Cavaliers contemplating changes
Groh to re-evaluate playing time in wake of Virginia's slow start
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

When the University of Virginia football team takes the field again, Sept. 27 at Duke, its starting lineup may well differ from the one that bombed Saturday night at Connecticut.

Al Groh, no presidential candidate he, stopped short of promising changes. But in 2001, his first season as U.Va.'s coach, Groh benched two starting offensive linemen after a 24-0 loss to N.C. State, and last night he stated the criteria he'll use in doling out playing time in the coming weeks.

"It doesn't make any difference what you did last year or what you might do in the future or what Rivals list you were on or what watch list you might be on, for whatever circumstance," Groh said. "It's all about who's playing well now and who gives us the best chance to operate in the next game."

The list of Cavaliers playing well now is a short one. Kicker Yannick Reyering and punter Jimmy Howell -- neither of whom was on the team in 2007 -- would have to be included, along with offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, wide receiver Kevin Ogletree and a few others. But Virginia is 1-2 and has been outscored 97-17 by teams from the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision.

Among the 119 teams in the FBS, U.Va. ranks 118th in total offense, 113th in scoring offense, 97th in scoring defense and 93rd in total defense.

Football is a game, at its heart, of blocking and tackling. The Wahoos have struggled in both areas. Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson, two of the ACC's premier tailbacks last season, combined for 27 yards on eight carries in U.Va.'s 45-10 loss to UConn on Saturday night. Huskies tailback Donald Brown, meanwhile, rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

"I know it's the easiest thing to say, 'Learn from your mistakes,' but we've got some fundamentals and things we've got to get back to the drawing board in doing," Ogletree said. "Because once we get to the ACC, this can't happen."

By the time sophomore Marc Verica took his first snap as U.Va.'s starting quarterback, UConn led 7-0. It was 28-0 when he came out for his fourth series.

Until Wednesday, the Cavaliers' starter was sophomore Peter Lalich. But Verica got an unexpected midweek promotion when Groh and U.Va. officials decided to hold Lalich out of the UConn game. Verica completed 22 of 30 passes for 158 yards, with one interception, before Scott Deke replaced him late in the third quarter.

Lalich practiced with the team yesterday, Groh said, but his status for the Duke game isn't clear. Lalich, who's been on probation since July for an alcohol-related charge, has a Sept. 26 court hearing in Charlottesville. The outcome figures to have a bearing on whether Lalich plays against the Blue Devils (2-1).

The Cavaliers' bye week "will allow us to give quite a few turns to each one of the quarterbacks in the buildup to [the Duke game]," Groh said. "We should be somewhat prepared for a number of different contingencies."

Against UConn, outside linebacker Cameron Johnson became the third true freshman to play for Virginia this season, joining Howell and offensive guard Austin Pasztor. Johnson made two tackles.

"He did a nice job with things," Groh said. "That's why we did it. It's got to start someplace. He's one of the players we have on the list to try to give a lot of turns to in the next couple of weeks."

 

Cavaliers use open date for QB prep
Peter Lalich's court date, which falls the day before UVa plays Duke, is taken into consideration.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

When Virginia's football team hit the practice field Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 45-10 whipping at Connecticut, it was joined by one-time starting quarterback Peter Lalich.

Lalich did not make the trip to Connecticut, not that he would have changed the outcome, but his future availability is certain to be a topic of conversation as the Cavaliers observe an open date prior to a Sept. 27 visit to Duke.

The UVa-Duke game comes one day after Lalich is scheduled to be in Charlottesville General District to answer charges that he violated the probation he received for underage possession of alcohol.

Lalich wasn't suspended from the team -- at least, that's not a term coach Al Groh has used -- but his off-field foolishness kept him off the Connecticut dress list.

Sophomore Marc Verica took Lalich's place against the Huskies and completed 22 of 30 passes for 158 yards, but Groh indicated Sunday that Lalich's hearing would not necessarily preclude him from playing at Duke.

Groh said the court date would be a consideration in preparing the quarterbacks but noted that the open date will provide twice the normal number of practice opportunities.

"It allows us to give all of them quite a few turns and prepare for any contingency," he said.

Groh also used fifth-year senior Scott Deke in the fourth quarter and it was Deke's 12-yard run that set up UVa's lone touchdown on a 1-yard run by Cedric Peerman.

Verica and Deke were intercepted once each, but Groh noted that Verica's numbers "came out fairly decent." He threw mostly short, safe, passes that contributed to a 73.3 completion percentage, "but that's not an unexpected circumstance for a guy in his first game," Groh continued.

