Fumbles could affect Johnson's playing time
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
September 6, 2005

Numbers would indicate that Virginia tailback Michael Johnson has reached his quota for touchdowns this season. The junior might have also reached his limit on fumbles.
Johnson carried the ball seven times in the Cavaliers’ season-opening win over Western Michigan (31-19) on Saturday for 32 yards. One of those attempts went for a 7-yard touchdown, but he fumbled twice, one of which was recovered by Western Michigan.
For his career, Johnson now has three touchdowns, with one coming in three different seasons (2002, 2004, 2005).
Johnson was thrust into action in the first quarter after starting running back Wali Lundy left the game with a foot sprain. Lundy did not return and his status for Virginia’s next game - a road contest on Sept. 17 at Syracuse (0-1) - is unknown.
Instead of helping his case to gain more time in Virginia’s offense, Johnson did just the opposite.
The same could possibly be said for fullback Jason Snelling, who had a pair of fumbles (neither were lost), but Snelling has not had a problem hanging onto the ball in the past.
Virginia coach Al Groh hinted that a fumbling problem could land a player on the outside looking in.
“It doesn’t take long,” Groh said. “Is there a specific number [of fumbles]? It’s a low number.”
As a team, Virginia has had a low number of fumbles over the past two seasons - the Cavaliers lost five fumbles last year and six in 2003.

NO SPECULATING ON BROOKS. Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks did not play in the season opener and there has been no indication from Groh that the Butkus Award candidate would play against Syracuse on Sept. 17.
When asked if Brooks would play against the Orange, Groh said, “That’s too far away to speculate on that. I’ve said that. That’s a day-to-day deal.
“A long time ago, I set my thinking to make plans to go on without him and when we have him, that will be a bonus.”
Brooks had surgery on his right knee in January and was held out of spring practice, but he has since returned to drills with the team and has medical clearance.
“We know what his status is on that. It’s no mystery,” Groh said. “It’s a combination of medical opinion, his feeling on where his game is and my observation as to his
functionality.”

A TRUE LABOR DAY. Virginia’s coaching staff worked on Monday’s holiday. After getting Sunday off, the team returned to the practice field for what Groh called a
75-minute session, which helped get the soreness out from Saturday’s game.
The squad will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before they take the weekend off. Groh said during his weekly call-in show Monday night that the staff would use the weekend to evaluate recruiting targets.
When bye weeks come later in the season, Groh said the team often takes more days off.
“There have been at least two years here where we have given the team the whole week off, feeling that we had played plenty of football and that one of the best things that we could do for the team at that particular time was to get it well-rested for the stretch run,” Groh said. “Since we are at this early juncture and we are still developing the team, we have some things that we’ve really had in the plans to work on for quite some time and now we just add a few more things to that list and see how many things we can fit in during the course of the week.”

QUICK HITS. Groh was unable to give an update on Lundy during a teleconference on Sunday because he had not talked to the training staff about an injury report that was provided to him. During his call-in show Monday night, Groh said the condition remains unchanged - a foot sprain. “It’s just a question of Mother Nature right now with all the modern medical help we can give to help Mother Nature along,” Groh said. …
The UVa coaching staff selected in-house Player of the Week winners after the season-opening win. Linebacker Kai Parham was the defensive choice, while wide receiver Deyon Williams was the offensive selection after making five catches for 79 yards. On special teams, Ottowa Anderson was recognized and true freshman linebacker Jason Fuller was the scout-team honoree. …
Speaking of Anderson, he became the first Virginia receiver to have a 100-yard receiving game since Billy McMullen had 122 yards on
10 receptions against Penn State in 2002. Anderson had three catches for 109 yards against WMU. … Following Saturday’s slate of games, only 32 of the 90 Division I-A teams that had played did not fumble in their season opener. Arkansas and Northern Illinois both lost four fumbles. …
An early statistical report released by the NCAA indicated that Cedric Peerman, a redshirt freshman, was one of only nine players to amass over 100 yards on kickoff returns (through Saturday’s games). Peerman returned three kicks for 101 yards.

 

Cavs have plenty of time to get healthy
Virginia is off until Sept. 17, when Wali Lundy and Ahmad Brooks possibly will be ready.
The Roanoke Times

Virginia football coach Al Groh isn’t free with injury news even when he has up-to-the-minute information, so nobody expected a full report Sunday on linebacker Ahmad Brooks and running back Wali Lundy.

Brooks was in streetclothes Saturday as UVa began its season with a 31-19 victory over Western Michigan and Lundy spent much of the evening as a spectator after sustaining a sprained foot.

