Blue-chip Landesberg could end up at point
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

Virginia recruit Sylven Landesberg is the first Cavalier since 1999 to be named to the McDonald's and Parade All-America teams.

Photo courtesy of sportswar.com
In a profession where many a promise has gone unfulfilled, there were a few coaching skeptics when 6-foot-6 Sylven Landesberg said he might have the opportunity to play point guard at Virginia.

Don't laugh, says Cavaliers' head coach Dave Leitao.

Not counting Landesberg, the two leading contenders to start at point guard for UVa this season are a walk-on (Calvin Baker) and a redshirt (Sammy Zeglinski).

That's a quantum drop for a Cavaliers' team that loses Sean Singletary, its starting point guard in 122 of 123 games over the past four seasons.

Singletary also led Virginia in scoring for each of his final three seasons, which is where Landesberg enters the equation.

With no disrespect to either Baker or Zeglinski, neither has the scoring pedigree that Landesberg brings to Charlottesville.

Landesberg scored nearly 30 points per game this past season for Holy Cross High School in Flushing, N.Y., and was named New York player of the year after helping his school to its first city championship in 40 years.

Analysts have suggested that Singletary wasn't a pure point guard because he was also the Cavaliers' primary scorer, but what's not to like about a guy who can score?

"As you look across the country and talk about recruiting, guys who score at that rate -- especially against the competition [Landesberg] played against -- have added value," Leitao said.

"He knows, in certain situations, how to put the ball in the basket.

"At the same time, you get a scorer like that and sometimes their vision is jaded. It's only straight ahead at the rim, and his is not. He understands how to make people around him a little bit better, and that's a pretty good combination to have."

Leitao wasn't aware of the doubters who thought Virginia was telling Landesberg what he wanted to hear, especially about playing the point.

"I don't know how other people see it," Leitao said. "When I looked at it through my own eyes, I knew he had that mental capacity. Whether he can do it with regularity, from a standpoint of physically going against smaller guys, we'll have to see.

"He's a pretty good rebounder because he's got size. If he gets a defensive rebound, I don't think you'll see him looking to throw an outlet pass. He'll be able to push the ball and see other people. That part, at least, will allow him to be a primary ball-handler.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to play him in a lot of different positions on and off the ball."

Landesberg, the first Virginia signee to be named a McDonald's and Parade All-American since Majestic Mapp in 1999, was the highest-rated prospect in a three-man UVa recruiting class that included two post players, 7-foot Senegal native Assane Sene from the South Kent (Conn.) Prep School and 6-11 John Brandenburg from DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis.

All three signed in the fall and, while the Cavaliers continued to pursue prospects for the 2008 class, maybe it's a good thing that they didn't sign anybody.

UVa has the full complement of players allowed by the NCAA, 13, and that doesn't count Baker or Tunji Soroye.

Soroye played in only two games last season as a senior and could receive an extra year based on a hardship appeal, but he would have to pay his way at this point.

Soroye has been taking part in team activities and is seen as a possible mentor for the freshman big men, particularly his countryman, Sene.

"Sometimes, when you have a guard -- and maybe even Sylven -- they can have a big splash," Leitao said.

"With bigger guys, they can get in foul trouble or they need to get stronger and they need to get used to a pace, so it takes a little bit longer. If we stay patient with [Sene and Brandenburg], I think the dividends could be tremendous.

"I can see them as the cornerstones for the back line of our offense and defense."

Of course, they'll have to adjust to Leitao's in-your-face style, as will Landesberg. Singletary and Leitao clicked from the first day; nothing the coach said was going to deter his on-court leader.

"He's [Landesberg] been down here for a little over a week," Leitao said.

"He's going from recruit to player and I won't have a chance to coach him till the fall. We'll find out some answers at that point, but he understands people; he understands the game. I think he'll be OK."
 

Bigger and better: Basketball player improves diet, trains harder
By Harry Jackson Jr.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/23/2008

When John Brandenburg was in fifth and sixth grades, he didn't get picked for basketball teams. He was lanky, uncoordinated and easy to push around the court.

