Just out of reach
Although UVa defender Chris Long has put plenty of pressure on opposing QBs, he has yet to get a sack in 2005.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129
The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The Long family of Albemarle County did not make its name with its quarterback pressures.

"I don't even look at pressures," said Chris Long, oldest of NFL Hall of Famer's Howie Long's three sons. "If it's causing incompletions and interceptions, I'm happy with it. If it's helping the team, I'm happy with it. But, I can't be satisfied with pressures."

Long, a sophomore defensive end, has been credited with a team-high eight quarterback pressures or "hurries" in Virginia's first three games, but he is still looking for his first sack of the season.

"You've got to be a little bit of a perfectionist," he said. "Quarterback pressure [stats] don't impress me, I'll tell you that.

"They don't keep those stats in high school and I haven't really picked up on that in college. I don't really think Pops [Howie] would care if I got pressures or not."

Long might have thought he had a sack -- or at least a shared sack -- against Syracuse.

But, the home stats crew chose to give Kai Parham sole credit for all three of UVa's sacks in the second quarter of a 27-24 victory at the Carrier Dome.

"We all got to the ball at the same time," said Long, credited with five pressures against the Orange. "Kai's made so many plays, I kid him about being greedy, but that's a good thing for him to do -- be greedy about making plays."

Long played sparingly during a freshman year that was interrupted by mononucleosis, but he still had two sacks in 67 plays spread over six games.

This year, only two defensive players have been in more plays than Long's 183. His five tackles for loss rank second behind Parham's seven.

"Obviously, pass rushers want to get sacks," coach Al Groh said. "They're like home runs. We certainly would like to get sacks, too.

On the other hand, Groh said, a defensive end such as Long might get to rush a passer 25 or 30 times a game. If he gets two sacks a game, that's still only one every 15 attempts, so there's a lot to be said for consistent pressure.

Injuries

Groh said that All-ACC offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, center Brian Barthelmes and running back Wali Lundy did not take any turns in practice Monday, although Groh had said earlier that he might reduce Lundy's workload.

Lundy had not played in two weeks when he started Saturday against Duke and appeared to lack "octane," as Groh put it, while carrying 10 times for 20 yards. Lundy did not play in the fourth quarter and Ferguson (knee) and Barthelmes (foot) did not play in the second half.

UVa continues to list Ferguson and Barthelmes atop the depth chart at their respective positions, which is not the case with All-ACC linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who has not played this season.

n What few people knew Saturday, when right tackle Brad Butler moved to left tackle after Ferguson's injury, was that Butler had injured a shoulder at Syracuse and his status was uncertain "all the way until he and I had a conversation in pre-game warm-up," Groh said.

Feeling better

An unsightly bruise on Groh's forehead is almost healed and he has stopped sleeping in a recliner nine days after a practice collision with defensive back Chris Cook.

Groh said that a stiff neck was the "principal result" when he got too close to a "go" route, but the bloodied forehead evoked memories of former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.

As to whether the comparisons were appropriate, Groh said, "only in temperament, probably."

Odds 'n' ends

Groh said that sophomore tight end Tom Santi, who did not play Saturday after catching a 46-yard touchdown pass, returned to practice Monday. As to what caused Santi to cough up blood, Groh speculated that he may have landed on the ball. ... Quarterback Marques Hagans, who has started 16 games in his college career, has moved into 10th place in school history in total yardage with 3,647 (2,956 passing, 691 rushing). He ranks 13th in passing but needs fewer than 200 yards to crack the top 10. ... Kevin Bradley had two solo tackles and one assist on seven kickoffs, three of which were not returned.

 

Virginia’s Albert is eager to quiet those ''Go Terps'' chants
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© September 28, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Sweet little voices have been leaving “obscene” messages on Branden Albert’s cell phone this week.

“Go Terps! Go Terps!”

Yes, it’s Maryland week for the University of Virginia football team, and that means loyalties are divided in the Albert family.

Albert, a true freshman who starts at left guard, lived with his brother, Ashley Sims, in Glen Burnie, Md., not far from the University of Maryland. Sims, 31, played defensive end at Maryland in the mid-’90s. He has three daughters, ages 4, 2, and 1, who have been enlisted in a campaign to razz their Uncle Branden.

