Veterans keeping things poised
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
April 3, 2007

With a random spring practice schedule, many college football coaches become worried about maintaining focus as off days spoil on-field sessions.

Virginia coach Al Groh is not among that collection. Not this year, at least.

Entering the team’s ninth practice on Monday, Groh said he has seen quite the opposite from his players.

“Some of them, they see how their efforts are putting them in position to earn some playing time or some of them see where their playing time is being challenged by somebody else,” Groh said. “Plus, I think they are seeing that this team has a chance to do something if everybody will stay committed to that fact and all the things that need to be done on an on-going basis.”

That focus, Groh said, is needed outside of the three-week period where his program dusts off the pads.

“It can’t just be on the days that we are practicing or the timeframe that we have spring practice,” Groh added. “It has to be something that’s on everybody’s mind constantly.”

Credit the veterans - UVa has nine starters back on offense and 10 on defense.

“We have a good level of leadership amongst the older players,” Groh said, “and they are really reminding their teammates of that.”

Positive push

At the end of the spring practice period, Groh and his staff annually designate several players as the winners of the Rock Weir Award, an honor given to the team’s most improved players.

Jermaine Dias, heading into his senior season, might have a leg up on the competition.

The outside linebacker has been one of the most impressive players in camp, Groh said.

“What he is showing here now, entering his fifth year, is that he has seen most of what he is going to see,” Groh said. “You know, he recognizes it real fast. You don’t have to coach him on everything and he’s really showing the benefit of the exposure of what he has gotten.”

Dias has made 80 tackles in 31 career games, but those stats suffered while he battled through injuries during his freshman and sophomore campaigns, respectively.

As for other standouts thus far, Groh cited the play of nose tackle Allen Billyk and three cornerbacks - Mike Brown, Chris Cook and Vic Hall.

Quotable

Groh offered a comical, two-word description on Billyk’s inspired play of late.

“Pretty frisky,” Groh joked.

Extra points …

… If injuries are avoided in the last five or six practices, Groh said the plan is in place to split the team into two groups and hold an actual spring game at Scott Stadium on April 14. … Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell (wrist) continues to practice on a limited basis, but the rising sophomore has reported some soreness after each session. … Linebacker Olu Hall, who was held out of practice initially by Groh, has returned and the coach said he has not appeared to skip a beat. Hall was redshirted last season. … There has been no formal announcement about the practice time for Saturday’s open session, but Groh said it would likely be early in the morning to allow the players the chance to spend Easter with their families.

 

'Biscuit' now all grown up
Smith leading the defense for UVa
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
April 3, 2007

When Virginia defeated Princeton earlier this season, UVa goalie Kip Turner made several “Zero Calls” to his defensive unit - namely teammate Ricky Smith.

“That basically tells everyone to lag off,” explained Smith, a Virginia co-captain, “and let me do what I’ve got to do.”

Suffice to say, Smith wasn’t the recipient of very many “Zero Calls” during his first few years at Virginia. Coach Dom Starsia wasn’t about to give Smith that much responsibility.

The kid from Long Island, N.Y., was an exceptional athlete and had great stick skills, but he took way too many chances.

“Freshman year you come in and try and do things that you did in high school,” Smith said, “but that just doesn’t work at this level.”

It’s taken Smith some time to figure out the nuances of the college game, but the wait has been worth it. The 6-foot, 186-pounder has established himself as one of the top defenders in the country.

“Ricky has grown up steadily throughout his career and has been a pleasure to coach,” said Starsia, whose team hosts Binghamton today at 4 p.m.

“I know people think that I pull my hair out sometimes with Ricky, [but] he’s always been a gambling kind of a guy.

“Sometimes when he makes that glaring kind of mistake, that’s what people remember. What you don’t remember is that he catches every ball and picks up every ball. He’s always making plays. You may need to be more of an educated fan to truly appreciate what Ricky has developed into.”

In Virginia’s 12-8 win over Maryland on Sunday, Smith had his usual assortment of huge hits - but he also showed off other parts of his game.

Late in the third quarter, Smith took possession of a groundball and rushed up the field. As he was getting clobbered by a Maryland middie, Smith managed to hit teammate Garrett Billings in stride with a pinpoint pass that set him up perfectly for an easy goal.

“Over the years he’s just gotten smarter,” said Virginia co-captain Drew Thompson, who has roomed with Smith since freshman year. “Now he’s a complete player.”

Smith gives much of the credit to former teammate Michael Culver, who won the Schmeisser Cup (Outstanding Defenseman) last season before

graduating. It was Culver, Smith says, who taught him to never give up on a play and showed him how to be more prudent with his checks.

“Now whenever I set my checks up, it’s more at the right place and at the right time,” said Smith, who has started 47 seven straight games. “In the Princeton game - that was probably my best takeaway game since I’ve been here.

“I felt like I could take the ball away every time.”

Smith’s growth has been a main reason why Virginia (8-1) has won eight straight games. Smith, whose teammates call him “Biscuit,” has given UVa’s defensive unit a much-needed veteran presence. Virginia’s other defenders are sophomores Mike Timms and Matt Kelly, and freshman Ken Clausen.

“This year, with Mike [Culver] gone, I’ve stepped into more of a leadership role and have been setting an example for the younger guys,” Smith said. “Now if I’m making one of those big mistakes, it’s all on me.”

Thompson has known Smith since their days as high school players on Long Island. He says it’s been fun to watch him evolve.

“He was always just a real flashy player and could take the ball away from anyone,” Thompson said, “but when he came in as a freshman I think Dom had to groom him a little bit.