Ten of Verica's completions went for 5 yards or fewer. However, when the Cavaliers fell behind 28-0 at the half, it was necessary to pick up the pace.

"You feel like you've got to make a big play and you force something," Verica said. "That might lead to a turnover and that's what happened [on the interception] in the third quarter."

The Cavaliers' defense took the brunt of the criticism Saturday night, but, with its 219-yard performance, UVa dropped to 118th out of 119 Division I-A teams in total offense. The Cavaliers have not been inside the top 100 in Mike Groh's three seasons as offensive coordinator.

"The challenge is just getting to the next game and, obviously, fixing some things from this one," said junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, who had seven receptions for 58 yards and has 19 catches for the season. "Once we get to the ACC, these games just can't happen."

Virginia ran the ball only 14 times against Connecticut (for 31 yards) and for the season has 73 carries for 154 yards. The Cavaliers' per-carry average has dropped from 3.6 yards in 2007 to 2.1 this year, even though Peerman and Mikell Simpson seemingly formed a potent 1-2 punch.

UVa lost three of its five starting offensive linemen and a fourth, two-year starter Will Barker, has struggled at right tackle. Barker was called for two holding penalties Sept. 6 against Richmond and yielded sacks against Southern Cal and UConn.

"All those runners run the same when there's no holes," said Groh, repeating a line he has used sporadically in his UVa coaching career.

Notes

UVa freshman Jimmy Howell averaged 39.8 yards on five punts and had such good hang time that none was returned. ... Three different UVa players-- Ogletree, Peerman and freshman cornerback Chase Minnifield -- had kickoff returns of 34 yards or more. ... Outside linebacker Cameron Johnson became the third true freshman to play for Virginia this season.
 

The day after for UVa
Al Groh refused Sunday to grope for silver linings in his team’s abysmal performance last night at Connecticut. So taking the big whistle’s cue, here are some fairly damning facts about Virginia’s 1-2 start this football season.

Last year the Cavaliers ranked 13th nationally in rushing defense, allowing 106.9 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry. In two games this season against Division I-A competition,

Southern California and UConn, Virginia has yielded 600 yards rushing on 94 attempts, a 6.4 average.

In outscoring the Cavs 97-17, the Trojans and Huskies rushed for nine touchdowns. That’s as many running scores as Virginia allowed in 13 games last year.

USC and UConn broke off 14 runs of 10 yards or more, six of 20 or more. The Huskies alone had gains of 63, 63, 48 and 25 yards.

“Obviously there’s a little different circumstance on each one,” Groh said Sunday, trotting out his crutch word. “But to have that many in this short period of time is a pretty good indicator, and it’s accurate, that there are issues at a number of spots and they occur simultaneously. When you have it going on at two or three spots at the same time you become very vulnerable, and that’s what’s happening.

“It’s really been a minimal of assignment issues. It’s more an issue of execution, whether that’s execution at the point of attack or execution at the tackle.”

Virginia lost its three starting defensive linemen from last season — Chris Long, Jeffrey Fitzgerald and Allen Billyk — but Groh indicated that returnees at linebacker and in the secondary have failed as often as the newcomers.

“As you put new players into your lineup it’s important … that those guys who you expect a lot from, that they continue to perform at the highest level,” Groh said. “There’s some cases perhaps where we’re not getting the expected level of performance.”

What really galled Groh was that UConn’s most productive play, a simple power run to the strong side, was one Virginia ran repeatedly with minimal success.

“Clearly we need to coach it better and play it better,” Groh said. “It’s not as if we don’t have what we need.”

Except, perhaps, talent.

Groh said that first-time starting quarterback Marc Verica “handled himself pretty decently.” Verica completed 22-of-30 passes for 158 yards with one pick.

Groh quibbled with Verica’s choice of receivers at times, but that’s to be expected of a sophomore making his first college start on little notice — the school announced Wednesday night that starter Peter Lalich would not accompany the team to Connecticut.

Lalich practiced Sunday, according to Groh, but faces a court hearing on an alleged probation violation the day before the Cavs’ next game, Sept. 27 at Duke. So who knows if he’ll be available for a contest Virginia could certainly drop, Duke’s 25-game ACC losing streak notwithstanding.

“We have twice as many practices in preparation for this game as a normal one,” Groh said, referring to this week’s open date, “which will allow us to give quite a few turns to each one of the quarterbacks. We ought to be able to be somewhat prepared for a number of different contingencies.”