Lundy pulled up lame as he was completing a 28-yard run on the Cavaliers’ second offensive series but hobbled off the field without assistance. A trainer removed his shoe and retaped his ankle, but he did not return.

"The way he came off, it didn’t seem to me that he would be coming back," said Groh, who was curious if there was any connection to a 2003 ankle injury that kept Lundy out of action for one week.

"That’s one of the questions I wanted to ask. My first indication is that one was a lot more severe. I was told, at that time, that [the 2003 injury] was a pretty close to a season-ending injury. I’m certainly hoping that this one was not."

Fortunately for the injured Cavaliers, Virginia’s first open date of the season comes unusually early as UVa does not play again until Sept. 17, when it visits Syracuse.

Groh has not said that scheduling played a role in the decision not to play Brooks in the opening game, but there has been considerable speculation along those lines. Brooks underwent January knee surgery, did not take part in spring practice and has had limited involvement in preseason drills.

Groh shed little light on the Brooks situation Sunday.

"That’s [the Syracuse game] too far away to speculate," Groh said. "A long time ago, I set my thinking to make plans to go on without him. When we have him, that will be a bonus."

Brooks has medical clearance to play and "we know what his status is on that," Groh said. "It’s no mystery. It’s a combination of medical opinion, [Brooks’] feeling on where his game is and my observation as to his functionality."

Western Michigan was a 33-point underdog by the time the game kicked off, but trimmed a 24-3 second-quarter deficit to 24-19 before redshirt freshman Cedric Peerman gave Virginia a cushion on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left.

Groh was fairly upbeat after the game, when he noted the Broncos did not score a touchdown against the UVa defense.

He had not changed his tone late Sunday afternoon.

"There are certain statistics that coaches look at that are supposed to be a measure of efficiency," Groh said. "One of them is yards per pass attempt. If you’re below 7.5 yards per pass attempt, you’re not as efficient as you need to be.

"We were at 10.1 yards per attempt and for all the passes Western Michigan threw, [the Broncos] were at 5.4. With that number, I don’t think we had a significant problem with pass coverage. If you had that number all season long, you’d be in pretty good control."

So, why was the game so close? Four Virginia turnovers, including two lost fumbles, may have had something to do with that.

UVa lost five fumbles in 12 games last year.

Fumbles by Michael Johnson and Jason Snelling brought an early end to their involvement in the UVa running game.

"Around here, it doesn’t take long," Groh said. "Is there a specific number? It’s a low number."

Odds and ends

Groh said 2005 signee John Phillips, a tight end from Bath County, was in for 12 plays on special teams. Phillips was one of eight true freshmen who got in the game. ... Players of the game, as selected by the coaches, were wide receiver Deyon Williams on offense, linebacker Kai Parham on defense, wide receiver Ottowa Anderson on special teams and freshman outside linebacker Jason Fuller on the scout team. ... There were no interruptions to review calls with instant replay. "If it was [in effect], there were a number of occasions when I would have questioned why it wasn’t used," Groh said.

CAVALIERS’ REPORT CARD

1. Secondary must step up | Grade: B-

Surprise Western Michigan starter Robbie Haas completed 33 of 49 passes for 271 yards against a UVa secondary that included two first-time starters and a third starter, Tony Franklin, who was moving from corner to safety. The Cavaliers’ defense, however, did not allow a touchdown.


2. Contain Greg Jennings | Grade: C+

Jennings caught 16 passes for 156 yards, setting a record for receptions by a UVa opponent. But, aside from a 32-yarder, he averaged just more than 8 yards per catch. His lone punt return went for 9 yards.


3. Replacing Heath Miller | Grade: B+

Marques Hagans’ first touchdown pass went to one of his sophomore tight ends, Tom Santi. Jon Stupar, who started with Santi as UVa opened the game with two tight ends, caught three passes for 34 yards.
 

U.Va.'s offense needs work
Virginia's coach is unsure of running back Wali Lundy's status, but Al Groh knows the Cavaliers must improve in other areas of their game.
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
September 5, 2005

Virginia football coach Al Groh had no update Sunday on running back Wali Lundy's condition. Lundy, the Cavaliers starter, carried three times for 29 yards in Saturday night's 31-19 win over Western Michigan at Scott Stadium. But he sprained his left foot in the first quarter and did not return.

Groh hadn't talked with trainer Ethan Saliba as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

"What we know now is the same thing we knew last night," Groh said.

