Cavs’ pass defense gets a test

Part of David Cutcliffe wishes he didn’t have to coach today.

That, Duke’s head coach said, would allow him the opportunity to watch Virginia’s defense carefully and study the operation.

Virginia coach Al Groh raved all week in similar fashion in regards to Duke’s passing attack, which ranks sixth in the country.

That matchup will be on clear display today as the Blue Devils (4-3, 2-1) and Cavaliers (3-4, 2-1) battle each other to stay in the ACC Coastal Division title race.

“It is one that is maybe [one of] the premier matchups in the league,” Cutcliffe said. “It is probably the best throwing game in the league and the best defending team in the league of the pass.

“If I weren’t having to play them I would enjoy watching them play defense and learning from it.”

That talent will be needed against Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who has passed for nine touchdowns and 1,189 yards over the past three games.

“[Lewis] is with a coach that really knows the offense,” Groh said, “and he is in his second year with it and he has really elevated his performance.”

It was during a shootout against N.C. State that Lewis was at his best. He threw just 10 incomplete passes, registered for 459 yards through the air and had five touchdowns.

“[Going] 40 for 50 is probably the greatest performance that anybody’s ever coached,” Groh said. “It’s probably better than [Tom] Brady or [Peyton] Manning has ever had.”

To combat Lewis and the various pass-catching weapons that Duke offers, Cutcliffe said he expects numerous defensive looks.

“They pushed us around last year. Their secondary absolutely pushed us around, so our guys are very aware of their talent level,” he said. “Their front puts a bunch of pressure on you and you are going to see a bunch of packages.”

Nate Collins, Virginia’s senior defensive end, has been a key player in that regard. Last week, Collins managed 16 tackles against Georgia Tech while splitting time between defensive end and nose tackle.

“He is a guy that is just playing lights out as a senior,” Cutcliffe said. “He is probably playing more dominant than any defensive lineman in the ACC.”

In the unpredictable ACC — a fact that was borne out when North Carolina upset No. 14 Virginia Tech on Thursday night — it is the players in the trenches and the pocket that can change the outcome of contests.

“It is a very balanced league,” Cutcliffe said. “There are a lot of good quarterbacks in the league, which makes the league special. There are a lot of good defensive players. We are going to see a number of those [today].”