Bradley tries to fill big shoes

Dave Borbely said it.  Eugene Monroe agreed with it. Now, Landon Bradley will have to prove it.

When comparing the career tracks of a pair of offensive linemen, Virginia’s newly-appointed starter at left tackle appears light years ahead of schedule.

Borbely, the Cavaliers’ offensive line coach, is confident that Bradley, the heir apparent for Monroe in the trenches, has the “it factor.”

For obvious reasons, Bradley has big shoes to fill — Monroe was an All-American and signed a wealthy contract this week to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I love him,” Borbely said. “Eugene was here for a couple of days before he left to go back to Jacksonville and we were in my office talking and I said, ‘Man, he is so much better than you were at this same point and time.’

“He said, ‘That kid does stuff that I could never do.”

Bradley, listed at 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, has approached the new spot in the limelight as a starter merely as a chance to help the team win games. Replacing Monroe’s impact on the offense would be too much to ask.

“I really just try to get better every day,” he said. “Eugene was a special talent, and all I can do right now is just try and make us a better team in every practice.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity.”

Bradley has a downside — he is 45 pounds lighter than Monroe.

The Conway, S.C., native attempts to make up for his lack of bulk with excellent footwork, athleticism and knowledge of the offense.

“Landon doesn’t have the bulk and the girth that Eugene had, but technically I am jacked about him,” Borbely said. “He really is so freaking smart. He gets it. He doesn’t get me blocking him but he gets all of it.

“You have to learn your position first. You have to learn how to get there, how to do it. Most guys worry about their guy. This kid has gone through that and he sees it. Understanding football comes very easy to him.”

Last year as a redshirt freshman, Bradley watched with great anticipation as one of his best friends, defensive end Matt Conrath, assumed the starting spot vacated by the departure of Chris Long to the NFL.

The hourglass has been flipped with the roommates.

“I can’t wait for him to get out there and do great things because I have confidence in him to be a great left tackle for us,” Conrath said. “He is a great talent.”

Will Barker, who will start at right tackle for Virginia, said that Bradley learned important traits early on watching Monroe and former guard Branden Albert.

“They showed me how to practice and how to play. I think that is one of the biggest parts and Landon caught on right away,” said Barker, a senior. “He knows how to practice and he has the right attitude.

“It helps when you are a pretty good athlete like he is. He is a hell of an athlete. He had a couple of years behind Eugene and Eugene is obviously one of the best to learn from.”