Sunday, Sims hosted several former Terrapin teammates at his home. They called Albert so often that he stopped picking up his phone.

Beneath the ribbing is an immense sense of pride felt by a big brother for a younger one — though not in Albert’s case, a smaller one.

Albert left a rough school in Rochester, N.Y., at age 16 and moved to suburban Glen Burnie, where his brother had settled. His mother thought the change would do him good.

At 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, Albert was the biggest kid anyone at Glen Burnie had ever seen. Instantly recognizable, he fit in immediately, guidance counselor Allison Matthews recalled.

“He was liked by everyone,” Matthews said. “He treated the teachers and staff with the utmost respect.”

Albert was a little too gentle for Sims’ tastes. When his little brother came to live with him, Sims and his wife laid down a few ground rules. The first three were standard for teenagers in any household:

Do well in school.

Pick up after yourself.

Tell us where you’re going, who you’ll be with and when you’ll be home.

Then there was rule four, the one that put a knot in Albert’s stomach:

“You’re going to go hit that gridiron,” Sims told him.

Despite his size, Albert says he had never played football. “I was too scared,” he said.

The biggest kid in school scared to play football? Albert was, though mostly because he didn’t want an injury to jeopardize a promising basketball career.

Albert was a good enough basketball player to immediately join one of Baltimore’s elite AAU teams, the one that current NBA star Carmelo Anthony had played for. He began receiving recruiting feelers from mid-major schools, and a few larger ones.

But Sims would not be denied. Nor would the football coach who saw the massive Albert walking the halls during the summer and asked:

“You’re going to play football, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Albert was awful at first. But after his junior year, he dropped 30 pounds, began lifting weights and attended football camp at Maryland. During his senior year, he made all-county.

Sims was not surprised. Though he had never let his brother know it, he had always been amazed by Albert’s natural athletic ability.

“To look at him then, you’d think that all he’d want was a sandwich, a bag of chips and a cupcake,” Sims said. “But when he was 8, 9 years old, he could do somersaults. He was always playing sports with the bigger kids, and he’d be the first one picked.”

Albert played basketball through high school and was named second-team All-Metropolitan by the Baltimore Sun. But after his team lost in the state final, he decided his basketball career was over.

Virginia had already offered a football scholarship. Maryland? It recruited Albert, but never made an offer.

Signing Albert took faith. He didn’t project as a classic, can’t-miss recruit. His lack of experience made him something of an unknown quantity. Then there were his grades, which required a year of remediation at Hargrave Military Academy.

But Virginia liked Albert’s potential, and the agility he demonstrated on the basketball court.

At Hargrave, Albert quickly fell in line with the military lifestyle. His transition was less difficult than most, said Brian White, Hargrave’s offensive line coach.

“We have mandatory study halls, no cell phones, no TV,” White said. “Stuff like that would get to some guys, but not Branden.”

Albert arrived at Virginia leaner and more technically sound as a blocker.

Still, he was expected to take time to develop. It was thought that fellow freshman Eugene Monroe, considered the top high school lineman in the nation last year, would be ready to play sooner.

It was also thought that Albert would play tackle. Virginia had a need at guard, however, after Brian Barthelmes moved to center. Albert, now a taut 315 pounds, slid into that spot and is making himself at home. He was ACC Rookie of the Week after his performance against Duke last Saturday, one that included several knockdown blocks.

“At no point since he’s been here has anything ever been too much for him,” coach Al Groh said.

Tackle Brad Butler, a senior, said he’s been impressed by Albert’s approach.

“He’s able to take criticism, which is a tough thing,” Butler said. “He really listens, really wants to learn.”

Albert’s been listening to more than he’d like this week. After the Duke game, Sims hugged him.

“Good game,” he told him.

Then, in the next breath: “Go Terps.”

Albert doesn’t mind the kidding. He says he owes his brother for starting him down the right path.

“I was a pudgy, fat boy who didn’t know what to do with his life,” he said. “It’s amazing what four years of guidance can do.”

 

W.Va. fire chief: Turn in couches
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS «
September 28, 2005

Fire officials in Morgantown, W.Va., have ordered the removal of all upholstered furniture, debris and flammable objects from porches in neighborhoods with high student populations in an effort to put a damper on the outdoor furniture blazes that have become a tradition.