Now if you've waded through all this, you deserve a decent read.

Happy travels.

Posted by David Teel
 

Stand by your men
Paul Montana, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor
Published: Monday, September 15 2008

Where to begin?
For the first two weeks of the 2008 season, I engaged in plenty of Virginia football bashing. I disowned the defensive line for its lackluster performance against USC, shamelessly knocked Virginia coach Al Groh for being overeager on a fourth down against Richmond, and clamored for the removal of quarterback Peter Lalich from the lineup following allegations brought against him for violating his probation (which, incidentally I’m sure, happened Saturday). I was hoping, begging, crying for a reason to write something positive after Saturday’s game against Connecticut, even if it was a silver lining in the context of defeat.
I don’t like being that snide, peewee reporter who sits in his air-conditioned press box and lays into the men who bleed, sweat and scream Orange and Blue. I was an athlete in high school, but I can hardly empathize with the regimen Virginia athletes put themselves through on a daily basis. These guys work harder than any non-Division I athlete can imagine. These are men who, if I played against them, would probably cause irreparable harm to my 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame.
Then again, I am obliged to call it like I see it, and what I saw in Virginia’s 45-10 loss Saturday was a team that was hurting for talent and effort. I saw a defensive line that was completely at a loss for how to contain Huskie quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, whether it was getting to him in the pass rush or containing him in the pocket. I saw experienced running backs fail to attack the few holes granted to them by a futile offensive line.
In a feeble attempt to squeeze something positive out of a clearly troubled Groh after the game, I asked him about wide receiver Kevin Ogletree’s outstanding production for the second week in a row, considering the junior’s seven receptions for 58 yards, and his 92 yards on four kick returns.
“It’s nice of you to bring that up,” he replied softly.
Not to be deterred, I tried again with Ogletree himself. What about the fact, I asked him, that if this kind of pounding had to be taken, at least it happened before the team’s first bye week of the year?
“It’s never good timing for a loss,” he replied.
In other words, you’ve got to do better than that. In other words, 382 Connecticut rushing yards against 31 Virginia yards is downright pitiful. In other words, there might have been more missed tackles than made tackles, assisted and unassisted. In other words, it’s a good thing the effort was better against USC than it was Saturday, because otherwise the Trojans might have reached triple digits.
But, as unbearable as it was to watch these Cavaliers Saturday, there was one aspect of what happened that night and what happened all last week that was, clear as day, the right call: Groh had his players’ back.
Say what you will about his play-calling; no coach’s schemes please everyone. Moan if you’d like about the distance he keeps with the media and the fans. Agree with me if you must that Lalich should have been sitting a week earlier when the allegations against him emerged.
But imagine, for the moment, that you are Peter Lalich. You’re 20 years old, and you’ve made some mistakes that have led to these legal issues; as a result, the media scrutinizes your every move on the field and off, the University community has turned against you and a court date awaits that everyone who gets even the faintest whiff of Virginia football knows about.
The first people you want in your corner? Your parents, and perhaps a spiritual being if you are so inclined; then comes your coach. All week, Groh was there for Lalich.
The decision to play Lalich against Richmond in the first place is debatable; I have already voiced my own disagreement, but as I have also said, perhaps Groh knows something about Lalich that the public doesn’t know. Why, then, would he so suddenly change his mind barely 72 hours before the kickoff of Virginia’s first road game? It appears, perhaps not surprisingly, that the decision was in fact not Groh’s at all. In an article by Jerry Ratcliffe of The Daily Progress Thursday, Peter Lalich’s father Todd said he was told the decision “came from on high.” What this says to me is that Groh was planning on sticking to his guns, but was overruled by a higher authority – perhaps athletics director Craig Littlepage, perhaps even University President John T. Casteen, III.
Of course, as a result of a decision that was likely not his own, Groh was inundated with questions about his young quarterback the following day, which he deflected over and over again. Saturday, he preempted any question about Lalich by saying in his opening statement at the postgame press conference that the loss had nothing to do with “anybody who wasn’t here.” Groh went on to take responsibility for the embarrassing loss as any good coach would do, saying, “I take the blame for that, and there are really no other names necessary to discuss.”
Then, consider further the words of Todd Lalich in Jerry Ratcliffe’s article. Jerry is not only a great guy, but is also perhaps the most well-respected writer for Virginia football there is. So, when Ratcliffe writes that Todd Lalich is “a solid, straight shooter,” I believe him. It follows, then, that when Todd Lalich tells The Daily Progress that if parents “have a son being recruited by the University of Virginia or Al Groh ... they shouldn’t even consider looking at any other school,” I give merit to that statement as well.
When the can of worms was opened on Peter Lalich in the days leading up to the Richmond game, I thought Lalich shouldn’t have started not only for the benefit of the program, but for his own benefit as he sorted through his personal issues. Todd Lalich’s words for Groh, however, indicate that Groh did appear to have Peter’s best interests at heart. Todd Lalich’s words pay the highest compliment that a college coach in any sport can receive, and it puts the humiliating defeat to Connecticut in perspective. A head coach’s first responsibility is not to the media, or the fans, or even to obtaining wins — it is to looking after his players. For a guy who is criticized for being an NFL coach in a college game, he sure seems to care about how his boys mature into men.
So, I found something positive to write about. Call me a sucker for twisting a horrific game into a positive column; give me hell for not jumping on the “Fire Groh” bandwagon.
But remember one of the reasons you came to this University: Around here, people care. And in that regard, Al Groh fits right in.