In 2002 when he was in sixth grade, he started growing, more than a foot by eighth grade, and more as he entered DeSmet High School. By his sophomore year he was 6 feet, 10 inches.

"My mom wouldn't buy me shoes for more than $30 because I'd grow out of them in two months," Brandenburg laughed.

Now that he has graduated high school, he prepares for a college basketball career with the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, he's 6 feet 11. "My doctor says I may have another two inches to grow."

Now, everyone wants him on their team.

"I had maybe 15 teams recruiting me," he said. "At first I wanted a team that had the best chance to win a (national) championship. Then I decided to look at schools with the best balance between basketball and academics."

'A STRINGBEAN'

Four years ago, Brandenburg was so skinny he'd get pushed around on the basketball court by guards.

"You grow that fast and your coordination just doesn't keep up," he said. "I was a stringbean. People smaller than me could push me around, so I had to get lower and bigger."

His growth spurt caused back pains and some joint aches because his tendons and ligaments couldn't keep up with the growing bones.

Brandenburg's older brother, Bill Brandenburg, 6-feet-8, was a second-team Division II junior college All-American at St. Louis Community College at Meramec last season as a sophomore.

Bill had muscled up for his college basketball career at HammerBodies Custom Fitness in Maryland Heights.

The center serves only clients who are working with personal trainers. All of the trainers have college degrees in sports training. Their clients include several big-name professional and college athletes. They get athletes ready for competition and others meet their fitness goals.

The process begins with meetings with trainers and a dietitian who make recommendations for the athlete.

Personal trainer Tony Muyco has worked with John Brandenburg for the last two years.

"I saw an uncoordinated kid who needed to get bigger," Muyco said. "He had growing problems, back problems; growing up so fast, jumping around put a lot of pressure on the spine."

John Brandenburg learned that he needed to eat right and exercise in a way that would build strength and lean muscle. When he started with the fitness center, he was 185 pounds. Now he's about 235.

For four years, that's what he did. It worked, but not as fast as he would have liked. "I wanted this to happen overnight," he said.

The real change in his performance started in his junior year of high school basketball. "I felt like I could move guys and I could get position where I wanted."

Brandenburg's statistics improved steadily as did his strength and agility. In the second half of his junior year and into his senior year, everything paid off. He became a leading rebounder, a top shot blocker and his scoring averaged reached double figures.

Last season, he was invited to an NBA sports camp for the top 100 high school college prospects in the nation.

College sports publications made a big deal about Virginia landing him. Brandenburg, a power forward, would be a big asset to the Cavaliers.

TRAINING REGIMEN

His exercises include explosive, short-distance bursts while carrying weights: sitting on the floor catching a heavy ball, then twisting; leaning pull-ups where he leans backward at an angle and works his biceps, back and balance; knee and toe squats with weights on his shoulder to work his jump muscles; agility exercises to help with his quickness.

For four years he worked out three times a week, about an hour each session. Alternating between lower and upper body workouts.

Muyco said Brandenburg's diet had a lot to do with his success. "He stays on his food. He needs the training to keep up with the growth spurts."

That includes lots of lean protein and plants with high protein contents, such as nuts.

EYEING PRO BALL

Brandenburg's good grades in math and science have also made him a blue chipper. He's deciding between a major in finance or physics.

He wants to play professional basketball, possibly Europe, "somewhere. But the NBA? Wow."

Until then, he's practicing and working out and making his parents happy.

"They like this more than me," he said. "I get to go to college for free."
 

Source: Virginia hires Vermont’s Koehn to replace McDonald on airwaves

A source chimed in late Monday night offering a name out of left field that had been offered - and accepted - Virginia’s play-by-play job.
Apparently, Dave Koehn, the voice of the men’s basketball team at the University of Vermont, has accepted the Cavaliers’ vacant position. Multiple staff members at The Daily Progress were working late into the night to gain further confirmation with the hiring and learned an official release to announce the school’s choice is expected within the next 48 hours.
Koehn (pronounced CANE) has been at Vermont serving as the “Voice of the Catamounts” since 2005. A 1999 graduate of Kansas, Koehn worked previously on the airwaves with the football, basketball and baseball programs at Texas Lutheran University and Sam Houston State.
An avid skier and a three-time state tennis champion in high school in Colorado, Koehn has also worked since 2006 with the Vermont Lake Monsters, a Class-A affiliate with Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals.