The move comes as Morgantown, known as the couch-burning capital of college football, prepares for the Virginia Tech-West Virginia football game at noon Saturday.

"The reason for the order is based upon statistical fire data gathered following major rival football games or other sporting events," Morgantown Fire Chief Dave Fetty said. "Data says there are particular areas within the city where we can expect to have illegal street fires."

Students celebrating victories by the Mountaineers have a long tradition of setting fires in the streets, often with cheap furniture dragged from their rental homes.

Morgantown led the nation in the number of intentional street fires between 1997 and 2003, with a total of 1,129 set.

The sold-out game at Mountaineer Field will mark the final scheduled meeting between the teams, which have played each year since 1973.

Virginia Tech, which enters the game ranked third nationally, defeated the Mountaineers 19-13 in Blacksburg last year. This is the second season for the Hokies in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Virginia Tech is the defending ACC champion.

"Officers plan to go door-to-door posting written, typed-up orders on each house or putting them in mailboxes," Fetty said. "The notice states all indoor furniture that has been placed outside, along with other debris in specified areas, must be put elsewhere."

Residents have until Friday morning to remove the items. Those who refuse to comply with the order will receive a citation, and their furniture will be loaded into dump trucks and hauled away by city workers. Residents will be charged.

Fetty said officers are empowered to cite all occupants of the residence. They will be cited for failure to abate a fire hazard, a misdemeanor. Fines can range up to $1,000.

After a series of post-football game fires, WVU imposed a "zero tolerance" policy in 2003. It has disciplined and expelled students for off-campus activities that resulted in charges.
 

Mum's the word on UVa injuries
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
September 28, 2005

It should come as no shock this week when Ralph Friedgen’s caller ID does not include phone numbers from the McCue Center, the home of the Virginia football office.
If Maryland’s coach is looking for an injury update from the Virginia football team, he has a better chance of getting it from Miss Cleo, a telephone psychic.
When asked on Tuesday about the status of some of his injured players for the Cavaliers’ game on Saturday at Maryland, UVa coach Al Groh, whose team is 3-0 overall and
1-0 in the ACC, elected to reflect on some recent words from NFL coach Nick Saban.
Groh admitted that one day last week, during the wee hours of the morning, he watched Saban address some questions about injuries and his gameplan with his NFL team.
“Nick was getting a little agitated at one point,” said Groh, recounting an episode from ‘NFL Total Access,’ a television show. “Having worked with Nick, I know that Nick can do that. So he said, ‘Look, fellas, I’ll make you a deal. As soon as I get off the phone, after I call up [Carolina Panthers coach] John Fox and tell him what I’m going to do, I’ll give you guys a call and tell you too.’”
Groh said he “thought that said it pretty well.” And so, the mysteries about D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s knee, Brian Barthelmes’ ankle and the playing status of Ahmad Brooks linger.
Ferguson, a preseason All-American at left tackle, is believed to have a sprained knee, an injury that knocked him out of the game in the first quarter of Saturday’s 38-7 win over Duke.
Barthelmes, UVa’s starting center, missed the second half of the Duke game after injuring his ankle in the second quarter. Initially, the senior played through the pain but later gave way to sophomore Jordy Lipsey. Sources said that Barthelmes has been wearing a protective boot on his injured foot.
While Ferguson and Barthelmes remain listed at the top of the team-issued depth chart at their respective positions, the same cannot be said for Brooks. The junior linebacker, who has been cleared to practice for more than a month now, has not dressed out for a game this season and no timetable is known for his return.
The services of the three, or any combination, would help the 19th-ranked Cavaliers in what should be their toughest contest of the young season. Maryland (2-2, 1-1 ACC) ranks fourth in the league in total offense (UVa is third), third in passing efficiency and first in pass defense.
“They’re the most physically talented team that we’ve played this year,” Groh said. “At the positions that cause the ball to move … they make the ball move in a hurry.”
Groh was referring to the Terrapins’ quarterback, receivers and kickers. Maryland QB Sam Hollenbach, a junior, narrowly leads the ACC in total offense, averaging 247.2 yards per game. The signal caller has completed 62.2 percent of his passes (69 of 111) for a league-best 965 yards.
Hollenbach’s favorite target, tight end Vernon Davis has
15 receptions for 352 yards and two touchdowns. Davis is a “tremendous weapon for them” according to Groh.
UVa defensive end Brennan Schmidt gave Davis, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds, the ultimate compliment.
“He is basically a receiver playing tight end,” Schmidt said.
Maryland’s kicking combination - punter Adam Podlesh and placekicker Dan Ennis - rank among the best duos in the nation. Podlesh leads the ACC with an average of 45.4 yards per game, while Ennis has been perfect on his nine field goal attempts.

