Cavs seek big-play wideouts

One of the key elements that help a spread offense become effective is a corps of wide receivers that can make something happen after the catch, or as Gregg Brandon said last December, “turn six yards into 60.”

When Virginia opens training camp this weekend, you can bet that Brandon, the Cavaliers’ new offensive coordinator, and the offensive staff will be looking hard for playmakers, someone who can scare the wits out of opponents.

Consider that UVa’s current receiving corps is considered average at best, which means that Coach Al Groh will give strong looks at a few incoming freshmen, just as he did in 2002 when the Cavs he played 14 of them on the way to a Continental Tire Bowl upset over West Virginia. Also consider that the top five pass-catchers (in terms of production) from a year ago, are gone.

A Green group

Of the returning wide receivers, Jared Green, Dontrelle Inman, Kris Burd, and Staton Jobe, collectively hauled in 22 catches — not even half the number caught by leading receiver and current Dallas Cowboy Kevin Ogletree, who surrendered his final year of eligibility. Green, who got a taste of the position as a redshirt freshman in ’08, caught 12 of those 22 passes.

Green has worked extra hard in the offseason and is a sure bet to get a lot of attention in camp, as will redshirt freshman Javaris Brown, a speedster out of Macon, Ga., who hasn’t played a college game.

Don’t be surprised in Groh gives incoming freshmen Tim Smith of Chesapeake and Quintin Hunter of Orange a chance to strut their stuff.

Smith is legitimately fast, had a record of production at Oscar Smith High School, has loads of confidence and, as Groh likes to put it, “has that ‘I’m here to play’ look in his eye.” He capped off his high school career with a state playoff record four touchdown catches in the Group AAA title game, just four of 73 receptions for 1,681 yards and 24 scores.

The local favorite

Hunter played quarterback last season, but was a running back and wide receiver in the years before. Rivals listed him as the

No. 106 receiver prospect in the country (and the No. 22 athlete) even though he played quarterback as a senior, piling up impressive statistics throughout his career at Orange County.

While his future may be at quarterback for the Cavaliers, his career will almost definitely begin as a wide receiver. Groh can’t afford to leave such talent on the bench behind a logjam at quarterback this season.

“Hunter isn’t [Tim Smith] kind of fast, but he’s that kind of athletic,” Groh said.

Javanti Sparrow, out of Chesapeake’s Western Branch High, is one of the three or four fastest players on this Virginia team, but Groh would prefer to leave the true freshman on defense if he can.

While some critics will rip Groh for burning the redshirt years for some of the freshmen, what would you do if your job might be on the line? This offense needs some punch and if the veteran receivers can’t deliver, then the rookies might be even more valuable.

Groh and Brandon will put them into playing position to see if they can emotionally handle the transition from high school football to major college ball. If they succeed in training camp, they could significantly upgrade the wide receiver position.

That’s what the next few weeks will be about, finding out how many of the receivers are hungry and who can handle the emotional and physical, and mental challenge of it all.

There’s a feeling in the UVa camp that Torrey Mack, a freshman running back who was redshirted last season, was probably a more talented player than was Wali Lundy as a true freshman. However, Mack sat out last season, while Lundy caught 58 passes and ran back kicks as a rookie in ’02, then went on to become the Cavaliers’ all-time scoring leader.

Mack just wasn’t ready to play and adjust to the environment. Some players take more time.

Expect this training camp to be a tough one for the receivers, just as was spring practice. Some of these guys must step up for Brandon’s spread to be effective.

“Speaking of the wide receiver corps, we have a new mentality,” sophomore Green said recently. “I don’t think I had this [mentality] prior to spring ball, but Coach [Latrell] Scott has done a tremendous job with us about being mentally tough.”

Scott, one of five new assistant coaches on Groh’s staff, came to Virginia in the offseason from Tennessee, where he had finished his first year under Phillip Fulmer.

“Coach Scott has put a little bit of fire behind us,” Green said. “At first we weren’t used to it. Now, everyone has bought into his mentality of being gritty, hardcore receivers. We don’t crack, we don’t take plays off, and we carry out blocking assignments.”

Virginia’s receivers have also spent time studying their own quarterback, Vic Hall, in terms of maneuverability. Hall has a knack for eluding tacklers, and that’s what Scott wants from his receivers — playmaking ability, turning six into 60.