Posted by Jay Jenkins
 

June 21, 2008
Ted Venegas
Special to USCFootball.com

So, I decided to resurrect the summer previews of the Trojans' opponents. I hope people enjoy them, as I enjoy writing them. A lot will change for these teams between now and the opening game of the season, and from now and the time that the Trojans will play them, but it's still fun to take an early look.

So off we go, starting with the Virginia Cavaliers.

Last Season for UVA

The Hoos were very much a surprise team last year. They returned 19 starters to last season's team, and most thought they could be competitive in the ACC Coastal Division. Few thought that they would be competing to go to the ACC title game in the last week of the season. After a stunning twenty point loss at Wyoming to start the season, there was grumbling with the fan base about head coach Al Groh, who entered his seventh season with a 66-73 record. Virginia then proceeded to run off seven straight wins. After a road loss to North Carolina State, the Cavs defeated #21 Wake Forest and then annihilated Miami 48-0. The season ended on a down note though, with a double digit loss that cost UVA an ACC title berth, and a Gator Bowl loss to pass happy Texas Tech.

While a 9-4 record can definitely be seen as a successful season, there is some thought that it was a mirage. Six of the nine wins came by five points or less, and five of those came by two points or less. Close wins over teams like North Carolina and Middle Tennessee didn't exactly inspire confidence. Still, in the end, it's about winning football games, and the Cavaliers were able to do that, which likely saved Groh's job for a year. This season, it's a tall order. Virginia must replace a lot of veteran players, including a few stars.

Quarterback

This is the team's number one question mark right now. Last year's starting quarterback, Jameel Sewell, was slated to be a junior this season. He is an academic casualty for 2008 though, which is unfortunate for the Cavs. He was not the most efficient QB, battling accuracy and decision making problems for a portion of the season. Still, he improved as the season went on, and he gave Virginia the hope of having an experienced three year starter who could keep plays alive with his legs.

Instead the Cavs will turn to sophomore Peter Lalich, who played a lot in the early season last year. When Sewell struggled in the opener against Wyoming, Lalich got some time, and then split snaps with Sewell for the first third of the season. He was a key cog in the win over Duke, which was likely his best game. He is a big guy who is a pocket passer, and fans feel that the passing game will be better than it was under Sewell. Lalich was somewhat inconsistent in the spring though, and he had a disaster of a spring game, completing only six of his eighteen passes for 72 yards and three INTs.

Senior Scott Deke will likely be the backup. He was slated to be second banana to Sewell last year, but Lalich supplanted him with a strong camp. Sophomore Marc Verica will compete for second string as well. Both played well in the spring game. None of the three QBs is much of a threat with their legs.

The offense is going to be very different from last season. Offensive coordinator Mike Groh went to Texas Tech after the season to study their offense, and they will be implementing the pass heavy scheme this season. Of the 86 plays called during the spring game, 70 were passes, so the Trojans should expect to be covering the short passing game all over the yard.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

The receivers will be the happiest people in town to see a new offense because they were completely under-utilized last season. Senior Maurice Covington had the most receptions at the position, with only 21 catches for 269 yards and two TDs. Covington is a big guy who could thrive in the offense. Junior Kevin Ogletree was the most productive receiver in 2006, but an injury cost him last season. The Cavs will implement a three wide receiver set, and sophomore Staton Jobe will likely be the third guy after seeing spot duty last in 2007. Ogletree and Jobe are similar players with moderate size and decent speed. Dontrelle Inman will see some time as well.