DOING DOUBLE DUTY. Groh said his starting right tackle, Brad Butler, was a game-time decision for the Duke game with a sore shoulder. It’s a good thing he was able to play.
Butler was moved to left tackle, in place of Ferguson, after his teammate left the contest in the opening quarter. During a typical week, Groh said Butler takes “reps” at left tackle, but was unable to do so last week due to the shoulder injury.
Tuesday, Butler said his shoulder “felt fine” and he expects to play Saturday.
While Ferguson is well acclaimed for his work at left tackle, many of his teammates believe that Butler is just as deserving of more notoriety.
“He definitely doesn’t get as much recognition as I think he should,” said Schmidt, who matches up against Butler in practice. “I go against some of the best offensive tackles in the country in this conference and I promise you that I don’t have as much trouble with them as I do with Brad in a lot of respects. ... We go against each other so he knows me and I know him. He’s very talented. I’m actually surprised at times that he doesn’t get as much recognition.”

BOUNCING BACK. It was easy to see that Wali Lundy was not the same ol’ Wali Lundy against Duke.
The senior tailback finished with just 20 yards on 10 carries against the Blue Devils. The game was Lundy’s first since spraining his foot in Virginia’s season-opening win over Western Michigan.
Lundy was not available for comment on Tuesday, but quarterback Marques Hagans said his backfield mate is “back on track now and he is ready to go [against Maryland].”
“He understands that sometimes injuries happen but he is playing through that,” Hagans added. “Even through his injuries, even if you looked on the sidelines when we were playing Syracuse, [Lundy] was the main one getting the team excited and trying to keep everybody up. By no means is he a selfish player.”
Lundy entered the season with 2,619 career rushing yards and 246 points, but has only 49 yards thus far in ’05. When healthy, Groh said that he expects Lundy to “perform like it looked he was prepared to do.”

 

Virginia carries offensive line questions into College Park
Once strength of team, Cavs' offensive line looks to incorporate new faces to fill void left by injuries to center Barthelmes, left tackle Ferguson, whose situations are unknown
Anders Sleight, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
 

Football games are won and lost in the trenches of the offensive and defensive lines.

During the 2004 season, the Cavalier offensive line won the battle with opponents' defensive lines almost every game. At the beginning of the 2005 season, the O-line seemed promising, mainly because of the presence of senior left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. However, three games into the season and two injuries later, questions are surfacing about the offensive line. Seniors Ferguson and Brian Barthelmes both sustained injuries in the Duke game, and their status currently is unknown.

If the injuries to Ferguson and Barthelmes hold them out of the Maryland game this weekend, the Cavaliers will play the game with an O-line that has played roughly three quarters together. The starters are projected to be senior Brad Butler at left tackle, freshman Branden Albert at left guard, sophomore Jordy Lipsey at center, sophomore Marshal Ausberry at right guard and sophomore Eddie Pinigis at right tackle.

Last season, the O-line produced 5.3 yards per rush and 242.8 yards per game. While it will be difficult for the current group to live up to these standards, coaches and players are confident the revamped offensive line can put up good numbers.

"This group of guys has been through so much together -– one guy goes down, and the rest of them know they can get thrown into the fire just like that," freshman running back Cedric Peerman said. "As a running back, you want to be able to run behind a line that is strong and fast and big. That's what we have up here at Virginia."

Albert, a freshman, has only been playing football for three years, but his inexperience has not prevented him from contributing on the football field. Albert has started all three games this season at left guard and has made an immediate impact. After his performance in the Duke game, Albert was named ACC Rookie of the Week.

"He's a young buck," Peerman said. "The way he's playing ball right now, you'd think he's been playing since he was six or seven years old. He's a heck of an athlete."

Albert's tremendous athletic ability and intuition has enabled him to pick up the finer details of the game of football very quickly.

