A 3-point plan for Cavalier success

A few weeks ago, we penned a column about one of Al Groh’s coaching philosophies concerning the three things that a team must have to enhance its chances of winning: good quarterback play, a solid defense and a reliable kicker.

With the season opener only days away, we felt it would be good to revisit how Virginia’s football team shapes up in those three areas. If you will recall, we previously pointed out how all of Groh’s bowl teams and best seasons at UVa featured those elements.

So where does this bunch of Wahoos — picked to finish fifth in the ACC’s Coastal Division — rate in those three categories on the eve of the season?

The quarterback question

The most important position in college football today is the quarterback spot, because those guys have so much influence on how things turn out. In most cases, teams go as the quarterback goes, and that certainly has been the case at Virginia in the Groh era.

In several conversations with Groh and offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon, it is clear that all three quarterbacks — Vic Hall, Jameel Sewell, and Marc Verica — have progressed during training camp and that everyone in the trio has picked up the new spread offense without any major difficulties.

The coaches like the versatility, and no one should be surprised if any one of the three might show up for a series or a special package during a game. While it’s my guess that Hall will be the starter and will remain that way as long as he performs to expectations, it would be my suspicion that Groh and Brandon won’t mind throwing a curve to opposing defenses with Sewell or Verica involved.

Versatile weapons

After all, all three can throw it, run it and, for the most part, catch it, which essentially allows Virginia to outnumber the defense, which really has no one specifically assigned to stop the quarterback on a run or to cover a slot receiver who suddenly becomes a runner or passer.

What if two quarterbacks line up in a shotgun? How does a defense cover that?

What if three quarterbacks line up in the formation, two in the backfield and one in the slot, or one quarterback in the backfield and two in the slots?

From this viewpoint, the quarterback situation is in the best shape since the Matt Schaub era.

That leads us to the defense.

We already knew that the secondary was solid and that the defensive line boasted three starters with playing experience, and we’ve learned that backup defensive end Zane Parr has come on like gangbusters in the past couple of weeks.

The question mark was the linebackers.

Since training camp, Groh and linebackers coach Bob Trott have been encouraged by the performances of this crop. Steve Greer may be a rookie, but apparently he learned well by hanging with Jon Copper all of last season. Darren Childs has elevated his game and has made a strong impression on the coaches.

We already knew that the outside ’backers, Denzel Burrell and Aaron Clark, were solid, and Groh pointed out this week that Cam Johnson has stepped up his game even more than expected. That could be significant because he could become the next great pass-rusher for the Cavaliers.

With those two aspects of the game getting check marks, that only leaves place-kicking, which has become oh, so important in the past few seasons because of the number of close games in the ACC. Often, a game will come down to a kick in the fourth quarter.

Throughout the spring and even early in training camp, Groh was very unsure of his kickers. He used a lot of descriptive terms, none of them very flattering, to rate that part of the Cavaliers’ attack.

As William & Mary approaches for Saturday’s kickoff, Groh is more encouraged.

“More so, yes,” the coach said when asked if he was more comfortable with his kickers — Robert Randolph, Chris Hinkebein and Drew Jarrett — heading into the last week of preparation.

“This is a circumstance that we certainly do go into the first game with a heightened expectation of success than we had a year ago,” Groh said. “I would love to see exactly what that brings, but we have done quite a bit every day of live, competitive kicking.

“So, as much as any unit that we have, offense, defense, goal line offense, goal line defense, dime defense, kickoff return, whatever it might be, those two units have taken more live playing than any other unit,” reported Groh, who has a better feel for the kickers and punters. “If they just don’t get stage fright, which is clearly something that happens to some kickers ...”

Groh said the only thing that changes from practice to a game is the people in the stands. The goalposts are the same, the rush is going to be the same, the snapper and holder are the same guys.

“All of [the kickers] have done a nice job during camp,” he said.

Certainly that is a change from spring and even early camp. If one of the kickers becomes reliable from a certain distance so that Groh & Company can manage the game strategy around that distance, it’s a big plus for the Wahoos.

If all three of those departments hold up to expectations, then Virginia could be in for a good season.

Borrowing a phrase from Groh, “the best predictor of future performance is past behavior.”

If history holds true, the Cavaliers could far exceed preseason expectations.