Virginia played a lot of two tight end formations last season, and Sewell loved to throw to them. The top two guys combined for 76 catches, 777 yards, and five TDs. Both are gone, and the switch to the shotgun spread will mean fewer looks for the position. Senior John Phillips got his feet wet last season with 17 catches, and the team is deep at this position. Their fans consider the tight end group to be a strength.

Running Back

In the last few years, Virginia has tried to showcase the running back in their offense, but they haven't really had a solid running game since 2004, when Alvin Pearman was their workhorse. Last season, Cedric Peerman started out as the man, and he led the ACC in rushing at midseason when he went down with an injury. Mikell Simpson took over for him, and did just as well. Simpson also proved to be an outstanding receiver, and he led the team with 43 catches. As a result, I suspect we'll see a lot more of Simpson against SC than of Peerman because of the change to a pass dominant offense. Neither guy is big or has elite speed. Junior Rashawn Jackson was the fullback last season, and he is also efficient as a receiver. Virginia will likely be running the ball only to keep teams honest. They will use the short passing game as a running game, with the backs making a living in the flats.

Offensive Line

This group was mediocre last season. Only a mobile QB kept them from giving up over 40 sacks, and the running game didn't scare the better defenses on the schedule. So you're going to see a change in scheme, and the offensive line will do things dramatically different this season. Texas Tech's offensive line has exceptionally wide splits. In the run game, they want defensive linemen to try to shoot into gaps, and then they just ride them out of the play, allowing a back to pick and choose where he wants to go. In the passing game, so much of the offense is designed to get the ball out quickly that sacks just are not commonplace. The Red Raiders last year surrendered 18 sacks in 13 games, which was only one more than SC gave up despite 300 more pass attempts. The offense is designed to minimize the impact of the line.

That's a good thing because the Cavs have some big questions here. They do have a bright spot in left tackle Eugene Monroe. Recruiting junkies likely recognize his name, as he was one of the most highly coveted tackles in the nation a few years ago. He made ACC honorable mention in 2007, and has the kind of size and feet to be a first rounder in the NFL Draft. Junior Will Barker enters his third season as a starter, but he could be pushed by Lamar Milstead, who was heavily recruited. Milstead could slide over to guard as well.

The middle of the line is an unknown. Branden Albert was a first round pick at guard, and he will be missed. The center and right guard were two year starters. Anthony Milhota, Jack Shields, Billy Cuffee, B.J. Cabbell, Zak Stair, and Milstead head a mish mosh group who will try to hold things together in the middle. I think the uncertainty here will mean that we will see more passing than we might normally see from a group transitioning from a balanced attack to a bombs away style.

Defensive Line

The Cavs made their bones with their defense in 2007, and it all started up front. Chris Long was a dominant player for UVA, and he proved it by being a first team All American and the #2 pick in the draft. He was the anchor and key pass rusher in Groh's 3-4 style, which featured more attacking last year than it did in year's past. Not only has Long moved on, but so have the other two starters on the line. Other than QB, this is the major worry of Virginia fans. No one really knows who will emerge.

The hopes of the UVA faithful rest on sophomore Sean Gottschalk. He has the unenviable task of trying to fill the shoes of Long, and he is the most talented player in this group. The most experienced moniker goes to senior Alex Field, who will man the other end spot. Field has been a career contributor, and he provided some pass rush off the bench last season. Nate Collins gives the team a serviceable nose man whose specialty is pass rush up the middle. There is very little depth here, and an injury or two at this position would be disastrous.

Linebacker

This group will be busy with such a young DL unit. Fortunately for UVA, Groh thinks that the LB corps is the strength of the team. Inside backer Jon Copper led the team in tackles and INTs last season, and could be an all conference performer. Antonio Appleby is also an inside guy, and most feel he is the most talented of the group. He has optimal size and speed for his position. Now he needs to make more plays.

Clint Sintim is a senior captain this season, and he's the resident blitzer on the outside. He will sometimes line up with a hand on the ground as well. Jared Detrick and Aaron Clark are fighting for the other outside spot, and Detrick has the inside track because of his speed. This group is talented and experienced, and they did a great job with stopping the run and pressuring the passer. The question now is can they do it against without a guy like Chris Long up front. Also, if they fail to get pass rush early in the game with blitzing, will they just sit back and force and play read and react as they have in previous seasons under Groh?