“[And] Culver helped him realize that there are times to throw checks and times not to. I think that’s really what’s stepped his game up.”

Starsia talks about Smith in the same sort of way he used to talk about Culver.

“I think we have some good young defensemen in the program,” Starsia said, “but I think we’re going to miss his maturity and poise when he graduates.”

Now that’s something Starsia wouldn’t have said four years ago.

 

U.VA. NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Apr 3, 2007

NIGHT AND DAY: All five of Virginia's starters on the offensive line are back from 2006. Only one of them guard Branden Albert -- was a full-time starter in 2005.

Also new last season was offensive-line coach Dave Borbely, who'd been at Colorado in 2005. Eugene Monroe, who succeeded D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle, said the linemen are more cohesive with each other and with Borbely than they were last year. The other starters are Albert (left guard), Will Barker (right tackle), Ian-Yates Cunningham (right guard) and Jordy Lipsey (center).

"Our chemistry, I can notice that now more than ever," said Monroe, a rising junior, "just working with the guy next to me and not even sometimes having to speak and say what we're going to do together. We just do it."

As a high school senior, Monroe was some recruiting analysts' choice as the No. 1 college prospect in the Class of 2005. His sophomore season, however, was marred by his slow recovery from an injury to his left kneecap that required surgery last April.

"As the season went on last year, I got better progressively," Monroe said recently, "but I was never near 100 percent or as good as I feel right now."

Even so, he said, "I think [last season] was beneficial for me, because I learned how to fight through pretty much anything. I had to play with the injury, and it made me stronger. I struggled at the beginning, but I got better as the season went along."

And now? "I'm anxious for the season to get here," Monroe said, "because I want to display the ability that I think I didn't -- or wasn't able to show last year."

STANDING OUT: Spring football practice has been under way for nearly two weeks at Virginia. Among the players who have been particularly impressive, coach Al Groh said yesterday, are cornerbacks Chris Cook, Vic Hall and Mike Brown, nose tackle Allen Billyk and outside linebacker Jermaine Dias.

Billyk started in 2006 but played most of the season with a severe sprain in each ankle. The rising senior from New Castle, Pa., has looked "frisky" this spring, Groh said, and "you can tell he's having a lot of fun."

Like Billyk, Dias will be a fifth-year senior this fall. He's showing a grasp of his position that would expected of a player heading into his third season as a starter .

"He's really a very, very solid, dependable player," Groh said. "He's seen most of what he's going to see, and he recognizes it real fast."

Dias ranked seventh on the team in tackles last season, with 48, including eight for loss.Cook is a returning starter. Hall and Brown are battling for the job at the other corner.

BACK IN THE FOLD: Outside linebacker Olu Hall, who was in school last semester but for academic reasons wasn't allowed to take part in football, practiced for the first time Wednesday, and "it was as if he hadn't missed very many sessions at all," Groh said.

"He kind of fell into the routine easily ... as far as picking up his assignments and where to drop in his coverages."

Hall, who'll be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, played defensive end at Robinson High, and he's struggled in his transition to linebacker.

Still, Groh said, what "is apparent every time Olu has ever been out there is his burst and his quickness and how he really speeds up the game for us."

LEARNING CURVE: Of the three scholarship players who was working full time at tailback this spring, the best at pass-blocking, not surprisingly, is the most experienced of the group: rising junior Cedric Peerman.

Keith Payne and Raynard Horne, freshmen who redshirted last season, are talented runners, but they'll need to show they can do more than carry the ball if they expect to play this season."The big thing with both of these young backs is their pass protection," Groh said. "They're both having some issues with that."

ODD MAN OUT? U.Va. returns three talented tight ends -- rising seniors Tom Santi and Jonathan Stupar and rising junior John Phillips -- which means freshman Joe Torchia may spend most of his time on special teams this season.

Torchia, who redshirted in 2006, is a highly regarded prospect from Cold Spring, N.Y.

"It's been very positive," Groh said of Torchia's play this spring. "He's got a little ways to go -- 1, obviously in learning the position, and 2, in developing the size and power that will make him a well-rounded tight end -- but we are certainly encouraged by what he's doing." -- Jeff White
 

Ogletree might get to play for U.Va. this season
Virginia wide receiver Kevin Ogletree will have surgery on his left knee, but he might be ready to play this season.
By Darryl Slater
Daily Press
April 2, 2007, 5:59 PM EDT

Sitting at home in Queens, N.Y., Virginia wide receiver Kevin Ogletree had some bad news and some good news.

The bad news: He still must undergo surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. His surgery is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. today in Charlottesville with team orthopedic surgeon David Diduch. Ogletree, a rising junior, hurt his knee March 23 in practice.

The good news: His rehabilitation period might be short enough for him to play this season. He received a second opinion on his injury Monday from Dr. Orrin Sherman, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports-related injuries at New York University Medical Center. Ogletree said Sherman told him his rehab period could be four to six months.

"That's some real good news, actually, just knowing there's a chance I'll be able to play this year, depending on how hard I work during rehab," Ogletree said. "And I know that's not going to keep me off the field."

Ogletree, the Cavaliers' best receiver, sought a second opinion to ensure he needed surgery. His knee hadn't swelled as much as some do after the ACL tears.

He led Virginia last season with 52 caches and 582 yards. His 52 catches tied for the ninth most in a season by a Virginia player. Rising junior Maurice Covington now is Virginia's top receiver.

"I'm just ready to start this process," Ogletree said. "It all starts (today)."