Jordy Lipsey is scheduled to make his first start Saturday against Maryland. The sophomore was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, but he has not yet had the opportunity to live up to the hype.

"In high school, when all these coaches are calling you and telling you that you're everything, your initial reaction is 'Yeah, I'm going start,'" Lipsey said. "But then you get here, and the first thing you see are men -- you're not playing with boys anymore, you're playing with men. You get the playbook, and it's six, seven inches thick. That's when you start having second thoughts about whether or not you're going to get right on the field."

Lipsey is much smaller than his O-line teammates. He is listed at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, and his offensive line teammates range in height from 6 foot-5 to 6 foot-8 and weigh in at over 300 pounds. Despite Lipsey's undersized frame, he remains confident that he can succeed.

"Technique and footwork and speed are all things that help make up for my size," Lipsey said.

Butler's leadership has been instrumental in helping the young Cavaliers adjust to the college game.

"He made all of us feel so comfortable when we were in the game," Lipsey said. "He's so calm -- he just tells us to have fun, play well and take it easy."

Butler, normally the starter at right tackle, has made the switch to left tackle to replace Ferguson. Left tackle is generally considered the most important position on the line because the left tackle has the task of protecting the quarterback's blind side, assuming the quarterback is right handed.

"Playing left tackle, you're protecting the blind side of the quarterback," Butler said. "If you let your defensive guy beat you, Marques Hagans, as talented as he is, is simply not going to see the guy coming to hit him."

Ferguson has been a stalwart at left tackle over the past three seasons. He has protected the quarterbacks well, yielding very few sacks. Butler will have enormous shoes to fill at left tackle, but coaches and teammates are confident he can pull it off well.

Eddie Pinigis also is set to make his first career start this Saturday. Pinigis has an enormous frame -- 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds -- and backed up Brad Butler at right tackle during the 2004 season. Butler's move to left tackle has thrust Pinigis into the starting lineup, a job he is more than willing to embrace. The final member of the offensive line, Marshal Ausberry, has started all three games this season at right guard.
 

Terps measure up
Ennis, Podlesh paying wholesome dividends for kicking game
By Heather A. Dinich
Sun reporter
Originally published September 28, 2005

College Park // Four years ago, Maryland equipment manager Ron Ohringer was reluctant to hand over pads and a helmet to walk-on kicker Dan Ennis.

At 125 pounds, the scrawny soccer player from Sykesville seemed too small for his first-ever football uniform. Now, after Ennis has made all nine of his field-goal attempts and all five extra points, he and Maryland seem to be the perfect fit.

Ennis, whose accuracy has placed him fifth in the nation in field goals, anchors a kicking game that has flourished while the other phases of the game have struggled to catch up. What began as one of the team's biggest question marks heading into this season has evolved into one of its most dependable resources.

"Anytime we needed something, he's been there for us," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "Even Nick [Novak] last year had trouble doing that.

"What that does is, even though you're disappointed with kicking a field goal when really you'd rather have a touchdown, it keeps the momentum going," he said. "More importantly, it puts points on the scoreboard."

Having never played football before he came to Maryland, and winning the starting job this summer at the expense of injured teammate Obi Egekeze, Ennis has accounted for 32 of the Terps' 88 points this season. Maryland's offense has been in the red zone 17 times and scored six touchdowns. There was also one fumble and one interception. Every other time, Ennis has kept the Terps in the game with a field goal.

And when the offense has been unsuccessful on 11 of 47 third-down conversions and forced to punt, Maryland has looked to the Atlantic Coast Conference's best punter in Adam Podlesh.

"That's our job," special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski said. "Our job is to punt the football, not run fake punts. Our job is to kick field goals, not run fake field goals. Let's do our job; let's do it well. They understand if we have any drop-off, now we're really in trouble."

Last week, Rychleski challenged Podlesh to punt better than Wake Forest's Ryan Plackemeier, who earned first-team All-ACC honors last fall, when Podlesh was named to the second team.

Podlesh averaged 49.7 yards on six punts in Maryland's 22-12 win over the Demon Deacons, with three balls that dropped inside the 20-yard line. His net average for the day was 47.7 yards per kick. Friedgen called them the "dueling punters," but Podlesh won, and was named the ACC's Special Teams Player of the Week.