Sports and the student voice
The pep band should be reinstated
James Maxwell, Guest Viewpoint
Published: Monday, September 15 2008

AS HEADLINES spread the embarrassing antics of our athletic department, namely the new prohibition of signs at football games, I remain unsurprised. While this week, ESPN writer Rick Reilly decried the policy as “un-American” and an affront to free speech, I see no conspiracy to attack our First Amendment rights. This trouble is simply a symptom of deeper problems with our athletic department and today’s business-like college athletics.
I could say the athletic department shows a growing lack of respect for students, but this isn’t quite right either. Students aren’t any less valuable to them than they were 10 or 20 years ago, it’s just that the football team and its success is so overwhelmingly more valuable that we appear relatively worthless. How can the athletic department afford to have students actively and creatively involved in game day? With millions of dollars to be made and television cameras broadcasting any potential gaffes, game day now needs to be orchestrated by professionals, coaches and directors. This is a completely rational standpoint -- for a business.
The ever-marching erosion of student significance has already claimed victims; an early casualty of waning student control during game day was the Pep Band. Although our four-year institutional memory makes the Pep Band’s days on the field a rumor of the past, it was just over five years ago that this student voice during game day was silenced. Cast aside with trumped up charges of offensive jokes — albeit jokes that had been read and approved by the athletic department — the Pep Band had been tried and sentenced long before the infamous “Tire Bowl incident.” Ten years before, the athletic department attempted a similar coup, announcing the Pep Band’s student leadership would be replaced by an athletic department pay-rolled director. Back then, the students of the band rejected professional control, although perhaps 10 years later they would rue their choice to rebel. Yes, improbably the Pep Band prevailed in 1993, and they ushered back to the football field after a chorus of voices from the community and the national media bemoaned censorship at Mr. Jefferson’s University. But the athletic department’s need to control game day wasn’t changed.
The University has become a brand; a brand that is carefully managed and shaped by professional marketers. Sadly enough, if the University doesn’t fit their marketing plan, these people can change it. From sundresses and ties to the Pep Band to signs during the game to cheesy yearly football slogans borrowed from other sports teams, the athletic department exerts subtle as well as overt control over University traditions.
Students should define the University’s extracurricular character. The administration should be here to support the student community, not direct it. While my respect for the administration of the University and my belief of unencumbered student governance at the University left in 2003 with the Pep Band, my love for Mr. Jefferson’s University didn’t. Let the athletic department know that you love the University for its tradition, for its uniqueness and for its strong, independent student governance. Tell them to show respect for the student community by allowing it to voice itself freely at games. Ask, as Student Council has, to make room for the long-exiled student-governed band, so that sports like soccer and lacrosse can enjoy their musical support again. Remind the athletic department that the University is first and foremost a community of students, not a football franchise. In 1993 a clamor of voices set the athletic department straight; now it’s past time, as Rick Reilly suggests, for a little rebellion.
James Maxwell is a graduate student in the College and a former member of the Virginia Pep Band.

Cavs left reeling after loss
By Jay Jenkins
Published: September 15, 2008

Virginia quarterback Marc Verica said his team needed to return to one place: the drawing board.
The Cavaliers were also en route to the practice field on Sunday, which one player said was not the original plan as the program enters the first of two bye weeks the season’s schedule allots.

