White: More Signs of Progress for Offense
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 10/04/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Against Southern Mississippi, UVa scored 34 points and amassed 390 yards of offense, both season highs.

In the Cavaliers' next game, against ACC rival North Carolina two weeks later, they scored 16 points and totaled 254 yards.

Nonetheless, senior quarterback Jameel Sewell called the game at Chapel Hill, Virginia's first victory of the season, another step forward for an offense that began the season in a new spread scheme but since a Sept. 12 loss to TCU has become more conventional.

"Our offensive line, a lot of people have been saying we're not tough enough or whatever it may be, but that offensive line just took it personally and made it their job to show how physical and how good they are, and I think they accomplished that," Sewell said Saturday afternoon after UVa's 16-3 win over North Carolina.

"Our running game really got off the ground. Holes were opened up, and we were physical."

The Wahoos (1-0 ACC, 1-3 overall) continue to rank near the bottom of the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision in most offensive categories. They're 99th in passing offense, 102nd in scoring offense, 110th in rushing offense, 117th in total offense and last in sacks allowed per game.

Against UNC, though, senior tailback Mikell Simpson rushed for 100 yards (on 20 carries) and the game's only touchdown, and Sewell was 13 of 24 passing for 136 yards. Equally important, Sewell and Co. played a clean game.

"The one thing they did in the previous games that they didn't do today is turn the ball over," Tar Heels coach Butch Davis told reporters at Kenan Stadium.

Asked Sunday night about his offense's performance against UNC, Al Groh said, "I thought we were playing against a much more talented defensive team [than Southern Miss]. There's some really good players on that defense, certainly some heavily hyped and well-thought-of players, so it was going to be a little bit stickier there, we knew, in the first place."

After Carolina pulled to 6-3 in the third quarter, UVa answered immediately. The Cavaliers produced a drive that ended with sophomore Robert Randolph's career-long 43-yard field goal, and just like that, their lead was back to six.

Sewell opened the drive by completing a 14-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Kris Burd, then hit redshirt freshman wideout Javaris Brown for an 18-yard gain to the UNC 32.

"When you play on the road like that," Groh said, "you expect at some point that the home team's really going to have a surge.

"[Sewell's two completions] took the momentum right back for us. Those were two things that don't show up as far as a 300-yard passing game is concerned. And then [Virginia showed] the ability to take the ball down the field, primarily running the ball, to score the touchdown that gave us the big lead."

"We got more to make, but I thought we certainly showed progress in doing some things we hadn't done before."

On his Sunday night teleconference, Groh also addressed the need for Sewell to get rid of the ball more quickly.

"That's something that he's very conscious of and has been working quite a bit on," Groh said. "In fact, on one of the really good plays that he made in the game, we had a critical third-down play on the drive that led to the touchdown, and we got a corner blitz. Along with the linebacker, we got two [rushers] off the weak side, and [Sewell] really stood his ground. He didn't move an inch and stood right there, let the receiver come open and hit Jared Green for the first down.

"He's made good progress in those areas. There's more progress to be made. He certainly is cognizant of the value to him and to us of getting the ball out as fast as possible."

* * * * * *

Raycom sideline reporter Mike Hogewood's postgame interview with Groh at Kenan Stadium included a memorable exchange.

Hogewood: "Yeah, but you know this world of talk radio, and all this stuff. You're 0-3, people had stuck a fork in your team, and yet somehow you got them back up, and today they came out and really played well."

Groh: "Mike, we're pretty hard to stick a fork in."

September has been a struggle for the 'Hoos in recent years, but they've won five straight games in October, dating to last season, and 10 of their past 11 games in that month.

"I guess you'd call it Octoberfest," Groh quipped Sunday night.

* * * * * *

On the injury report issued Thursday night, UVa listed sophomore safety Rodney McLeod as "probable," meaning he was likely to play against UNC. But McLeod's injured knee didn't improve as expected.

"Well into the week we were projecting that Rodney was going to play," Groh said Sunday night. "As the week went on, we became more pessimistic about it, and probably Friday during our workout we determined that it would only be in an emergency."

McLeod was a spectator Saturday, and he saw his replacement, fifth-year senior Brandon Woods, play superbly.

Woods, who was used primarily on special teams in 2006 and '07, started the first three games last year but struggled and lost his job. Some outside the program speculated that Woods, who's from Durham, N.C., might not return to UVa for a fifth year, but there "was never any question on our part," Groh said.

"We thought he was a valuable member of the team, and both sides had invested a lot of time in his development and wanted to see it through to its fruition."

