Short memory helps Verica

In some magical way, Virginia quarterback Marc Verica has blocked out a forgettable experience at Duke.

The four-interception performance dropped the Cavaliers to 1-3 overall and gave the Blue Devils their first ACC win in four years.

Having a sense of amnesia, of course, is a well-suited trait for a quarterback at any level.

“That was a couple of seasons ago,” said Verica, who has guided Virginia to back-to-back wins. “[Duke] is not even in my mind anymore. We have improved a ton since then. We are a completely different team since then.”

Virginia coach Al Groh was pleased when he was told about Verica’s mature mentality.

“That’s nice to hear,” Groh said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “It’s particularly good to hear Marc about the quarterback position, because whatever the result of the game is, that’s a position that has to be played with a short memory.

“I am sure he will do this — he has all the family background to know it — but I’m sure [New York Giants quarterback] Eli Manning is trying to forget this morning. It just shows that so much of how that position plays, that’s how the team goes. He had to listen to a lot of stuff for a long time and it obviously didn’t get him down. He’s a world champion for it. I am sure he will be able to shake one evening’s worth of play.”

Verica said the credit for his progression — he ranks fifth in the ACC in passing yardage per game — should be given to offensive coordinator Mike Groh, who doubles as the team’s quarterback coach.

“He has been the biggest influence on me while I have been here,” Verica said. “There’s no way I would have ever had the chance to be a starter if it wasn’t for his coaching.

“When I came in here I was completely raw. I had some ability and he recognized that, but he made it very apparent to me that I had a lot of work to do. Just through his coaching and his everyday approach to our team has just helped me to develop. He deserves all the credit really for my development over the last two years. It is definitely a positive relationship.”

Groh said Verica’s confidence has been matched by numerous players on the team thanks to the two-game winning streak, but that progress remains relevant to the team’s last performance.

“We’ve got quite a ways to go before we say we turned it around,” the elder Groh said. “We are only at the halfway mark; we’ve got six to go. We’re making progress towards pretty much what we thought the course of the season would be.

“What we have are some players who are becoming more sure of themselves, more sure of their teammates. We have a quarterback now who’s got expectations of himself, instead of, ‘I wonder what’s going to happen.’ I mean the kid goes into the first game he’s ever played in, he’s probably not going to play like Johnny Unitas. He’s trying to see what it’s going to be like just like we are. Now he’s got a good look at what it can be, but that position as much as any position sports, confidence is so important, so fleeting. And now he’s got some evidence to have some confidence.”

Making a push

On the roster, John-Kevin Dolce remains listed as a linebacker. On the field, the sophomore plays in sub packages as a defensive lineman.

Dolce is not complaining.

“I think the name of the game is versatility,” he said. “If I have to be down on the ground, I will do it. If I have to be standing up, I will do it.”

Dolce is listed at 240 pounds.

“I probably will end trying to gain a little bit more, but not too much because you never know where they will put you. I could still possibly be standing up.”

Groh, who called Dolce a “hybrid player,” praised the youngster.

“He has quickness,” the coach said. “He has real natural strength. If you’ve seen him he looks like that wall over there with more curves in it.

“He has real natural strength, explosive strength, which compensates for him not having as much bulk. The quickness, movement game — the things that occur on pass rush – play a little bit more to his style of game, but there are a lot of nose [guard] that can play that way, too, that might not necessarily be able to take guys on all day long.”

Fast starts

Despite losing starting quarterback T.J. Yates to a broken ankle, North Carolina ranks second in the ACC in scoring offense.

The Tar Heels (5-1, 1-1 ACC) have enjoyed a big-play ability, posting 11 runs at least 15 yards and 16 passing plays that went for more than 20 yards.

“They have quite a variety in their offense,” Groh said. “A lot of formation changes, shifts, motions, whatnot to distract [and] confuse the defense.

“The plays usually end up repeating pretty much from week to week, but the pre-snap looks change so one of the critical things to do in that circumstance is, from our playing standpoint, [is to] try to keep it uncomplicated for the players.”