Secondary

This group did a decent job in the ACC, but the conference isn't exactly a Murderers' Row when it comes to quarterbacks. They were exposed at the end of the season, as NC State, Virginia Tech, and Texas Tech lit them up through the air. Vic Hall is a captain, but he is a little on the short side at 5-9. There is some thought that he could be supplanted as a starter. Ras-I Dowling made some impact as a freshman, and he could slide into the first group. Mike Brown is a senior who was big time recruit, but just hasn't panned out. He's also 5-9. Those three guys look to be the top three, as last year's starter opposite Hall, Chris Cook, will miss the season due to grade problems.

Byron Glaspy gives the group an experienced if not spectacular player at free safety. Junior Brandon Woods will likely be the guy at strong safety unless a younger guy like Corey Mosley steps up. This secondary is not super talented and has little depth. If the Cavs can't get their pass rush untracked early, this unit will take some hits. It's lucky for them that they play in the ACC and not the Pac-10.

Special Teams

The Cavs will miss Chris Gould, who had a strong leg and was steady as a kicker. They will replace him with freshman Chris Hinkebein, who has some range. Walk on John Roberts is currently the top punter, but he was inconsistent in the spring, so this could be a problem for them. The return teams weren't bad last year, with Hall returning punts. This year Peerman will likely be the top kickoff return guy. There isn't a player in the incoming class who looks like a challenger to either Hall or Peerman. Poor snaps were a concern last year, especially on punts. That will be something to watch in an opener, with a true freshman in Danny Aiken likely taking over the duties.

Outlook

Obviously, starting against the Trojans will be tough, and going to Connecticut two weeks later will be a challenge. There will be a chance for the Cavs to again make some noise early in conference play if they can get their passing game off to a good start. Then October 25th rolls around and things get tough: at Georgia Tech, Miami, at Wake Forest, Clemson, at Virginia Tech. Win two of those, and this team could go bowling. I tend to doubt that they will win more than seven games, and they'll probably be lucky to reach that level. They will probably make an easy transition with their offense, because no one in the conference has seen it, but Long will be impossible to replace, and the defense will suffer as a result. I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up Groh's last season in Charlottesville.

 

Who should start at tailback for Cavs: Peerman or Simpson?
Monday, June 23, 2008 | Posted by Chris Preston

Some of the most successful college football teams in recent years have thrived while dividing time evenly among multiple tailbacks. Look no further than Arkansas last year, with Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden splitting touches with Felix Jones, or at West Virginia, where Steve Slaton shared time with freshman sensation Noel Devine. Perhaps the 2004 Auburn team was the best example, going undefeated behind tandem tailbacks Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams – both of whom were among the top five picks in the next spring’s NFL draft.

So generally, if you have two talented backs it doesn’t matter a whole lot who actually starts. But in the case of Virginia’s Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson, it might. Last year Peerman started the Cavaliers' first six games before suffering a season-ending injury against Middle Tennessee State. During those first six games (and even through the seventh), Simpson – then a sophomore – saw almost no playing time at tailback. Peerman carried the ball 113 times in those first six games, while Simpson got only three handoffs.

So when Simpson suddenly exploded on the scene with a 272-yard all-purpose masterpiece (119 on the ground, 153 through the air) in UVA’s critical road victory over Maryland, it was something of a shock. After all, Simpson had exactly zero touches in the three previous games – not even in the game and a half after Peerman went down. Basically, the two have never been UVA regulars at the same time. That will change this season, though.

It’s doubtful that whomever head coach Al Groh decides not to start will simply rot away on the UVA bench the way Simpson did the first half of last season. He will likely divide their time as evenly as possible, much like when Groh had future NFL draft picks Wali Lundy and Alvin Pearman platooning at tailback a few years back. But Groh tends to stick with his starters more than most college coaches, which begs the all-important question: Which player should start?

