Old North State Club.

The Cavaliers shot 2-over 290 for a 36-hole total of 7-over 583. Virginia is in 10th place on the suspended team leader board.

 

Cavs look to young players
Three sophomore linebackers are preparing to step into the spotlight for Virginia's young defense.
BY NORM WOOD
247-4642
April 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- There is no such thing as an easy transition into leadership for a college football player preparing to enter his sophomore season.

Virginia sophomore linebackers Clint Sintim, Jon Copper and Antonio Appleby are about to find out if they're made that transition. Two critical moments in the offseason changed this year's outlook for all three players.

On Jan. 9, linebacker Kai Parham announced he was forgoing his final season of eligibility at U.Va. to declare for the NFL draft. On March 28, the day before spring practices began, coach Al Groh announced that linebacker Ahmad Brooks had been dismissed from the team for unspecified reasons.

Parham's decision was Sintim's wake-up call. Sintim, 6-foot-3, 242-pounds, started all 12 games at outside linebacker last season. He finished with 53 tackles and three sacks. Sintim said Parham gave him pointers last season on when to rush and when to drop into coverage. Sintim realized right away what Parham's departure meant.

"Wow, I've got to get in my playbook a little bit more," Sintim said. "I have the choice to either assume the role of a leader or just fold. ... It's just a responsibility thing. Sometimes you just have to do things you're not ready for and you've got to get it done."

Though Sintim has put pressure on himself to succeed this offseason, Groh added to it after Saturday's spring game by saying he expects Sintim to be a big contributor on a defense that will feature just one senior next season.

"I think I remember saying about both Clint and (running back) Cedric Peerman during their first year here when they were being redshirted that, though they weren't playing due to the depth chart in front of them, they were two of the best players in their class," Groh said. "Clint has continued to come on and prove that. ... He has a chance to be one of the better players we've had since we've been here." Parham attended one of U.Va.'s spring practices earlier this week and gave Sintim all of the usual "time to step up" pep talks, but Sintim was past the point of needing them.

When Brooks was kicked off the team, Sintim started using those same motivational tactics with Appleby and Copper. They will be expected to slide into the starting inside linebacker jobs vacated by Brooks and Parham, respectively.

"Appleby and Copper are back there now, and they're trying to make people know their names," said Sintim, who had three tackles in Saturday's game. "They're not trying to make people think, 'Where's Ahmad? They're not going to be the same team without Ahmad and Kai.' They're just coming in here and trying to assert themselves."

Copper, 6-foot, 226-pounds, made a big impression this spring with Brooks gone. Now, it appears U.Va. may be on the brink of replacing one of its most highly recruited players with a player who was hardly recruited at all.

Copper came to U.Va. in 2004 as a walk-on after prepping for a year at Fork Union Military Academy. He played in eight games, but wasn't in on many plays. He finished with 10 tackles.

Despite his lack of experience, Copper has gained Groh's respect. Groh referred to Copper on Saturday as one of the team's most well-prepared players. Groh agreed with one reporter who called Copper a guy who doesn't make mistakes.

"I think that's a good thing to start," said Copper, who had four tackles and a sack Saturday. "That's a base. ... If you're a guy that's dependable and doesn't make mistakes, you're going to get on the field."

Olsen tapped as team captain
BY NORM WOOD
247-4642
April 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Though Virginia coach Al Groh hasn't named his starting quarterback for the Sept. 2 season opener at Pittsburgh, the team may have tipped its hand.

Christian Olsen was voted by his teammates to be a team captain for the Blue team in Saturday's spring game. Olsen, a 6-3, 216-pound senior who is first on the depth chart at quarterback, was appreciative, but he didn't think he was the best candidate.

"I wasn't expecting that at all, to be honest with you," Olsen said. "I voted for (receiver) Deyon (Williams) and (defensive end) Chris Long. I felt like they were the most deserving."

Olsen completed 7 of 11 passes for 67 yards in the game. Backups Kevin McCabe and Jameel Sewell also had solid days. McCabe completed 9 of 13 passes for 88 yards. Sewell was 6-of-15 passing for 53 yards and an interception, but he saved his most efficient drive for last.