Groh also knows that Lundy's backups and U.Va.'s young secondary better brush up on some basics in the two weeks before the Cavaliers play at Syracuse. Running backs Michael Johnson and Jason Snelling both fumbled twice in Lundy's stead. And the defensive backs, namely sophomore cornerback Chris Gorham, missed several open-field tackles.

When Lundy left the game, Groh said the senior didn't look like he'd return. Yet Groh thinks Lundy's injury is less serious than the sprained right ankle he suffered in 2003 at Clemson.

"That was pretty close to being a season-ending injury," Groh said. Lundy missed one game.

During the time Lundy missed on Saturday, his replacements were disappointing. Johnson, prone to fumbles in the past, lost the ball on two of his seven carries, though U.Va. recovered both. Fullback Jason Snelling also fumbled on two of his seven attempts, and the Broncos recovered once.

At what point, then, does a fumbler like Johnson run out of chances?

"Around here? Doesn't take long," Groh said. "Is there a number? It's a low number."

Especially when a redshirt freshman third-stringer shines on a key fourth-quarter drive, like Cedric Peerman did on Saturday for the Cavs. U.Va. turned to Peerman for the last seven plays of a 69-yard scoring drive that assured victory.

Other Cavaliers didn't fare so well.

Gorham, debuting as a starter, was juked near the sideline by Broncos wide receiver Greg Jennings on two second-quarter pass plays about six minutes apart. Groh seems to have more patience with his defensive backs - two new starters and a former cornerback, Tony Franklin, now at safety - than he does with veterans like Johnson and Snelling. But the coach said he's still looking for more results. He measures the efficiency of his pass defense by yard per pass attempt. The number should be lower than 7.5. The Cavs held Western Michigan to 5.4, as Broncos senior backup quarterback Robbie Haas - he of nine career pass attempts - completed 33 of 49 passes. (Jennings was 0 of 1.)

"If you get those kind of numbers all year long on 50 passes, you'd be pretty in control," Groh said. Of course, that will require better play from U.Va.'s secondary, since the Cavs' next 10 opponents will be a tad more competent than the Broncos, a 1-10 Mid-American Conference team last season.

Haas rarely threw the ball down the field. Just 12 of his completions were for 10 or more yards. Two were for 15 or more. "There were certain plays that were unique to what we've been seeing," Groh said.

The Cavs could face a similar strategy on Sept. 17 when they visit Syracuse. First-year Orange head coach Greg Robinson installed a West Coast offense that relies on quick passes. Quarterback Perry Patterson completed mostly short passes in the Orange's 15-7 loss to West Virginia on Sunday, going 15 of 31 for 85 yards. His longest completion was 14 yards. Then again, Patterson threw two interceptions and was sacked once in the end zone for a safety. Hey, he's no Robbie Haas, but maybe he's just the confidence-booster U.Va.'s secondary needs.

Linebacking corps struggles in opener
Western Michigan exploits absence of Brooks, departed Cavs Blackstock, Haley
Chris Marsh, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

Even to diehard Virginia fans, the Cavalier linebacking corps may have been hard to recognize Saturday against Western Michigan.

Three of the four Cavalier linebackers started their first games over the weekend. Gone are outside linebackers Darryl Blackstock, who left the University for the Arizona Cardinals, and Dennis Haley, who only recently was cut by the New York Jets. Junior All-American Ahmad Brooks also sat out the game, leaving junior Kai Parham as the only starter from last year's linebackers to play in this season's opener.

The new starters at the outside linebacker positions were redshirt freshman Clint Sintim and sophomore Jermaine Dias. Senior Mark Miller filled in for an injured Brooks.

Realizing the Cavaliers' inexperience, Western Michigan wasted no time in testing the new linebackers. Bronco receiver Greg Jennings caught 16 balls for 156 yards, many of which came on short plays that turned into much longer gains due to poor positioning and tackling from the linebackers and secondary.

"There were some plays I wish we didn't give up," Parham said. "WMU did a lot of short stuff, outcuts, etc., but we'll take a look at it and try and emphasize tightening up on that stuff."

Parham acknowledged that the new starters will have a learning curve in adapting to all the intricacies of being a linebacker in the 3-4 defense.

"It really takes some time to establish the level of comfort and understanding of this defense," Parham said. "It;s tough, but they'll get it."

Senior Mark Miller faced the daunting task of replacing playmaker Ahmad Brooks in the middle of the Virginia defense. Miller's teammates, however, were quick to praise his performance.

"He played great," senior Bryan White said. "He played awesome on nickel and with the inside linebackers."