Their rushing stats were almost identical in ’07: Peerman gained 585 yards on 113 carries, and Simpson ran for 570 yards, also on 113 attempts. But what gives Simpson the edge is his superior abilities as a receiver out of the backfield. His 43 receptions in just half of the Cavaliers’ games were tops on the team, and his 402 yards were a close second. Peerman, meanwhile, caught just 12 balls for 99 yards. Because Groh’s playbook is heavy on quick slants and outs to the tailback – and because UVA still lacks the big-play receiver it has coveted for years – Simpson has to be the choice at starter. He is simply the more dynamic playmaker. Furthermore, Peerman would make for one of the most potent backups in the country.

Moore and Murray the toast of Michigan
Monday, June 23, 2008 | Posted by Os Davis

Kudos from RealFootball365.com to a couple of former Detroit Lions -- wide receiver Herman Moore and kicker Eddie Murray -- who will soon be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Announced as entrants on Friday, Moore and Murray join nine others in induction into the Hall. The rest include, among others, Pistons play-by-play man George Blaha and Red Wings co-owner Marian Illitch.

Among the younger set – and to a lesser extent, football fans outside of Michigan – Moore is one of the all-time forgotten greats. How forgotten is he? Check out this 1995 piece from Detroit Free-Press columnist Mitch Albom putting Moore on a tier with all-timers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin; sure the home angle pumps his favorite WR up a bit, but this wasn’t an extreme view in Moore’s heyday.

Drafted 10th overall out of the University of Virginia in 1991, Moore was a two-sport star whose name is still in the Cavaliers’ track-and-field record book. Moore ended up spending essentially his entire career playing for Wayne Fontes’ up-and-down Detroit teams of the 1990s, amassing over 9,000 career receiving yards in 11 seasons with the Lions. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Moore combined with the immortal Barry Sanders to create a potent attack that was one of the NFL’s top offenses in those long-ago playoff seasons of 1995 and 1997.

His final stat line for the Lions looks like this: 9,174 yards on 670 receptions and 62 receiving TDs – all team records. His top single-season marks include 123 catches he hauled in for 1,686 yards to lead the NFL in both categories in 1995; those are best-ever Lions marks. All in all, the man’s a shoo-in to make the starting roster of the Lions’ 75th Anniversary All-Time Team; Moore certainly has RF365’s endorsement.

Recently, Moore’s been participating in any number of football-related activities: In January, he landed a business development job with the Grand Rapids Rampage after a year as the team’s radio color commentator. In 2007, Moore acted as honorary chairman at the highly interesting NFL Global Junior Championships.

After the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame nominated no Lions for its class of 2007, it’s fitting that 2008 would see two from the team make it into the hallowed halls. And because a great Lion of the 1990s gets in, nice as well is the entry of Detroit’s kicker through the 1980s, the previously mentioned Eddie Murray.

Showing the durability the great placekickers have, Murray played in 19 seasons over 21 years, with his first 12 seasons (and first 1,113 points scored) all in Detroit. With 1,594 points to his name, Murray is currently the NFL’s No. 10 all-time scorer; ironically, he’s only No. 2 all time in the franchise's record book, having been passed by 1992 replacement Jason Hanson, who's still the Lions' starter. (So call Murray the Motor City’s Wally Pipp.)

Though Murray eventually won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys, his peak certainly came in 1988-1989, when he turned in a pair of 20-of-21 seasons. Add that to his 57-of-58 on PATs (36-of-36 in ’89), and you realize that Murray was quite simply the best placekicker over the latter half of the 1980s.

It is also said that Murray is well-known as having “replaced the kickoff tee with an empty margarita glass, one of the most memorable moments in Pro Bowl history.” Unfortunately, most online references to the event merely echo the Wikipedia mention of the feat; YouTube is no help here and my own recall of the event is hazy after 18 subsequent years of dead brain cells.

And while we wait, a toast – with a little tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, naturally – to a couple of greats.
 