In less than a minute, Sewell led the White team from its own 29-yard line down to the Blue team's 27. The drive was highlighted by Sewell's runs of 15 and 12 yards. Noah Greenbaum capped off the drive with a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the White team a 10-7 win.

REGULAR JOES

One of the most original ideas to come out of U.Va's spring practice wasn't formed by any of the coaches who will have to be at their creative best in the fall. It came from Evan Marcus, the strength and conditioning coach.

Groh said Marcus was responsible for creating the idea to issue the team dark blue button-up shirts with the name "Joe" written on the left breast. The shirts mirror something a service-station attendant might wear, and are supposed to project a "regular Joe" image.

"This is kind of a 'Joe' team," Groh said. "There really are not many name players on the team. It doesn't mean that there aren't some talented players on the team, but there are certainly no big-name players on the team. It's indicative of the fact that we're all the same. They just come in every day and grind it out."

INJURED ANKLE STOPS JOHNSON

Running back Michael Johnson was held out of Saturday's game because of an ankle injury sustained in Wednesday's practice.

Groh said Johnson, a 5-9, 199-pound graduate of Heritage High, had an ankle rolled on by another player during the practice session. In his absence, Cedric Peerman and Hall Simmons handled the rushing responsibilities Saturday for the White team, which was oddly referred to as the Orange team on pregame rosters but wore white jerseys during the game. Peerman had four carries for 14 yards, and Simmons rushed seven times for 19 yards.

DRAFTING UNITS

Due to injuries and depth concerns, Groh said U.Va.'s assistant coaches decided not to draft individual players to fill out the rosters for the Blue and White teams. Instead, the coaches drafted entire units. John Garrett, the wide receivers coach and offensive assistant head coach, called plays for the Blue team. Steve Bernstein, the defensive backs coach and assistant head coach, led the White team.

RANKS GETTING THIN

Cornerback Marcus Hamilton, who was the White team's captain, is the only senior on U.Va.'s defense. He is also one of just three players remaining, including Johnson and running back Jason Snelling, from the 2002 recruiting class.

Fitzgerald plays to the crowd
Hermitage grad turns heads in his first spring game with the Cavaliers
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Apr 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Linebacker Marvin Richardson deflected Christian Olsen's fourth-quarter pass in the direction of Jeffrey Fitzgerald, who immediately grasped the opportunity. The freshman defensive end lunged for the football but, alas, couldn't come up with the interception.

Had Fitzgerald been able to hold on, only 30 yards would have separated him and the end zone. Would the 6-3, 270-pound Hermitage High graduate have scored?

"Oh, most definitely," Fitzgerald said, smiling broadly. "Nobody would have stopped me from that touchdown."

Fitzgerald's spirits were high yesterday, and for good reason. Before the University of Virginia's spring game at Scott Stadium, he received a Rock Weir Award as one of the team's most improved players. The others went to outside linebacker Clint Sintim and tailback Mikell Simpson.

In the game that followed, Fitzgerald played for the White team, which edged the Blue squad 10-7 on Collegiate graduate Noah Greenbaum's 44-yard field goal as time expired.

U.Va. entered spring practice seeking a replacement at left end for Brennan Schmidt, who'd tied an ACC record with 51 career starts. The job is now Fitzgerald's to lose.

"You see these kids when they first get here, and you can tell who's going to have a quicker impact than the other ones," said rising junior Chris Long, the returning starter at right defensive end. "I thought he was one of the ones, and he proved that all spring and earned the starting job, and I think right now it's a secure job for him."

In yesterday's 40-minute game, Fitzgerald had one sack, for a 7-yard loss, and showed off his exceptional athletic ability.

"You saw him out there," Long said. "He's a play- maker, and I really love that."

The crowd of 7,869 included Hermitage High coach Patrick Kane. Better than most, Kane could appreciate what yesterday's game meant to Fitzgerald. Not since November 2003, when Hermitage closed its season with a win over Henrico, had Fitzgerald played in a game in front of a crowd. On the eve of his senior season, Fitzgerald tore the ACL in his left knee during a scrimmage, and he redshirted at U.Va. last fall.

"He's been on top of his business ever since he's gotten here," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said.

Fitzgerald said he wasn't too excited during warmups yesterday, but once he "got back out there on the field playing, my competitive side over . . . I know it was a spring game, but I really wanted to win that game."

