Cavs’ offensive line clicks
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 6, 2008

While the emotions were similar, the descriptions varied.
Will Barker said it was his best feeling in a year. B.J. Cabbell saw it merely as greatness. Eugene Monroe thought it was trench domination.
After a rough start, Virginia’s offensive line picked up steam against Maryland, helping to guide the Cavaliers to a 31-0 victory.
In the contest, Virginia amassed 26 first downs and 426 yards of total offense.
“That game was crazy,” said Barker, Virginia’s starting right tackle. “I don’t think I have felt that good since we beat Maryland last year.
“That was a hell of a win. We all played well. We finally got it going.”
Virginia entered the contest with just one touchdown in its previous eight quarters before exploding for a pair of touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
“I feel like we were really prepared throughout the week and just all of a sudden it came together,” said Cabbell, who made his fifth career start at right guard. “I can’t explain it.
“We were headed in the right direction anyway, but with Cedric [Peerman] coming back, that was a tremendous plus.”
The Cavaliers (2-3, 1-1 ACC) entered the season with a host of new faces on their offensive line. Only Barker, Monroe and guard Zak Stair had starting experience and Stair was sidelined for the Duke game with a knee injury.
With true freshman Austin Pasztor on the field in Stair’s absence at left guard, Virginia ran for 201 yards, averaging almost five yards per attempt.
Pasztor, who prepped at Fork Union, does not turn 18 until late Novemeber.
“He did something tonight he should be proud of and clearly we’re proud of,” said Virginia coach Al Groh.
The success of Virginia’s offensive line helped drop Maryland’s defense to eighth in the league against the run.
“The whole game was great. It’s just exciting any time you beat Maryland,” Monroe said. “It was a combination of [trench dominance] and the running backs finding the holes and using their ability to get the ball down the field.
“We improved on that and we didn’t have that dimension in our game the last few weeks, but we hope to continue upon that because we did an excellent job.”

 

Two U.Va. football players found not guilty of misdemeanor charges
Monday, Oct 06, 2008 - 03:54 PM Updated: 09:01 PM

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia football players Will Barker and Dave Roberts were found not guilty of misdemeanor petit larceny charges today in Charlottesville General District Court.

Barker, 21, and Roberts, 19, were arrested in late July at an after-hours nightclub in downtown Charlottesville. They were alleged to have stolen beer from a cooler at Club 216, and each was charged with petit larceny.

A three-year starter at offensive tackle, Barker is a redshirt junior from the Philadelphia area.

Roberts, who plays offensive guard, is a redshirt freshman from Sarasota, Fla. He joined the team as a walk-on last year.

Roberts was charged with two other misdemeanors after the incident at Club 216. He pleaded guilty today to having used an ID that was not his. For that, he paid a $100 fine. Roberts also was charged with underage possession of alcohol, and today he was placed in a pre-conviction probation program.

If Roberts meets the conditions of his program for the next year, the charge will be dropped on Oct. 6, 2009.

-- Jeff White

 

Much better mood in C'ville
It's amazing what a convincing win can do for the overall mood of a program. Last Sunday night, it sounded like Doomsday in Charlottesville as coach Al Groh talked about everything that needed to improve after a 31-3 loss at Duke.

Tonight, Groh sounded positively chipper as he discussed his team's 31-0 win against Maryland and looked ahead to East Carolina, a game that suddenly seems very winnable considering the Pirates have lost two straight to North Carolina State and Houston (combined 4-7 record) after starting the season 3-0 and climbing as high as No. 15 in the nation.

One of U.Va.'s biggest improvements this weekend came on third down opportunities, where it was 10 of 17 against Maryland. U.Va. came into the game having converted just 17 of 55 third downs.

Quarterback Marc Verica, who conjured Matt Schaub-like consistency with the short passing game (and a few deep ones sprinkled in, like the 51-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Ogletree), was a big reason why U.Va. had a major breakthrough on third downs. Verica was 8 of 11 passing for 56 yards on third downs against Maryland. All of the conversions weren't short ones. He helped U.Va. get to the marker on a third-and-8 and a third-and-9. That's quite an effort from a guy that had four interceptions against Duke.