The return of Ahmad Brooks for his junior season will be a welcome addition to the Cavalier defense. Brooks, who passed up a possible first round selection in this year's NFL Draft, has been nursing a knee injury since offseason surgery.

Brooks, Virginia's leading tackler the past two seasons, is expected to stiffen the middle of the Cavalier defense. His absence has been felt by the team.

"We can't wait to have him back," White said. "We're so used to having him. Ahmad is a super athlete."

Without Brooks, the Broncos' short passing game was able to move down the field with some success. Finding the end zone, however, proved more difficult. Despite connecting on 33 of 50 passes for 271 yards, Western Michigan quarterback Robbie Haas was unable to lead the Broncos into the end zone, instead settling for four field goals. Western Michigan's only touchdown of the night came on a 55-yard interception return by free safety C.J. Wilson. Virginia coach Al Groh praised his defense's effort.

"That was a very good performance by the defense," Groh said. "Obviously, they played quite a few plays, [but] the only statistic we look at is points allowed. And [they] only allowed 12 points –- that's a pretty good night."
 

Cavs less than stellar in '05 debut
The Insider
Stephen Winslow
nfl2ncaa@yahoo.com

Virginia began its 2005 campaign with a nervewracking performance that included just enough big plays to overcome a plethora of mistakes to hold on for a 31-19 victory over Western Michigan Saturday night in Charlottesville.

It looked from the outset that the 25th-ranked Cavaliers were going to romp as expected over the Broncos, who finished 1-10 in 2004. On the first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Marques Hagans dropped back to pass and launched a deep ball that floated into the hands of senior wide receiver Ottowa Anderson for a 57-yard completion down to the WM 6 yard line. Three plays later, Hagans rolled to his right and connected with sophomore tight end Tom Santi for a two-yard touchdown reception to put the Cavs on the scoreboard.

In four plays, covering 63 yards in 1:43, the Cavaliers seemed to be intent on making short order of their outgunned opponent from the north. The problem was no one told the Broncos.

Western Michigan responded with an eight-play drive of their own. Led by quarterback Robbie Haas, who completed 33 of his 49 pass attempts for 271 yards on the night, the Broncos marched 55 yards in 2:56 to the UVa. 25, where Nate Meyer connected on a 42-yard field goal cutting the score to 7-3.

It was 24-3 in the second quarter when WMU's ball-control passing game - a new staple installed by new coach Bill Cubit - took control. With a game plan that littered the lot with quick-hitting pass plays in the flat and a power running game led by sophomore running back Mark Bonds, who rumbled for 126 yards, the Broncos took advantage of UVa. mistakes to keep the game into the fourth quarter.

Two mistakes by Hagans aided in that effort. Hagans, who was 17-for-25 for 252 yards, threw two second-quarter interceptions, the second of which was returned 55 yards for a touchdown by C.J. Wilson with 37 seconds left in the first half and cut the Virginia lead to 24-16.

It was 24-19 in the fourth when redshirt freshman tailback Cedric Peerman, who replaced Wali Lundy (sprained foot) and Michael Johnson and Jason Snelling (fumbles landed them in coach Al Groh's doghouse), scored to cap a lengthy, clock-eating drive to put the game finally out of reach.

After the game, Groh had nothing but praise for Peerman - "We got more of what we wanted from him than we did from anybody else. ... He helped his circumstance a lot" - though that was about it as far as praise went.

"Marques knew what happened when he threw it. He got baited into that throw by the safety that had been seeing that stuff coming out to the flat all afternoon. He made a good play, he jumped the rout and Marques ... knew what he did," Groh said of his signal-caller.

"He made some plays that not too many quarterbacks can make besides Marques. I thought Marques was terrific with his team today ... it would have been a lot more difficult to win if Marques wasn’t their quarterback," Groh said.

Despite the Broncos' obvious success on offense, Groh wasn't terribly critical of his defense for its effort.

"It was a very good performance by the defense ... the opponent never got a touchdown ... it was a certain type of game," Groh said.

"There was never an attempt to go up the field ... it was a good plan. It negaited our pass rush. The only statistic that we keep up with is points allowed. Nine out of 11 guys on defense had never started at their position, but they responded to adjustments we made. I'm proud of them for that."

Groh then lit into the media for going too much into what the team did wrong.

"How many times at one of these press conferences have you heard the word concern," Groh said. "Listen, if you can't feel good about this win, then your ego is getting in the way. I'm glad to win. It feels good to win. We haven't won a game in nine months, so I'm glad to get a win.