U.Va. quarterback Jameel Sewell was a classmate and teammate of Fitzgerald at Hermitage, too. When he learned that Fitzgerald had been selected as a Weir Award recipient, Sewell said, "I think I was more excited than he was. I'm just excited because he's come through so much."

Fitzgerald's move toward a starting role began in earnest during U.Va.'s preparations for the Music City Bowl in December, Groh said. That progress continued this spring, as Fitzgerald beat out rising sophomore Alex Field for the job.

"I've improved a lot," Fitzgerald said, "but there's always room for more improvement."

 

Cavs' Joes out to prove themselves
BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Apr 23, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE Yeah, it's a corny idea: a dark blue shirt of the style worn by your friendly, neighborhood service-station attendant, with the name "Joe" stitched over the left-breast pocket.

Think that's sweet inspiration?

A certain picking-up-the-pieces football team surely hopes so.

About Virginia's Cavaliers: To say they've had an eventful offseason would be to say Doug Wilder enjoys a good scrap. The Cavs are replacing 10 starters, their league's best placekicker and four assistant coaches. Three key players received disciplinary evictions. There have been police-blotter issues and academic issues and injury setbacks.

The only thing that hasn't happened to this crew is a group of U.Va. students showing up at practice to protest living-wage discrepancies. When the head man is knocking down one-point-seven mil per annum, that's a non-factor.

Al Groh is the Boss Cav with the fat contract, and he and 7,869 of his closest friends watched yesterday's conclusion of spring drills with some hope and, maybe, some uncertainty. The Cavs went 7-5 last season and to another lower-rung bowl. They finished fifth in the ACC's Coastal Division. They upset Florida State but otherwise did nothing special.

The quarterback and tailback who accounted for 27 of the team's 36 touchdowns are gone. So is every name-brand player this side of emerging star Chris Long.

Enter "Joe."

The idea was concocted by strength coach Evan Marcus, who sold Groh on it and had the special-edition shirts distributed to players for winter weightlifting sessions. Long, for his part, wondered about practicality ("At first I said, it's a button-up -- can I work out in a button-up?") but quickly came around and joined the party. The shirt became a McCue Center staple.

Now it's a mantra.

"This is kind of a 'Joe' team," Groh said after a spring game that produced 17 points, 299 yards and a lot of soggy uniforms. "It's indicative of he fact that we're all the same. We just come every day to grind it out."

Christian Olsen is one of those guys. Five years ago, when he signed with Notre Dame, he was a name. One transfer and three seasons of hanging around later, he's the Cavs' starter du jour at quarterback. He's not a wow, he's a plugger. Last year's quarterback, Marques Hagans, had a howitzer arm and waterbug feet. Olsen has neither. What he does have is maturity, the backing of his teammates -- they elected him a co-captain -- and a measure of self-assurance.

"I never lost confidence in myself," he said. "Just knowing what's going on and being comfortable in the huddle is the place I've come the most from last year. I've felt good from day one out there."

Olsen didn't widen eyes yesterday, but he wasn't alone. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the defense. Maybe it was the play-calling that allowed for few risky throws downfield. Whatever the case, this was pretty bland stuff -- which may be how Groh ("I thought Chris managed his team well," he said -- the criterion, perhaps) chooses to attack 2006 in hopes being merely solid will regain momentum this program lost in 2005.

"Obviously, there's going to be skepticism about our team," said Olsen. "Today, we really showed how good a team we can be. When the first team was out there, I thought we moved the ball well."

Even if the game-program rosters weren't illuminated in neon.

"There's really no big names out here," said linebacker Clint Sintim. "It's not too many people you can say, 'He's a dominant figure.' We've got a lot of guys who work hard. We're all links in a chain."

And all out to make a fashion statement. They'll try to make statements of another kind next fall.

 

Snelling proves he's no average Joe
The UVa senior is finally in good health and appears to have made a successful move from fullback to tailback.
Doug Doughty

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Scratch any fullback deeply enough and it's likely you'll find a converted tailback.

It says a lot about Virginia's football team that the Cavaliers' prospective tailback, Jason Snelling, is a converted fullback.

An absence of marquee players is one of the reasons that head coach Al Groh approved a team shirt with the name "Joe" across one side of the chest.