"It's just the confidence factor," Groh said Sunday regarding Verica, who replaced dismissed quarterback Peter Lalich as U.Va.'s starter three weeks ago. "Because of the circumstances with Marc playing, and under the circumstances in which he was suddenly in the lineup, we've really tried to stay consistent with the plays and the plan. He gets a constant look in practice with a variety of coverages so that no matter what comes up in a game, whether it's expected or unexpected, he's comfortable with it. As we're able to build up those reps for him, hopefully it'll be a continuing story that just the picture stays clear for him.

"It's just one more week that all this has been going on, but as we said (Saturday), the very nature of that position is just because a player has a very positive game there's no guarantee it's going to continue the next week. This whole idea of a step back and a step forward, I've never really seen it that way. It's really judged over a long-term period of time, but certainly (Saturday night) did show evidence of many of the things that we've tried to get him exposure to...it's been very noticeable that he and (offensive coordinator Mike Groh) have built up a very good relationship and a very good communication and trusting relationship. They work well together. I think Michael can certainly relate to Marc's circumstances. It's kind of the way that (Mike Groh) started when he was playing quarterback, so he's kind of doing it the way that he knew that made him comfortable."

Of course, what Al Groh was referring to with regard to Mike's days as a U.Va. quarterback was how Mike had to work his way into the position through unconventional means. Mike replaced Bobby Goodman as U.Va.'s starter late in the 1992 season, which was Mike's redshirt freshman year. Then, in '93, Mike was beaten out for the starting job by Symmion Willis. In '94, Groh and Willis alternated at the position, but Groh ultimately won the starting job and Willis left the team after the season.

Posted by Norman Wood
 

Pirates refocus after week off
A.J. Carr, Staff Writer
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GREENVILLE - East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz spent last Saturday's open date at a cabin hideaway with his family. He didn't watch any football on TV, opting instead to ride four-wheelers with his children.
While the R&R was enjoyable, East Carolina's calculating coach is busy now trying to figure out how to get his Pirates free-wheeling in the right direction again as they prepare for a trip to Virginia.

Holtz and his staff have evaluated schemes, play-calling, the offense, the defense and personnel since a 41-24 loss to Houston on Sept. 27. And he has sent a message that competition for starting status will increase and that some upperclassmen's jobs could be in jeopardy.

Specifically, he cited the Pirates' low success rate on third downs as the offense's apparent Achilles' heel. The absence of a big playmaker -- like Chris Johnson was last year -- also has become more pronounced.

On third-down snaps, ECU has converted 23 of 64, or 35.9 percent, and that ranks 10th among the 12 Conference USA teams.

"We've got to look at our calls and what we've been doing from a scheme standpoint,'' Holtz said. "[Also], we don't have the big-play player like we had in Chris. We are having to take the ball methodically and drive it down field. If you're not good on third down, that doesn't bode well for productivity."

Not that the offense hasn't had magical moments in the 3-2 start. But it needs more consistency along with improved third-down success.

Defensively, the Pirates have produced a few highlights reel performances and rank second in C-USA in yardage allowed. It also has tripped.

Opponents are gaining too much ground on first down. And the "D" has been burned on explosive pass plays.

"Say 'big pass plays,' and immediately there's talk about our secondary,'' Holtz said. "It's as much our linebackers giving up underneath plays that turn into big [catch-and-run] plays. We'll possibly look at playing more Nickel [scheme]."

However, Holtz pointed out that linebackers Pierre Bell and Nick Johnson -- who replaced injured Quentin Cotton two games ago -- have graded out with winning efforts in all five games.

As for special teams, punter Matt Dodge (45.4 average) and place-kicker Ben Hartman have been solid. But the kickoff coverage and kickoff return units need shoring up.

Without citing individuals, Holtz indicated he won't hesitate to employ younger players if they're out-performing seniors. He isn't one to use a lot of motivational tricks and psychological ploys.

"I'm very honest with them,'' Holtz said. "We're not as together was we need to be. We're holding everybody accountable, players to coaches."

Virginia, which once looked vulnerable, made a stunning turnaround Saturday with a 31-0 win over Maryland. And now Holtz figures it's time for the Pirates to do a 180-degree pirouette.