"I came into the game with a challenge," Podlesh said. "It was a battle back and forth, especially in the second half. Last week was our best performance. We're hoping to build on that."

Novak, the ACC's all-time leading scorer who is now with the Redskins, had the day off and was at practice yesterday with a stopwatch timing Podlesh's hang time. Novak said he has been there for Ennis when he wanted to talk.

Lately, he said, Ennis hasn't needed him.

Despite his recent success, Ennis isn't sure if he's shaken every doubt that clings to a walk-on.

"From the outside, a lot of people don't expect too many walk-on, non-recruited people to really take a commanding role on the team," said Ennis, who has since beefed up to 156 pounds but is still the smallest player on the team. "I'm very fortunate in that sense. From the announcer's standpoint, you hear, 'the starting kicker,' and that's what I'm labeled now."

Egekeze, who had a slight edge on Ennis before tearing his hamstring this summer, has been cleared to return to practice. Rychleski said he is hoping Egekeze will take over for walk-on Chris Roberts, who has been handling kickoffs, but not for Ennis.

"Right now, the job is not open at field-goal kicker," Rychleski said. "It's closed."

Even though Egekeze has a stronger leg for distances of nearly 50 yards?

"Obi hasn't proven one thing here at this university," Rychleski said. "Dan Ennis has proven a lot."
 

Some Cavaliers face homecoming battle
Several players who grew up in Maryland circle game with Terrapins on their schedule
Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 28, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- For Marques Hagans, it's just another game. But maybe that's because the University of Virginia quarterback is from Hampton.

Asked about the perception that U.Va. and Maryland are bitter rivals in football, Hagans said he doesn't "really buy into all that stuff."

Some of his teammates, however, feel differently about the 19th-ranked Cavaliers' clash Saturday with the Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. On U.Va.'s roster are four players from Maryland -- wideouts Deyon Williams and Theirrien Davis, nose tackle Ron Darden and offensive guard Branden Albert -- as well as defensive end Brennan Schmidt, a McLean resident who graduated from DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md., not far from College Park.

After practice Monday, Williams came up to Albert and said, "We're going back home, man!"

Albert and Darden are graduates of Glen Burnie High near Baltimore. Williams is from Suitland High and Davis from Eleanor Roosevelt High, both in Prince George's County.

Maryland's starters include offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who played with Albert on Hargrave Military Academy's postgraduate team last season. They spoke on the phone Monday night.

Schmidt said he's received numerous text messages from buddies who pull for Maryland, "so I have something to show to my friends back home talking trash."

In the expanded ACC, Maryland and Virginia are "primary partners" in football. That means they'll meet every season, even though the schools are in oppositive divisions: Maryland in the Atlantic, U.Va. in the Coastal. -- Jeff White
 

U.VA. NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 28, 2005

COMING TO TOWN: In men's basketball, Virginia's first commitment for 2007-08 came over the weekend from point guard Sam Zeglinski, a junior from Philadelphia. Cavaliers coach Dave Leitao's first commitment for 2006-07 could come from Jamil Tucker, a 6-8, 210-pound senior at West Side High in Gary, Ind.

Tucker, who's comfortable on the perimeter, is scheduled to arrive at U.Va. tonight for an official visit.

Virginia entertained two prospects on official visits last weekend: 6-7 Jon Mitchell and 6-10 Brad Sheehan. Mitchell also is considering Florida, which he's scheduled to visit next month, and Marquette. Sheehan, who's from Albany, N.Y., committed Monday night to Georgia Tech. Paul Hewitt's strong ties to Albany - he coached at nearby Siena before taking over the program at Georgia Tech - played a large role in Sheehan's decision.

Austin Freeman, a 6-5 junior from DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md., canceled, for family reasons, the unofficial visit he'd scheduled to U.Va. last weekend.

BIG-TIME 'BACKERS: No. 19 Virginia (1-0, 3-0) plays ACC foe Maryland (1-1, 2-2) in football Saturday in College Park. If Ahmad Brooks plays for U.Va. - the 6-4, 265-pound junior wasn't on the depth chart released yesterday, for what that's worth - the game will showcase three of the nation's premier linebackers.