Only one of the Cavaliers was "baptized" a Joe, as Groh put it, and that's walk-on quarterback Joe Sanford. It was strength coach Evan Marcus who suggested the shirts as a sign of team solidarity.

"There aren't very many name players on the team," Groh said Saturday after the Cavaliers' final spring scrimmage. "It doesn't mean there aren't some talented players, but it's indicative of the fact that, 'Hey, we're all the same.'

"We come in every day to grind it out. That's what they've done since January. That's what they did all spring long. Every day of the preseason training program, we had 65-plus Joes in there."

It was hard to be any more faithful than Snelling, who participated in 14 of 15 practices this spring. In the past, reliability was an issue for him. Snelling missed the entire 2003 season and played in only seven of 12 games in 2004.

"It was headaches," Snelling said. "Actually, it was more complicated than that, but it was headaches that made it unplayable."

Around midseason last year, doctors finally regulated Snelling's condition through medication.

"There's been some down days," he said, "but, the day that I missed practice this spring, it was not my medical condition. I just didn't feel well."

Snelling went through a four-game stretch last year when he did not have a single carry. Then he rushed 17 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-3 victory over Temple.

Many of those attempts came out of a one-back set and convinced the UVa coaching staff that Snelling could be more than a fullback.

Snelling, who will be a fifth-year senior, weighed 245 pounds during his fullback days but is still a load at 233.

"To a large extent, his dreams and aspirations are going to be packed into one season," Groh said. "From a team standpoint, it's going to be important that we get a real big season out of him.

"He's certainly going to be one of the featured performers. There are going to have to be some things happen when he gets the ball. As you can see, he's not fun to tackle."

Jon Copper, one of the Cavaliers' linebackers, can attest to that.

"The first week of spring practice, he was coming through the hole and I thought I had a pretty good shot at him," Copper said. "I wouldn't say he ran me over, but it was almost like I wasn't there. It's going to take two hats [or helmets] to bring him down."

It must be noted, Copper doesn't give ground easily. He had a sack on which he caused a fumble and he later smelled out a screen pass for a 4-yard loss. Still a non-scholarship player, Copper, from Roanoke, has been playing with the first defense all spring and Groh won't be scared to start him in the fall.

"I'm planning on it," Groh said.

A crowd of 7,869 turned out to watch the White team defeat the Blue team 10-7 on a 44-yard field goal by Noah Greenbaum as time expired. Earlier, Chris Gould was wide right on a 46-yard attempt with just over a minute to play.

By then, rain was falling steadily, fulfilling gloomy weather forecasts that may have kept the crowd under the 20,000 that Groh had set as a target earlier in the week.

"I think we made a move forward toward that number" Groh said. "We may not hit that number right away, but we'll keep working till we get to the ceiling.

"We appreciate the fans who came and perhaps, if we'd had less dire forecasts, maybe some of the people who were expecting rain, hail and lightning would have made the drive."

Odds 'n' ends

Groh said that he was prepared to name one captain on offense and one on defense, but there was a tie on both units in player voting. He went with quarterback Christian Olsen, wide receiver Deyon Williams, defensive end Chris Long and cornerback Marcus Hamilton. ... Winners of the Rock Weir Award for most improved players in the spring were outside linebacker Clint Sintin, defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald and tailback Mikell Simpson.
 

The pros and cons of trading Schaub
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

TRADE HIM

1. The Falcons could land a first-round pick in return. If Atlanta wouldn't move Schaub for defensive end John Abraham, it's going to take a lot — like a top-20 pick — to get the Falcons to bite on an offer for Schaub. Should Atlanta get such an offer, it would seem hard to refuse. Think about it: a first-round pick for a third-round selection with two career starts.

2. It would end the Schaub vs. Mike Vick arguments that provide never-ending fodder for message boards, talk radio and poolside conversations. The backup quarterback, especially one as talented as Schaub, will always be the fan favorite, but as long as Vick is with the Falcons, there are 130 million reasons he'll be the starter.

3. Schaub, a restricted free agent at the end of next season, might not ever be the starter in Atlanta, and the team could get great value in a trade for him. Though the Falcons could match any free-agent offer another team makes for Schaub after the 2006 season — or get compensation if Schaub leaves — his value might never get higher than it is now. Schaub becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season and could bolt to another team with Atlanta getting nothing.