"Could we have done things better? Yes, we could. But we won. I'm not going to let my ego, or the team's ego, to get in the way of this win. We have one more win then Oklahoma has, and that feels pretty good."
 

U.VA. NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 6, 2005

FOR NOW: Chris Gould and Ryan Weigand battled most of last month for the starting punter's job at Virginia. On the eve of the season opener, U.Va. coach Al Groh picked Gould, and the sophomore from Lock Haven, Pa., averaged 37.7 yards on three punts in Saturday night's 31-19 victory over Western Michigan at Scott Stadium.

If Gould continues to punt well, Weigand, a sophomore who transferred this summer from a junior college in California, is likely to redshirt. But if Gould struggles, U.Va. could find itself in the "same situation that occurred with Chris last year," Groh said.

As a true freshman, Gould didn't play until the 10th game, when he started at Georgia Tech.

"I think we'll keep the same policy with that position that we have with all the others," Groh said. "If at some point in time a player who hasn't been playing gives us a better chance to win, we'll use that player."

DROUGHT ENDS: It took Nate Lyles less than a quarter Saturday night to do what neither of U.Va.'s starting safeties could in 2004: intercept a pass. Lyles, a sophomore making his first start, picked off a throw by quarterback Robbie Haas at the Virginia 43-yard line.

Lyles started alongside converted cornerback Tony Franklin in the opener. Sophomore Jamaal Jackson saw plenty of action at safety, too. Franklin made nine tackles, Jackson seven and Lyles six.

CHANGE OF SCENERY: Defensive coordinator Al Golden, who'd previously worked from the coaches' booth in the press box during games, was on the sideline Saturday night. Golden also is coaching the defensive backs this season and figured he'd be more effective downstairs.

"He just said he felt he'd like to try it down there," Groh said. Golden, Groh said, believed "it would also give him a chance to be in person-to-person communication with the defensive backs for any adjustments that had to be made."

Working from the coaches' booth this season are four assistants: Danny Rocco (outside linebackers), John Garrett (wide receivers), Bob Price (tight ends) and Mark D'Onofrio (inside linebackers/special teams coordinator).

HEADS OR TAILS: U.Va.'s captains are Franklin, quarterback Marques Hagans, tailback Wali Lundy and defensive end Brennan Schmidt. For the opening coin toss Saturday night, however, Franklin, Lundy and Schmidt were at midfield, joined by linebacker Bryan White. Hagans had asked for, and received, permission to stay behind in the locker room and then run out through the tunnel with the bulk of the team. For the rest of this season, Groh said, the fourth slot in the captains' group - alongside Franklin, Lundy and Schmidt - will be filled by the outstanding special-teams player from U.Va.'s previous game. White, a senior, got the honor Saturday because of his special-teams work throughout his career.

GO-TO GUY: Junior wideout Deyon Williams has shown signs that he's "moving into that stage of his career where things are coming together for him," Groh said, and he didn't disappoint against Western Michigan. Williams matched his career high with five receptions (for 79 yards) and also blocked well.

"I was pretty confident that everything they threw to me, I was going to catch," Williams said. "The receiving corps worked hard all camp long, and this was what we've been waiting for - when the ball is thrown our way, to catch it. So I was pretty pleased about my game."

THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Senior Kwakou Robinson started at nose tackle Saturday, but defensive-line coach Levern Belin also used sophomore Keenan Carter and junior Ron Darden at that spot. Carter and Darden were credited with three tackles apiece. Robinson, who also played some right end, made one stop and recovered a fumble.

"They all did pretty decently," Groh said. "I thought as an entity, the position did OK."

MIXED RESULTS: By fumbling twice, junior Jason Snelling drew the ire of Groh, and the handoffs went to redshirt freshman tailback Cedric Peerman on the Cavaliers' final touchdown drive. But otherwise Snelling shined in a game in which he played both fullback and, after Lundy left with a sprained foot, tailback.

Snelling, who was an All-Metro tailback at L.C. Bird High, carried seven times for 72 yards and had three receptions for 8 yards.

"It happens," Snelling said of his fumbles. "It happens to the best. I don't take it as I'm a fumbler now. I didn't hold onto the ball, and that's part of football."

Groh doesn't have much patience with players who fumble, but then, as Snelling noted, most "coaches don't. You can't win games without the ball. You understand that, you take it and you just move on."

WALKER WATCH: Lundy has been selected as one of 47 candidates for the Doak Walker Award, the prize presented each year to the best running back in collegen football. Lundy led the ACC with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2004. - Jeff White