* * * * * *

Cameron Johnson made his second straight start at outside linebacker for UVa. A 6-4, 255-pound sophomore who appeared in six games last year, Johnson is still seeking his first career sack.

On a couple of occasions Saturday, he nearly corraled Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. Johnson was credited with one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.

In 2005, UVa defensive end Chris Long finished the season with 26 quarterback hurries but had only two sacks. Two years later, as a senior, Long recorded 14 sacks.

"I know in Chris' case, at least, we saw that whole scenario play itself out," Groh said. "As he became more and more accomplished as a pass-rusher, it enabled him just to get there a step sooner. So some of those times when the quarterback previously had been able to duck underneath and get away in that fashion, now he had him in full grasp.

"That'll be the next thing [for Johnson]. I think if this is progress, he's progressed to that point, as opposed to not being close enough for those things to happen. He did have some good rushes yesterday, and certainly had more on an impact on the game that at any other previous games."

* * * * * *

UVa hosts Indiana (3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers haven't played at home since the Sept. 12 loss to TCU.

The Hoosiers won their first three games, then lost a close one at Michigan on Sept. 26. They fell at home to Ohio State this weekend.

"If I were in their circumstances," Groh said, "at least I'd feel pretty strongly it doesn't get any more challenging [than back-to-back games against Michigan and and Ohio State]."

* * * * * *

 

Will Cavs shine again in October?
By Michael Phillips
Published: October 5, 2009

October has five Saturdays this year, which is a good sign for Virginia's football team.

Cavaliers coach Al Groh is college football's answer to Mr. October, and over the past few years, he's been nearly untouchable during the month.

"I guess you could call it Octoberfest," he said last night with a chuckle, before adding that he hasn't put any thought into the team's pre-Halloween success. The month rescued the 2008 season and has the potential to do likewise this year.

Coming off an 0-3 September, the Wahoos launched their October campaign Saturday in Chapel Hill by defeating North Carolina 16-3, their 10th October victory in the past 11 tries, spanning three years.

Now they'll look to keep the momentum rolling with a homecoming game against Indiana, then a road test against Michigan.

Virginia's players got one more opportunity to relish the first victory of the season yesterday, but Groh told the team that the focus would shift forward as soon as the film review session ended. The coach will live that out too, saying at the end of a conversation last night that he would be done thinking about the game "as soon as I hang up the phone."

Before that happened, there were several positive points on which to elaborate for the coach, as well as a few areas for improvement.

Despite the offense taking a step back in terms of numbers, Groh believed the unit took a step forward in terms of poise against the Tar Heels' defense.

Drawing kudos in particular was quarterback Jameel Sewell, who responded to North Carolina's lone scoring drive with his best possession of the game.

His first two passes after the field goal were a 14-yard completion to fellow Richmonder Kris Burd, then an 18-yard strike to Javaris Brown. A short pass to Rashawn Jackson set up a U.Va. field goal in response.

"He took the momentum right back for us," Groh said. "I think those things show some progress. We've got more to make but that certainly showed progress."

Sewell said that the game's finish was especially useful for the team's younger players, and that their celebration would turn to an increased focus this week.

"It fuels their hunger," he said. "They understand what it takes to win at this level now."

The victory was further defined as it came at the end of a bye week, a time that Groh said was used to solidify the team's identity. Before the season, he said it would take three or four weeks before the team's ability became clear.

And while the ultimate verdict is rendered on the field, the team could get a reprieve there as it faces Indiana and Maryland after a strong September schedule.

The Hoosiers are coming off back-to-back games against Michigan and Ohio State, two losses after a 3-0 start during nonconference play. Maryland is 2-3, including an overtime victory against James Madison.

Saturday's game will be played at Scott Stadium, which hosted the U2 concert last Thursday. The Redskins had to resod their grass field after the show, and while Groh had not personally inspected the field, he said he was "aware of that possibility."

He's also hoping to sow some seeds of faith among a fan base that was disheartened out of the gate. The victory Saturday was a start, and if previous results are any indication, this is the month where the Cavaliers have the ability to take off.

Groh said he doesn't regret his decision to pass on the U2 concert at Scott Stadium.

"Given the results of the weekend, I would say that I'm pleased with how I decided to spend my time Thursday night," he said. "I got a couple U2 CDs, so in my world that will suffice for a tradeoff for a win in the game."




 

Al Groh’s Sunday take - 10/04
Michael Phillips
Oct 04, 2009

The full blogging schedule returns tomorrow from Charlottesville, but here are some nuggets to tide you over until then:

—I asked Al Groh about the state of the field after Thursday’s U2 concert. He said he hadn’t seen it personally, but that he was “aware of the possibility” that there might need to be a re-sodding of the grass field. It was a similar situation in Washington at FedEx Field.