Solid as a Brick
Monroe has what it takes to be next in line of top OL prospects from Virginia
By Josh Wolff
June 23, 2008

During the summer of 2005, Eugene Monroe had just begun his collegiate football career at the University of Virginia. An intimidating offensive tackle not used to seeing players bigger or better, Monroe was immediately star-struck.
As he walked into the weight room of the McCue Center, Virginia’s football training facility, Monroe saw a man of impressive physical prowess. Working out was none other than Cavaliers OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, an All-ACC honoree. Immediately, Monroe was in awe of the immense strength of his new teammate.

“I remember seeing him work out,” Monroe said. “He was doing power cleans in the weight room, and I just couldn’t believe the weight he was putting up. It was just amazing how hard he was working.”

Monroe, similarly built to Ferguson, possesses incredible athleticism for a 6-6, 315-pound brick wall, but just as important as his physical skills is his ability to learn.

“Eugene’s inquisitive about everything,” Virginia head coach Al Groh said. “He’s not a real chatty guy, but he’s always interested in learning new things. He works hard and studies hard.”

But go back one year from Monroe’s weight-room encounter, and it is Monroe who is the awe of the entire nation — especially college coaches east and west. As a high school senior at Plainfield High School in New Jersey, Monroe was the third-best player in the country, according to Rivals.com, the consensus top offensive tackle in the country and a Parade All-American.

Monroe had offers from football powerhouses such as Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.) and Florida State, but he chose Virginia. Although many fans expected great things right away from the highly decorated tackle, Monroe’s coaches eased him in, knowing the difficult transition from high school to college for offensive linemen.

“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Monroe said. “I had the accolades from high school, but I knew I was coming into something completely new, so I didn’t feel as though there was pressure placed on me.”

During his freshman season, Monroe backed up Ferguson at left tackle and saw the field most on the time during field goals and extra points. Although Monroe did not receive much playing time, he studied Ferguson’s technique and developed a stronger work ethic by seeing him constantly in the weight room.

When Ferguson left for the NFL in 2006 as the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, the All-America tackle gave Monroe advice.

“I remember him telling me, ‘Honestly, nothing should change; you should always work hard no matter what situation you’re in,’ ” Monroe said. “You know it’s going to get more difficult, but at the same time, you’re just going to have to work that much harder when it does get more difficult.”

Faced with the arduous task of replacing Ferguson, who had started every single game in his collegiate career, Monroe didn’t feel nervous.

“I didn’t look at it as the fact that I was going to replace D'Brickashaw,” Monroe said. “I looked at it as I was getting the opportunity to start in college football. There was more excitement than anything.”

Although his sophomore season was slowed by injury — a dislocated kneecap during spring football — and inconsistent play, Monroe continued to work hard in the weight room and in the film room. He repeatedly watched film of Ferguson — studying every detail of Ferguson’s game, something he still does today. While he never doubted his ability, he was upset that he wasn’t performing up to the level he expected.

As a junior in 2007, everything finally clicked for Monroe. A combination of in-game comfort and competition in practice led to his arrival.

Matched up against him during practice was DRE Chris Long, a future All-American. The son of Hall of Famer Howie Long and the second pick overall in the 2008 draft by the St. Louis Rams, Chris Long was arguably the best pass rusher in the nation.

“I faced Chris every down of every practice, so it was great for both of us,” Monroe said. “He has a motor like none other, and you see that in a game. He makes you work so much harder because he brings up the energy in the practice, too.”

Monroe used his experience against Long to become a more complete football player. If beaten by Long on a play during practice, Monroe said the two would talk about ways to prevent it the next time.

“Whatever (Chris) could do to help the team win, he was going to do, and if that meant helping me as a player, then he was going to do it,” Monroe said.

Facing Long on the field provided Monroe a competitor with a relentless motor. But equally as important for Monroe’s maturation was playing alongside one of his best friends, former Virginia OLG Branden Albert, now with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Branden is like my brother. I still talk to him three to four times a week even though he’s in Kansas City playing for the Chiefs right now,” Monroe said. “We came here the same year and we’ve been roommates every camp. It’s just like a brother relationship. He knows my family and I know his.”

