Has UVa found an explosive combo?

Who knows what might have happened with Virginia football last fall if not for a change in plans last spring.
Cavaliers coach Al Groh revealed on Wednesday that plans were in place last spring to add Vic Hall to the offensive mix. Those plans were nixed, however, when two of the team’s cornerbacks (Chris Cook and Mike Brown) didn’t participate in spring drills, forcing the coaches to keep Hall at his corner spot.
Of course, we all saw what Hall did on one week’s worth of practice against Virginia Tech in the regular season finale when he took over at the improvised quarterback position in what he later termed the “Hoo-cat” version of the wildcat formation.
With a group of healthy corners this time around, Hall is getting plenty of exposure to Virginia’s new spread offense. He’s apparently getting looks at quarterback, but could it be that the Wahoos are going to use him in other ways as well?
Groh hinted Wednesday that was the case.
When asked if it was a possibility that both Jameel Sewell and Hall would be included in the offense at the same time, Groh’s reply was intriguing.
“Shall we say they are both versatile players?” the coach said.
A double dose?
With both those players involved in the Cavaliers’ no huddle, spread attack, things could be exciting at Scott Stadium this fall. Hall was explosive against the Hokies, who had trouble containing his bursts upfield. Sewell, who can also scramble with the best of ‘em, ranks ninth on the Virginia career passing list, not too shabby for a guy who has started for less than two full seasons.
When Gregg Brandon watched game film of UVa’s 2008 offense with Groh, he pointed out that the Cavaliers didn’t really have anyone on that side of the ball that scared people.
Well, now they do. Two of ‘em.
A new headache
Sewell put a lot of gray hairs on the heads of opposing defensive coordinators his sophomore season before academics cost him last year’s campaign. Hall may make those hairs fall out in 2009.
Can you imagine being a defensive coordinator trying to scheme against stopping both those guys lined up across from you all game long?
Groh has to be excited because the only two poor seasons he’s had of late, 2006 and 2008, one could trace the shortcomings to a couple of common denominators. Less production at quarterback than expected was the chief reason why those two teams suffered, along with inexperienced offensive lines and shaky kicking games.
Quarterback should not be a problem this fall. The offensive line should be much improved, and the kicking game should also improve under the direction of Ron Prince, although Groh said the actual place-kicking hasn’t blown him away so far this spring.
“Last year showed we could use some significant upgrade when the foot is on the ball,” Groh said. “I would like to say it has been better than spotty this spring, but thus far it has been pretty spotty.”
Sewell, who has passed for 3,518 yards and 17 touchdowns, is working hard in practice and obviously pleased to be back in his environment after missing last season.
“Jameel is showing that type of ‘happy-to-be-back’ mentality,” Groh said. “He is also showing some of the rust and some of the erratic play at a position that requires precision, after having been inactive for a considerable period of time.”
Playing quarterback is not like falling off a bicycle, although Sewell has experience at that as well (i.e. his freshman season). One can’t just pick up where one left off and look like Peyton Manning.
But that’s what spring practice is all about.