A battle for the Coastal perch

In most cases, time of possession is one of the most meaningless statistics in football.

Not today in the high-noon showdown between current ACC Coastal Division leaders Virginia and visiting Georgia Tech. In today’s game, time of possession could mean everything.

There’s a reason that 11th-ranked Georgia Tech leads the ACC in that statistic, more meaningful to the Yellow Jackets than the rest of the league. Coach Paul Johnson’s option offense thrives on controlling the football, grinding out long drives and eating up precious minutes of the clock while keeping the opposing offense on the sidelines champing at the bit.

That’s where not only does Virginia’s defense come into play in today’s game, but the Cavaliers’ much-maligned offensive line as well. If UVa is to spring an upset and keep its home winning streak against the Yellow Jackets intact, then coach Al Groh’s defense must prevent Georgia Tech from controlling the football and the Cavaliers’ O-line must control the line of scrimmage when it’s up at bat, to help keep Josh Nesbitt, Jonathan Dwyer and their cohorts off the field.

Rewinding to last year’s UVa upset of the Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium, that’s exactly what happened.

Last year’s blueprint

After a rough start, it appeared Tech just might run the Cavs out of Atlanta, Groh and his coaching staff made some adjustments that contained the Jackets’ offense and forced some turnovers that led to the 24-17 upset.

Groh had told his defense not to panic, that it might take a couple of series to see Tech’s speed and to see the option in person, which is so much different than on film or a scout team’s simulation in practice.

After seeing what they were dealing with, the Cavaliers held the Yellow Jackets to 83 yards and held Tech to its second-lowest rushing total of the season in 2008.

“It wasn’t all perfect,” Groh said at his weekly press conference. “We had a lot of issues during the course of the game. Some of those issues were solved frankly because we had an effective offense that day and cut down on [Tech’s] time of possession.”

Hold on to the ball

Virginia had possession of the pigskin for eight minutes, 36 seconds more than the Jackets, which is significant in a game like this one.

Johnson still believes his team should have won the game. Three turnovers didn’t help the Ramblin’ Wreck’s cause, nor did a fumbled punt.

Groh was right, however, in pointing out the value of Virginia’s offense in that game.

The longer Virginia held onto the ball, the longer Tech’s offense was on the sidelines and the more anxious the Jackets got when they returned to the field, pressured to make something happen.

Last year, it was Marc Verica and Cedric Peerman that engineered UVa’s offensive show, which accounted for nearly 400 yards and 23 first downs.

Today, it will have to be Jameel Sewell and Mikell Simpson. Or it could be Verica and Rashawn Jackson. Or a combination of all of the above?

Sewell is listed as probable, while Simpson did not appear in the injury report.

Personally, we think Vic Hall could be the difference because he just might line up anywhere, and usually that’s a good thing for the Cavaliers.

One thing is for sure, Virginia’s O-line is going to have to punch holes in Tech’s defense, which is ranked No. 56 in the country in rushing defense and No. 84 in passing defense. They’re going to have to protect Sewell or Verica, too.

The Jackets might not have the best defense in the world but they are pretty nasty when it comes to rushing the passer. Virginia may just be the worst team in the country in protecting their passer, ranked No. 118 out of 120 FBS schools in giving up sacks.

That will have to cease.

Defensively, all eyes will be on the two unproven players tasked with replacing injured defensive end Matt Conrath — sophomore Zane Parr and true freshman Will Hill.

There will be tons of pressure on UVa’s front seven to play assignment football, while the secondary must prevent being lulled to sleep with Tech’s running attack, then get sucked in on play-action for a lethal downfield pass.

The legendary George Welsh said it best a couple of weeks ago when he noted that most teams don’t know how to defend Tech’s offense, but if you can stop the run, then the Yellow Jackets struggle to win with a one-dimensional passing game.

Thusly, that is Virginia’s mission today. The front seven has to play sic ’em without being fooled by the misdirection, while the offense plays its own version of ball control.

If the Cavaliers can be successful in those phases, then Georgia Tech’s losing streak in Charlottesville — which dates back to before some of the players on both sidelines today were even born — then the streak will live on.