Arguing that Virginia (1-2) had earned the right to do otherwise would be rather tough after the Cavaliers were throttled, 45-10, by Connecticut in their first road game on Saturday.

Just seven days after blanking the University of Richmond in the season’s lone win, Virginia’s defense allowed its second 500-plus yard offensive performance. The Huskies churned out 506 yards of total offense as they methodically picked apart the Cavaliers’ defense.

“That was just fun,” said UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen. “It was like playing backyard football, going up and down the field. When the offense works like that, it is fun.”

It was anything but “fun” for Virginia coach Al Groh, who watched his defense allow 382 rushing yards.
“Every aspect of defense was poor,” he said. “Clearly, it is going to take a lot of work.”
Virginia will not play for 12 days and a much improved Duke (2-1) program suddenly appears to be a tougher road task than expected on Sept. 27.

“We do have the bye week to get better, but this was a bad performance overall,” said UVa linebacker Clint Sintim. “It was just a bad, bad performance.”

The Cavaliers’ had just as many problems on offense, posting just two scoring drives against the Huskies.
Newly-appointed quarterback Marc Verica completed the third-most completions for a first-time starter in the program, but accounted for only one point-producing drive. He eventually was benched for senior Scott Deke.

Verica, who replaced Pete Lalich after an odd mid-week benching, finished 22-of-30 for 158 yards passing in his starting debut.

“He made some decent throws; there were a lot of open guys out there where the ball might have gone, too, but as I said it is not about any individuals,” Groh said.

“He had a good head about him throughout the course of the game. Some plays he made clearer decisions and more accurate throws, but it didn’t have anything to do with poise or confidence.”

With or without Lalich, Virginia has room for improvement, as it did last year when it dropped its first road game at Wyoming.

“We had a decent week of practice, but it just didn’t go our way,” Verica said. “UConn did a nice job defending us. We just have to go back to the drawing board.”

And the practice field.
Extra Points
Groh said Lalich was at the Cavaliers’ practice session Sunday afternoon. Lalich has a hearing scheduled for September 26 in Charlottesville General District Court. Groh also indicated he will rotate all three quarterbacks in practice leading up to the Duke game.

 

Quarterback the least of Cavs’ worries
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: September 13, 2008
EAST HARTFORD, Conn.

After all of the hullabaloo, it really didn’t matter who suited up at quarterback for Virginia on Saturday night against Connecticut. Johnny Unitas could have been taking the snaps and the Cavaliers would have still been under whelming.

Virginia’s problems are much more deep-rooted than the quarterback position and it showed in an embarrassing 45-10 defeat to the unbeaten Huskies at Rentschler Field.

The Cavaliers made the trip north without starting quarterback Peter Lalich after Al Groh and UVa officials decided to sit him out for a series of off the field issues. Sophomore Marc Verica, who had previously only played mop up duty in a lopsided loss to No. 1 Southern California a couple of weeks ago, was thrust into the spotlight and played admirably.

UConn dominated the Cavaliers from wire-to-wire regardless of whom Groh trotted out at quarterback.

Groh didn’t wait for reporters to bring up the controversy over the Lalich situation in his brief post-game interview.

“It’s not about in any way, shape or form anybody who wasn’t here ... our team is the team that we put on the field today,” Groh said. “I’m responsible for that. I take the blame for that. There are really no other names necessary to discuss.”

Groh couldn’t have summed up things any better.

Forget the fact that the Cavaliers brought one of America’s most anemic offenses to town (UVa entered the contest ranked No. 115 out of 119 FBS teams). Virginia, which has no running game because a largely inexperienced offensive line can’t block, was limited to going airborne most of the evening, using a five-wide and a four-wide with a tight end scheme.

While Verica did as well as anyone could with limited experience (22 of 30, 158 yards and one interception), it didn’t put a dent into UConn’s veteran defense.

UVa’s collection of quarterbacks have been intercepted four times in three games and are yet to throw a touchdown pass. Against the Huskies, the Cavs were held to 31 yards rushing compared to 382 by UConn backs.

But Virginia’s problems don’t end with the offense. The defense, which was supposed to be the strength of the team, was pathetic.

For the second time in three weeks, Virginia surrendered more than 500 yards of total offense to its opponent (UConn 506, Southern California 558).

Groh pointed out that every aspect of his defense was poor.

Huskies coach Randy Edsall motivated his offense by reminding them of last season’s loss in Charlottesville.

“Last year, Virginia stuffed our butts down there and I challenged our offense with that this week,” Edsall said.

Obviously, he got his point across.