Offensive woes sink Virginia

If the age-old axiom is true that fans remember what teams do in November, then Virginia hasn’t given its followers much to reminisce about.

Oh-for-November won’t conjure up many warm and fuzzy memories when those who festoon themselves in orange and blue throw another log on the fire over the winter. Instead, what they may remember is how their team was in grand position to play its way into the ACC championship game early in the month, and proceeded to cough and sputter in a memorable collapse.

On the coldest Saturday (35 degrees at kickoff) in Scott Stadium since 1966, Virginia’s offense couldn’t find any firepower as the Cavaliers lost their third straight game, a 13-3 setback to Clemson. A win would have kept the Cavs alive for a chance to play its way to Tampa as Coastal Division champions.

Backs to the wall

Now, with only next weekend’s annual meeting with in-state rival Virginia Tech remaining, Virginia must win just to become bowl eligible and avoid a second losing season in three years. If you think the picture looks dismal, you would be correct.

If you’re wondering what’s most responsible for the stumble, you don’t have to look very long and hard. Coaches don’t play the blame game. That’s not a kosher thing to do. So, don’t expect too much when a head coach is defensive when sportswriters attempt to pin down the problem.

Certainly no one can point toward Virginia’s defense. The Cavaliers’ ‘D’ is not a flashy bunch. The closest thing to a star it can boast about is senior linebacker Clint Sintim.

Defense does its job

Still, UVa’s defense has played a hair-chested stretch for the past eight weeks. Saturday was just another example. Led by a trio of senior linebackers in Sintim, Jon Copper, and Antonio Appleby — all playing their final home game — the Cavaliers defense did everything it was asked to do. It held intact perhaps the most explosive group of skilled players in the ACC in running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, along with receivers Jacoby Ford and Aaron Kelly.

Clemson’s offense was limited to 192 total yards and one touchdown, that coming off a trick play, a halfback option pass from Spiller, who threw his first career pass to Tyler Grisham, who made his first TD catch of the year.

Spiller, who led the ACC in all-purpose yards with an average of 148 per game, was held to 57, his second-lowest figure this season. The 192 yards were Clemson’s second-lowest all season and marked the first time since 2006 (vs. Western Michigan) that UVa lost when surrendering fewer than 200 yards.

Normally 13 points gives a team like Virginia a chance to win — especially at home.

One doesn’t need to place a call to Dick Tracy to figure out the problem here. Just what has happened to Virginia’s offense during the November Not To Remember?

The coaching staff and UVa’s players aren’t pointing fingers. That’s a decisive thing that breeds an unhealthy environment for a team that is trying to get off the schneid.

When the Cavaliers were the hottest team in the ACC during a four-game winning streak in October, capturing four straight upset wins and two of those over ranked teams, Virginia’s offense was a highly efficient machine.

During this three-game slide, the Cavaliers have scored a total of 37 points, including a mere field goal against the Tigers. Each week during the collapse, the total offense numbers have declined from 448 against Miami, a game the Cavaliers should have won, to 307 at Wake, to only 190 against Clemson. The past two weeks, Virginia’s running game hasn’t materialized as the offensive line simply hasn’t gotten the job done, resulting in a collective 58 yards on the ground against Wake and Clemson.

Coach Al Groh said that it was pretty easy to pinpoint how Virginia lost on this chilly Saturday: turnovers.

During UVa’s four-game winning streak, the Cavs owned a plus-5 turnover margin. In the current three-game losing streak (Virginia’s first in-season three-game losing streak since 2001), they have committed 10 turnovers, three fumbles and six Marc Verica interceptions, including three against the Tigers.

Those picks — plus a controversial offensive pass interference call against Kevin Ogletree that negated a potential momentum-changing touchdown — were too much to overcome.

Clearly, Virginia’s offense is frustrated with its lack of production. Perhaps Ogletree said it best: “We have to develop some type of consistency and help keep our defense off the field. We’ve got to put some points on the board. You can’t win without them.”

Ah, there’s the rub.

Except for a few blips on the radar screen, Virginia’s offense has been woeful for the past three seasons, coinciding with the appointment of Mike Groh as the team’s offensive coordinator.

The Cavaliers were ranked 98th in the nation (out of 119 major college teams) in total offense and No. 111 in scoring offense heading into the Clemson game. Those rankings are likely to drop even lower.

Those numbers haven’t changed much since 2006. UVa was ranked No. 113 in total offense and No. 110 in scoring offense in ’06, and No. 101 in total offense, and No. 81 in scoring offense in ’07.

Which led one sportswriter to ask Al Groh during Saturday’s postgame press conference if Mike Groh would be back as the team’s offensive coordinator next season. Mike Groh has come under heavy criticism from UVa’s fans for the lack of production the past two seasons.

“I love these divisive questions,” Al Groh responded.

“Is that a yes?” the scribe asked.

“That means I blew the question off,” Groh said sharply.

It was a legitimate question, perhaps ill-timed, and one that Groh really couldn’t answer under the circumstances. After all, if Mike Groh were just another coach, would he not be on the hot seat?

It’s a tough spot for the head coach to be in. He loves his son and believes in him. Mike Groh wants to do everything in his power to help his father, his head coach and his alma mater.

Both men bleed orange and blue and want nothing but to put Virginia in the winner’s circle.

Still, something is going to have to improve on the offensive end if Virginia is ever going to get there.

Perhaps rediscovering an offensive rhythm in Blacksburg might help.