Kai Parham, who like Brooks is an inside linebacker, has 31 tackles for the Cavaliers, including an ACC-best five sacks, and the conference has recognized his stellar play each of the past two weeks. Terrapins senior middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson leads the conference with an average of 14.5 stops per game.

With 58 tackles, Jackson has more than the players who rank No. 2 and No. 3 at Maryland - Wesley Jefferson and David Holloway - have combined.

"He's a terrific player," Virginia coach Al Groh said yesterday. "He's got real explosiveness. He's got power to take on blockers. He's got quickness to get over the top of blockers before they can get there. He's a very aggressive player.

"If you like to watch linebackers and you don't care that they might be hitting your guys in a couple of days, he's fun to watch."

YOUTH IS SERVED: On Virginia's latest depth chart, five true freshmen are listed as second-teamers on defense. Olu Hall and Aaron Clark are at outside linebacker, Antonio Appleby is at inside linebacker and Mike Brown and Chris Cook are at cornerback.

Among the Cavaliers injured against Duke last weekend was outside linebacker Jermaine Dias (knee). He's listed as Dias' backup, but Hall has been used primarily in passing situations. If Dias is sidelined, Clark would probably replace him, Groh said yesterday.

HARD TO PLEASE: On the Cavalier Call-in radio show Monday, a caller from Richmond lamented what he perceives as a lack of killer instinct on the part of U.Va.'s defense. Virginia Tech's defense has no such lapses, the caller said.

"I'd say your observation is made from some place other than where I'm standing," Groh told the caller. "You know, a lot of people think this comes automatically, and it doesn't. It's a challenging process for the players. We're not the team in Blacksburg. We're the team in Charlottesville.

"Each team is different. Each team is doing different things at a different level, and each week is a different week. I don't make comparisons, and I think it's impossible to do so. But our team is what it is. It's giving the best that it's got. We're going to try to win every game that we can by as much as we can. If we can do that eight more times by one more point than the other guy's got, I think we'll all be quite satisfied with that."

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Virginia opened the 2002 season by losing to Colorado State at Scott Stadium. Since then, the Cavaliers have played 20 home games and won 18 of them. U.Va. fell 19-14 to Florida State in 2003 and 31-21 to the Miami Hurricanes in '04.

U.Va. has four more games at Scott Stadium this season, against FSU (Oct. 15), Temple (Nov. 5), Georgia Tech (Nov. 12) and Virginia Tech (Nov. 19).

Under Groh, Virginia has gone 6-6 in its past 12 road games. The Cavaliers last won at Maryland in 1999.

LOOKING AHEAD: The jewels of Groh's freshman class include offensive linemen Branden Albert and Eugene Monroe. Both have been playing guard - Albert starts on the left side, and Monroe backs up Marshal Ausberry on the right - but don't expect to see both of them there in 2006.

"One of them is probably going to have to be a guard," Groh said, "and one of them is going to be a tackle. Clearly right now Branden, in particular, is a guard, because he's the first-team guard. He could be a very good tackle, but he's also demonstrating that he'd have a high upside being a guard. I think actually he could be a very good center, too."

Virginia's starting offensive tackles, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Brad Butler, are seniors. Starting center Brian Barthelmes is a graduate student in his final season of eligibilty. - Jeff White

 

Cavs' Brooks May Play

There are indications Virginia middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks could play for the first time this season during Saturday's game at Maryland. Cavaliers Coach Al Groh didn't speculate about Brooks's availability during his weekly news conference in Charlottesville yesterday, and the 2004 all-American wasn't listed on the two-deep depth chart released by Virginia officials.

But Brooks, who underwent surgery in January to regenerate bone growth in his right knee, is believed to have showed improvement in recent days. Virginia's practices are closed to the media, and Groh hasn't said whether the former Hylton High School star is practicing.

Also, tailback Wali Lundy (sprained foot), tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson (sprained knee) and center Bart Barthelmes (sprained ankle) didn't participate in Monday's practice but are expected to play against the Terrapins in Byrd Stadium.

Groh said senior right tackle Brad Butler played in last Saturday's 38-7 victory over Duke despite not practicing the entire week. . . .

Virginia freshman guard Branden Albert was named ACC rookie of the week, and junior linebacker Kai Parham was named ACC defensive lineman of the week for the second week in a row. Virginia Tech senior Jeff King was named ACC offensive lineman of the week after catching a touchdown pass and blocking a field goal attempt against the Yellow Jackets.