—Safety Rodney McLeod was scheduled to be available as late as Thursday, but on Friday his knee injury led the staff to feel otherwise about his participation Saturday. He did not play.

—Defensive end Zane Parr has become a part of the team’s dime packages, with Groh saying that the sophomore had worked his way onto the unit.

—On Jameel Sewell’s progress in throwing the ball away: “That’s something that he’s very conscious of, and he’s working quite a bit on. He had a very critical third-down play that we had a corner blitz along the line and he really stood his ground - didn’t move an inch. The receiver came up and Jameel hit his receiver. There’s more progress to be made, but he’s certainly cognizant to the value of him and us of getting the ball out quickly.“

—He confirmed that Vic Hall met with him earlier in the week in the coach’s offense and volunteered to do whatever was necessary to help the team. As Hall told me yesterday regarding the QB situation: “I don’t see why you would fix something that’s not broken.“ Both player and coach had the idea to turn him into a two-way player.

—The ineligible receiver penalty that negated an early touchdown pass was against Javaris Brown, and Groh said that he saw it coming from the sideline. “I looked over before the snap and thought, oh jeez.“
 

Virginia Musings

Virginia’s 0-3 start prompted some to wonder if the Cavaliers were headed toward Dick Bestwick land, or early George Welsh territory – one or two wins, or maybe an oh-fer.

Very doubtful. Unlike some of Virginia’s historically dreadful teams, this one has talent. It can compete. Perhaps most important, the Cavs play in the ACC, not the NFC.

Virginia’s 16-3 win at North Carolina on Saturday might have been more about the Tar Heels’ offensive shortcomings than the Cavs’ abilities, but a look around the league tells you that everybody can be had.

As Comrade Teel points out elsewhere, by the first weekend of October, nine of 12 ACC teams already have at least one conference loss. Two of the three without an ACC loss, Virginia and Maryland, already have three non-conference losses.

You decide if that’s a function of parity, mediocrity, inconsistency, or some combination thereof.

Popularity contests aside, coach Al Groh also has a track record of a steady hand on the tiller, particularly in rough waters. Witness last season, when the Cavs were 1-3 and their quarterback situation in shambles. They ran off four wins in a row, including back-to-back wins against nationally-ranked North Carolina and Georgia Tech before their flaws eventually caught up to them.

Two years ago, Virginia won five games by one or two points on the way to the Gator Bowl. Three years ago, the Cavs were muddling along at 2-5, then won three of their last five. Even in Groh’s first season, 2001, they were 3-6, but won two of their last three – beating nationally-ranked Georgia Tech and Penn State.

Groh and the staff persuaded the players to buy into the concept of short memories and that the conference season provides a fresh start.

“People have been saying (we have) a seven-game losing streak since last year,” quarterback Jameel Sewell said. “We finally got into ACC play, and it’s very important to us to get this first win. And it was on the road, which means a lot, which shows how much we’re capable of doing.”

Let’s not get carried away. The Cavs had two weeks to prepare for a team it always beats (four in a row, seven of eight, 10 of 12). No such breaks upcoming.

That said, Sewell has begun to establish a rhythm, since the Cavs have all but scrapped the rotating quarterback system and devotion to the spread offense.

Sewell was moderately effective versus Carolina (13-for-24, 136 yards, 43 yards rushing before sacks), but is still as likely to airmail a throw or to be a shade off in his decision making as he is to make a play.

In fact, Sewell criticized himself afterward for holding onto the ball too long at times, which led to sacks and pressures, and for misreading his blocks on running plays.

Following a year away due to academic issues, perhaps he will improve as the season progresses – though he showed pretty much the same package in 2007.

Speaking of 2007, Mikell Simpson (100 yards rushing, 45 receiving) had his best day since the ’07 Gator Bowl as the Cavaliers ran the ball moderately well for the first time this season.

A rebuilding Virginia defense gave an underperforming North Carolina offense fits. Several future opponents won’t be as chronically inept on offense – Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech, in particular.

“If we can build off this,” Sewell said, “but also remember what it feels like to feel real salty because of a loss, we can go a long way.”

“Long way” is an ambiguous term. This isn’t a one- or two-win season. Pencil in four wins, five if you’re feeling really generous.