4. If Schaub goes somewhere else and doesn't develop as expected, the Falcons, who would have received a potential impact draft pick, would look like geniuses.

——————————

KEEP HIM

1. Remember 2003, when Michael Vick was lost for most of the season after suffering a preseason leg injury? Playoff hopes turned into a 5-11 finish because there was no adequate backup. With Vick's reckless and exciting style of play occasionally leading to injuries, a strong backup is important. Unless there's a veteran available in free agency or a trade who can learn the system in a few months — Jay Fiedler? Jamie Martin? Joey Harrington? — the reserve tank is pretty empty. As of now, second-year undrafted free agent Bryan Randall is the only other quarterback on the roster.

2. Though he's 0-2 as a starter, Schaub filled in well after Vick got hurt in a 2005 victory against Minnesota. Schaub put up nearly 300 yards passing against New England the following week in a 31-28 loss. He rallied the Falcons from 14- and 15-point deficits against the Patriots. As much as some folks like to hang that loss on Schaub, he didn't allow New England to ring up 483 yards of offense.

3. Though the draft pick the Falcons would get in return for Schaub could pay dividends in the future, Atlanta has made moves to win a championship this season, including bringing in Schaub's former college offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave, as quarterbacks coach. The chemistry and trust that is in place is very important. Parting with the insurance Schaub provides could disrupt the Falcons' stable environment.

4. He likely would get a chance to start elsewhere, since no team would part with a high draft pick to bring Schaub in as a backup. If he led an opposing team to the playoffs, the second-guessing would be off the charts — unless the Falcons won the Super Bowl.
 

Defense living on the edge
Dias, Sintim counted on by U.Va. to bring heat as outside linebackers
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Apr 22, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE The glamour position in the 3-4 defense is the one at which Lawrence Taylor starred for the New York Giants: outside linebacker.

"That's the whole design of the 3-4: to be able to bring those guys and create pressure and try to get some negative [yardage] plays," said Liberty University's new coach, Danny Rocco, who spent the past five seasons working with Virginia's outside linebackers.

The Cavaliers, who favor the 3-4, struggled on defense last season, in part because they had no budding LTs -- or Darryl Blackstocks, for that matter -- on the edge.

"That was just kind of a take-up-space position for us last year," U.Va. coach Al Groh said.

For a first-year starter, Clint Sintim acquitted himself well, making 53 tackles, including nine for loss. But he was a redshirt freshman learning on the job and struggled at times to process all the information being fed to him.

On the other side, Jermaine Dias, then a redshirt sophomore, began and ended the season in the starting lineup. But a fracture in his right foot forced him to miss four regular-season games, and Dias finished the year with a modest 21 tackles, only one of which was for loss.

As the Cavaliers, who went 7-5 in 2005, head into their sixth season under Groh, this much is clear: They need more production from their outside 'backers.

"Me and Clint definitely have got to make plays," Dias said after a recent practice. "I'm just out there trying to cause havoc. Whenever I can get to the ball, I'm going to get to it."

At Hackensack High in New Jersey, where he was a four-year starter, the 6-1 Dias played defensive end and weighed about 215 pounds. He's now around 235. Changing positions has been challenging, but "if Coach didn't think I could play outside linebacker, he wouldn't have made the switch," Dias said.

"I think I do have the same tools to play it. I just wish I didn't have to get hurt last year. By the third game, as soon as I felt like I was coming into my own, I took, like, two steps back [with the foot injury]."

Dias, who turned 22 this spring, has taken several steps forward this spring, which for U.Va. concludes with an intrasquad game today at Scott Stadium.

"It's been a very positive spring for him," said Groh, who added that Dias' technique has improved significantly. "He's got an enhanced understanding of the position."

As a redshirt freshman in 2004, Dias played primarily in passing situations and on special teams. His experience in the base defense has been limited, and he's still trying to master the nuances of outside linebacker.

"This has almost been a catchup time frame for him," Groh said.

Dias totaled 31 sacks in his final two seasons at Hackensack High. Through his first two seasons at U.Va., he has one sack. He'll be disappointed -- as will his coaches -- if he doesn't raise his game this fall.

"As long as I can stay healthy, I think the year's going to be positive," Dias said.