 

Terps Suffering From Third-Rate Efficiency
By Dan Steinberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 28, 2005; Page E01

Maryland's first drive against Navy ended on an incomplete third-down pass inside the Midshipmen 20-yard line. The Terps' first drive against Clemson also ended on an incomplete third-down pass in the red zone. Their first drive against West Virginia brought something new and different on third down -- a four-yard pass play when five yards were needed.

And against Wake Forest, order was restored; Maryland's first drive ended on an incomplete third-down pass in the red zone.

Those four drives yielded nine points thanks to the surprisingly automatic Dan Ennis, who has yet to miss a kick of any sort in his limited collegiate career. But the Terps' poor performance on third downs has bedeviled Coach Ralph Friedgen throughout this season's erratic opening month. And with his defense coming off its strongest showing of the year, boosting the offense's third-down success rate will be one of the primary goals this week.

"Oh, we're working on them. We've got to get better at them," said Friedgen, who grimaced when asked about the problem. "Where would we be if we were converting our third downs?"

The likely answer is somewhere north of 2-2, Maryland's record heading into Saturday's homecoming game against No. 19 Virginia.

The third-down offense has been by far the worst in Friedgen's five-year tenure. In his first four seasons, the Terps connected on 43 percent of their third-down chances, and never finished a season with a conversion rate under 37 percent. This year, that rate stands at 23 percent -- last in the ACC and 112th out of 117 Division I teams.

And the struggles have come in every possible scenario: in Maryland's own territory and at the opposing team's goal line, on third and short and on third and long, in the first quarter and with the game on the line, on running plays and on passing plays, on the field and in the huddle.

Quarterback Sam Hollenbach has been one of the season's most pleasant surprises; he is completing 62 percent of his throws and is 34th in the NCAA's esoteric pass efficiency ratings, with a figure of 142.9. But on third downs he has completed just 12 of 33 throws and his efficiency rating dips to 75.7, which would leave him out of the NCAA's top 100 passers.

The Terps have also made several of their most gnawing mistakes on third downs: two delay of game penalties, a broken protection that led to a sack and a fumble, two interceptions and a poorly thrown deep ball last Saturday that missed an open Danny Melendez.

Friedgen is particularly bothered by the delay of game penalties; he said the coaching staff must get plays into the huddle quicker, and Hollenbach needs to develop a greater awareness of the play clock.

"The first thing a quarterback should do when he gets out of the huddle is look at the clock, and he's not doing that," Friedgen said. "It's cost us a couple of times."

But the crux of the third-down problems rests with a running game that is still less threatening than in past seasons despite improvements last week. Friedgen said his staff has been stubborn about trying to establish the run and will probably turn to the pass more in coming weeks.

Poor running plays on first down have led to untenable third-down situations, and short-yardage situations have lived up to their name. Not including sacks, Maryland has rushed 12 times on third downs and gained 16 yards. Running backs have been trapped in the backfield and failed to elude oncoming hordes, which is why Keon Lattimore's performance Saturday -- when Friedgen said he broke nine tackles -- was especially promising.

Friedgen said yesterday that a starting back would not be named until later in the week, but Lattimore -- whose three-yard touchdown Saturday was one of Maryland's most impressive runs of the year -- seems certain to play a large role against the Cavaliers.

"It's an attitude you've got to have, you've got to be relentless" in short-yardage situations, Lattimore said. "I seen three black jerseys on the other side but I refused to lose, I didn't want to go down. If you're a [defensive back], or a linebacker for that matter, I'm going to punish you. If you try to come up and tackle me I want to punish you, I want to hurt you, that's what I want to do. And hopefully as the game goes on, you don't want to tackle me any more."

Terrapins Notes: Obi Egekeze, out since preseason with a strained quadriceps, could challenge Chris Roberts for the kickoff role this week, special teams coach Ray Rychleski said. Coaches initially said Egekeze would compete for place-kicking duties when he returned, but Ennis's performance ended that possibility. . . .

Punter Adam Podlesh was named ACC specialist of the week and defensive end-linebacker Trey Covington, who recorded his first career sack, was named the ACC's co-rookie of the week. . . . Maryland's Oct. 8 game at Temple will not be televised.