He said tape study reveals the effort is still there but that the Pirates aren't playing as smart and obviously not at the level that carried them to a 3-0 start.

Maybe, Holtz hopes, the week off will help get them back on track.

INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver T.J. Lee, who missed the past two games with a foot injury, is practicing again. He's still heralded for his game-winning blocked punt and TD against Virginia Tech.

Defensive end Marcus Hands, out recently with back spasms, also should play Saturday.

 

Few placards in stands, but signs of life on the field
October 5, 2008 12:16 am
CHARLOTTESVILLE--

Even though University of Virginia officials rescinded their ill-advised ban on homemade banners before last night's home game with Maryland, there were few visible messages in Scott Stadium.

But even without poster board and magic markers, there were some surprisingly positive signs for the home team.

The Cavaliers team that manhandled Maryland 31-0 last night bore absolutely no resemblance to the pathetic edition that had been outscored 128-20 by three Division I-A opponents.

Quarterback Marc Verica looked sharp in his third college start. Virginia's beleaguered defense was active, aggressive and hard-hitting, harassing Maryland quarterback Chris Turner at every turn.

And perhaps most encouraging of all, Al and Mike Groh decisively outcoached Ralph Friedgen's staff.

If you missed it, Groh pere et fils are less popular in Charlottesville than Sarah Palin at a Planned Parenthood convention. They have shouldered the blame (some justified, some not) for the rapid descent of a program that was one win shy of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game last season.

How soon Virginia fans forget: Al Groh was named ACC coach of the year for the second time in 2007. But the graduation of All-American Chris Long and the unexpected losses of, among others, quarterbacks Jameel Sewell (academics) and Peter Lalich (legal issues), plus defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald and cornerback Chris Cook (academics) and guard Brandon Albert (a first-round pick as an early entry in the NFL draft), have left the Cavs with what Al Groh called a lack of "inventory."

As unflattering as that description is, there's some truth to it. Virginia has a glaring lack of speed and playmakers, so its 0-3 record against I-A opponents is hardly surprising. It was a lack of competitiveness that galled Cavalier Nation. Could any BCS conference team be that bad?

Some students registered their dissatisfaction by wearing "Groh Must Go" T-shirts; the empty sections of seats in the upper deck reflected others' dissatisfaction. The announced attendance of 50,727 was Virginia's smallest in years.

Groh may not be totally to blame for his players' shortcomings. And the school deserves credit for maintaining its standards for academics and conduct. Still, if the CEO (as Al Groh considers himself) takes home the hardware for last season's heroics, he ultimately must take the heat when the well runs dry.

Last night, though, it seemed to overflow. Virginia entered the game last in the nation in scoring offense, without a touchdown pass in four games. By halftime, Verica had thrown two to Kevin Ogletree--a perfectly thrown 51-yard post and an improvised 15-yarder just before halftime.

Verica also showed unexpected speed and agility on a 5-yard TD scamper in which he juked Maryland defensive end Dean Muhtabi and outran the Terrapin defense.

In short, Verica looked comfortable and confident--everything that Virginia's quarterbacks did not in their first four games. And, like him or not, Mike Groh deserves credit for both a creative game plan and Verica's development. Even with a lead, the younger Groh never took his foot off the gas.

Al Groh also gets kudos for going for it on fourth and inches from midfield with a 14-0 lead and one minute left in the second quarter. Had the gamble failed, the Terps might have taken momentum into halftime of a game they had no business winning.

Instead, Verica hit Ogletree for a 21-0 lead at the break. And when Maryland's feeble onside kick to open the second half traveled just 4 yards, the stunned Terps' hopes (and morale) died on their side of midfield.

Should Virginia fans start ordering bowl tickets? Not so fast. The Cavaliers were playing at home, with their pride wounded. Maryland was due for a letdown after last week's emotional win at Clemson.

(And what does Friedgen's new offensive coordinator, James Franklin, have against Darrius Heyward-Bey? Potentially a first-round NFL draft pick, Heyward-Bey did not catch a pass for the second straight week--and didn't have one last night until the fourth quarter.)

Still, last night was more about what Virginia did right than what Maryland did wrong. It might have been one adrenaline-inspired blip in what still may be a long, dreadful season.

But for one night at least, all signs pointed to optimism.