FOOTBALL: Working out the kinks

More than a few bystanders at Sunday’s open practice were surprised with how Virginia’s open session ended: with a series of missed field goals.
To the credit of Virginia coach Al Groh, extending the late-practice field-goal kicking drill to finish on a successful kick could have cut into his dinner plans.
The heir apparent at placekicker, Chris Hinkebein, had several kicks blocked while others sailed wide left and wider right. Issues with the operation, including botched holds with slippery footballs, also plagued the red shirt freshman’s afternoon, a recurring trend over the past few weeks, Groh confirmed Monday.
“We are looking pretty much for improvement in all aspects of the operation.”
Luckily, Hinkebein has time on his side and no known competition since Groh has ruled out using incoming punter Jimmy Howell, a placekicker in high school, for multiple jobs, at least thus far.
To his credit, Hinkebein, a two-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C., did not shy away from an interview follow his miscues, something Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank could not say after giving the Heisman to reporters following his missed field goal on a would-be winner at Scott Stadium last year.
“We are just working everything out,” Hinkebein said. “It’s spring, it’s time to learn and we are just trying to figure things out.”
Hinkebein, having heard his share of tongue lashes, knows the importance of his role on a team that has obvious holes to fill on offense and defense following graduation and early defections.
“Special teams is always important,” he said. “It is all about field position. But people struggle at times — we are all human.”
Though erratic, Hinkebein showcased a powerful foot last season in practices and pregame warm-ups, and Groh confirmed that distance has not been an issue this spring.
The same could have been said during the 2006 season of former placekicker Chris Gould, who missed 11 of 19 attempts, including eight of 12 beyond 40 yards.
“That’s a good comparison, yes,” Groh said.
Gould, after shifting his approach to the ball, improved
dramatically as a senior, nailing 16 of 20 attempts, including every kick beyond 41 yards.
Hinkebein said he tried to monitor Gould’s every movement and picked the brain of the hopeful professional.
“Chris is a good player and he is developed in every area of his game,” Hinkebein said. “I just tried to learn a lot from him last year. He was a great attribute to the team.
“I am just trying to mimic what he did last year.”
Bouncing around
The price of admission to a Virginia game last year typically included the bonus of watching former defensive coordinator Mike London flying through the air for chest bumps with his pupils.
Few expect to see the same from London’s replacement, Bob Pruett, who turns 65 in June.
Pruett has, however, won over his defensive players with a charismatic approach.
During one drill on Sunday, Pruett, a legendary coach at Marshall for nine years, barked at his players, demanding that they celebrate a turnover.
“I think he is the lighter side of coach Groh, but with a similar intensity, which is nice,” said linebacker Jon Copper. “They are very much on the same page.”
Thus far, Groh has been given everything he expected from his long-time friend and former co-worker.
“Obviously, with the long-term background that we have, the only way I would have gotten any surprises by what he’s doing right now is to have had a loss of memory,” Groh said. “Bob’s doing exactly what he has always done — he’s very thorough, very detailed, high energy.
“His enthusiasm for coaching is obvious, the same way it was 20 years ago.”
Working in pressure-packed situations with his close friend has not been a problem.
“I don’t know why [our friendship] has to be separated,” Groh said.
“Over the years here, there have been quite a few fellas I worked with who were then and continue to be long-time friends, so this is certainly not a new circumstance for us.”
Pruett is also expected to have a big boost with Virginia’s in-state recruiting efforts, mainly in the Tidewater, which was needed after London became the head coach at Richmond.
“Bob can relate to anybody, and Bob’s had excellent success recruiting a lot of players to schools where he coached from Virginia,” Groh pointed out. “He knows how to get to schools and if people have stayed in coaching as long as he has, he’ll know a lot of coaches.”
Under center
The starting job as Virginia’s center next year has been all but given to sophomore Jack Shields.
It was a vision Groh had years ago when Shields attended Virginia’s summer camp as a tall and lanky tight end.
“The remark was made by somebody at that time that he may not run a great-looking route as a tight end, but how many centers could run a corner route like that,” Groh recounted.
In a perfect world, Groh would have been able to give Shields spot-duty at center behind Jordy Lipsey last year late in lopsided contests.
But Virginia, en route to nine wins, played ample games that were not determined until the fourth quarter.
“It was definitely a result of game situations,” Groh said, “as it was at a number of other positions too, with those games going down to the final possession, we stayed pretty much with our core lineup during those games.”
Extra points …
Safety Brandon Woods was not at practice Sunday due to a family funeral, Groh confirmed. … The Cavaliers have three practice opportunities remaining. After sessions today and Wednesday, the program will remain off until Saturday’s spring game. It is unclear what format will be used for the spring game, but it is not expected to mirror an actual contest due to depth issues.