Posted by Dave Fairbank on Sunday, October 04, 2009 at 04:16 PM
 

Don't be afraid to boo the coachArticle
BY CAULTON TUDOR - Staff Writer

Based on some of Sunday's e-mails and phone messages, there's obviously a misunderstanding over a point I attempted to make about the booing Saturday in Kenan Stadium during Virginia's 16-3 football win over North Carolina.

In the game column, I wrote that Carolina's offensive performance led to some "richly deserved" booing of Tar Heels coach Butch Davis and his offensive staff.

The column also questioned Davis' decision to shun the use of reserve quarterbacks during a stretch of games that have gone poorly for starter T.J. Yates.

I did not write that Yates deserves to be booed, nor do I think fans are booing him per se. In fact, about 90 percent of the discontented home-fan booing I've heard over four decades of covering Triangle college teams has never been directly aimed at players. It's almost always pointed at the coaches.

In this area, and most of the ACC for that matter, players so rarely get booed by their own fan base that it's an anomaly when it happens.

Yates wasn't being booed Saturday, and he should not have been. He was doing his best within the framework of the system and the preparation he was put through. From everything I know personally about him, Yates is a stand-up guy who all of us should be proud to have for a son, brother, teammate and friend. Hopefully, he'll succeed to the extent that he one day makes a fortune playing the game he enjoys so much.

Accountability to fans

The booing was all about the offense fans were seeing from a third-year coaching staff in a game against a winless two-touchdown underdog visitor that had been giving up an average of more than 30 points per game.

Some readers think that it's in poor taste to boo anything about college athletics, and that's certainly their prerogative. It's an admirable conviction. But when a game ticket costs 50 bucks and the coaches are getting paid millions of dollars annually, the customers have every right to be heard.

Embattled Virginia coach Al Groh made an interesting observation after the game when he said "it's a players' game."

That's accurate to an extent, sure. But it's true that the coaches and the schools that hire them are raking in billions off football and men's basketball while the players settle for scholarship money and put their health on the line to benefit even that much. It may be a players' game, but it's definitely a coaches' and colleges' bounty.

Players hear the booing, and it's only natural that they sometimes take it personally. But deep inside, most of them understand that the catcalls are more about the people in charge of the program than the players in it.
 

Offense shows its potential
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 5, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Standing just feet from the press box elevator, Virginia offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon flashed a priceless smile.
“It feels good to get one,” Brandon chirped in the direction of fellow assistant coach Chad Wilt.
“We are 1-0 in the ACC,” Wilt replied.
Brandon smiled again, as if the weight of the world was off his broad shoulders after registering his first victory at Virginia.
“That’s all that matters,” he replied before celebrating wildly with players in the locker room.
Having lost seven games in a row and feeling pressure from a grumbling fanbase, Virginia and its coaching staff responded Saturday with an impressive 16-3 upset victory over North Carolina.
It was the first step for the Cavaliers (1-3, 1-0 ACC) in salvaging a season that started with promise and appeared in a nosedive after three collapses.
“We always knew we could do it, but we didn’t know how to win,” Virginia running back Rashawn Jackson said. “We kind found that in ourselves.”
The groundwork for yet another victory over North Carolina was put in place during the Cavaliers’ bye week.
According to the players, what North Carolina (3-2, 0-2) showed in the game was exactly what Virginia prepared for.
“We really had a sense of what they were going to do to us,” Virginia defensive end Matt Conrath said. “We knew the schemes they were going, what run plays they were going to run and what we had to do to stop them,
“I think we did pretty well with that.”
While the defense stole the show by keeping UNC out of the end zone and pressuring quarterback T.J. Yates throughout, it was the Brandon-led offensive unit that showed additional promise for the remaining eight games with its first
turnover-free performance.
To make matters better, the results came against a team ranked 14th nationally in total defense.
“That is a good defense that we beat,” said Jackson, who split time with Mikell Simpson. “Unfortunately we shot ourselves in the foot and had too many penalties and could get on the board more.
“That was a little disheartening, but what really matters is the win.”
Consistency also emerged at the quarterback position in the process, as senior Jameel Sewell kept full-time status despite the return of opening-game starter Vic Hall, who had been sidelined for two games with a hip injury.
Hall lined up in certain defensive packages as a safety, played numerous snaps at wideout and logged a play at quarterback in the “Wildcat” formation.
It was Hall’s idea to turn the reigns over to Sewell, his roommate, and he pleaded for it to remain that way for the sake of the team.
“We’ve got some stability at the quarterback position,” Hall said. “I don’t see why you would fix something that’s not broken.”
Virginia returned to practice Sunday night, preparing for Saturday’s home contest with Indiana. The non-televised game will start at 3:30 p.m.