Virginia linemen grow apart

In the week that led to Virginia’s duel with Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day 2008, much was made of the Red Raiders’ spread offense.

Those that manned the scout team for Virginia were noticing something different.

The splits that Texas tech used on the offensive line were enormous.

“It was scary at first, because we are on an island and you really don’t have anybody next to you when you are in a tight situation,” said right guard B.J. Cabbell. “But mainly it is all about confidence. If you are confident in your ability, you shouldn’t have a problem.”

Jack Shields had similar concerns initially.

“It was baffling at first,” said Shields, the Cavaliers’ starting center. “I had no idea how it would actually work.”

It certainly did for Texas Tech, as the Raiders upended the Cavaliers with a late-game rally.

Now in place at Virginia, new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon’s scheme moves the lineman apart, creating an added opportunity for plays to be made.

It is not something that is completely different from what Cavalier fans witnessed at times last year, according to Virginia offensive line coach Dave Borbely.

“We were in some of those splits a year ago,” said Borbely. “The conversion has not been burdensome at all. I don’t know that they are Texas Tech splits. They are big, but I have looked at Tech on film and when you watch them on film six years ago, [they were enormous].

“They have constricted and I would say we are similar, but not exact.”

Virginia welcomes back four starters on its offensive line, something that helps in the transformation.

The biggest issue in the new system, Borbely said, resides on the shoulders on the interior players that have limited experience.

“For some guys it is merely a confidence issue,” he said, “It puts you out there a little bit, but we always have someone accounted for what could happen.”

Blocking, regardless of the system employed, will be needed throughout the field, something that has been apparent with the wideouts.

“Our wide receivers have done a great job this year setting the edge and blocking downfield and breaking off patterns to block a guy and stay in his face,” Shields said. “If we can make blocks on the line and they continue to do that, the ball is going to pop and we are going to continue to get some big plays.”