The two even shopped together for Valentine’s Day presents for their girlfriends. And whenever they would go out during school, they would be together. Having such a close connection, the two stalwarts on the left side of the offensive line had career seasons.

Albert became a first-round pick, and Monroe was named honorable mention All-ACC, not allowing a sack during the regular season.

“He was able to get healthy, and that was the biggest thing for him,” Albert said. “He’s got the talent; he just needed to be healthy and have the experience.”

Monroe’s eagerness to learn is readily apparent to his teammates, and it comes from his desire to dominate pass rushers.

“Eugene is a strong kid and he wants to be the best,” Albert said. “It’s a competitive thing with him, and he wants to learn because he just wants to get better. He’s a very coachable kid.”

Now Monroe, 21, is expected to be the next elite O-line prospect from Virginia. With superb athleticism and agility for a lineman, Monroe is the rare true OLT prospect. The fact that Virginia has sent top offensive linemen like Ferguson and Albert to the NFL in recent years, Monroe says it speaks to the professional standards Groh models his program after.

“It’s a great representation of the type of people and players that come out of our university,” he said. “When you hear about teams in college having an “O-line U” or “any position U” where they consistently put out guys who perform in the pros, it’s a good feeling.”

Monroe says he knows that people talk about his future in the NFL, but his mind is focused on improving his game to be an All-American at the University of Virginia.

“I have to continue to build my game to where I can be a dominating player,” Monroe said. “Dominate people not only in the run game, but the passing game; do everything it takes to help my team win. That’s the most important thing for me right now.”

Monroe’s coach says that with his dedication to all facets of the game, Monroe is the only person who can stop himself from becoming an impact NFL player.

“I don’t want to put a ceiling on his future,” Groh said, “but he’s really improved from each game to each season, and I think he will continue to improve into a highly productive NFL player.”

For the player whom teammates call “Brick Jr.,” in reference to the striking similarities between Monroe and Ferguson, there’s a good chance that Monroe will mirror Ferguson’s career and become a collegiate All-American and high first-round draft choice.
 

‘Googs’ headed to alma mater
By Whitey Reid
Published: June 23, 2008

“Googs” is gone.

Oliver Winterbone, Virginia’s assistant director of basketball operations, is returning to his alma mater.

On Monday, The Daily Progress learned that Winterbone, whose nickname is “Googs,” has accepted a position on Fred Hill’s staff at Rutgers.

Winterbone graduated from Rutgers in 2005. His last day at Virginia is July 1.

“It’s something that has come up in the past and he turned it down,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao. “This time it was a real good opportunity for him, so he wasn’t going to turn it down.

“Obviously, we’re sorry to see him go, but it’s a positive for him.”

Winterbone, who just completed his third year under Leitao, managed the video library of opponents, assisting the coaching staff with video preparation and scouting reports.

“I’ve had a great experience here,” Winterbone wrote in a text message, “learned more than I could have imagined, won an ACC title, and I’m hoping to help bring similar success to my alma mater.”

In filling Winterbone’s position, Leitao said he will look internally and externally.

“It’s a little bit of a unique position because of the video portion of it,” Leitao said. “It’s a training kind of position to move yourself up the ladder and eventually have a desire to sit in my chair or someone else’s in terms of coaching.”

One name on Leitao’s list is Tim Mein, a recent Virginia alum who has served as head manager the last two years.

“He’s expressed an interest, but I have to look at not what’s best for me or Timmy, but what’s best for the program,” Leitao said. “If it works out that he is [the best candidate], obviously we would be happy for him because he’s admired by everybody. But at the same point in time, I try and not let all of that personal stuff affect our office professionally.”

Winterbone, the grandson of former Virginia football offensive coordinator Ben Wilson (who later coached at Wichita State), is the third member of Leitao’s staff to depart in the last three years.

After the 2005-06 season, Gene Cross (now the head coach at Toledo) accepted an assistant’s spot on Mike Brey’s staff at Notre Dame. Rob Lanier went to work for Billy Donovan at Florida after the ’06-07 campaign.