Cavaliers must run the ball to win

After a horrible start, an injured starting quarterback, an offensive line that hasn’t been able to adjust to the new spread offense, and heaps of criticism, this columnist believes there’s one thing that has to change for Virginia’s football team to win on Saturday at Southern Miss.

Run the football.

The Cavaliers have a stable of backs that we keep hearing about, but as far as the fans are concerned, these guys might as well play for Alaska State.

Mikell Simpson, who is listed as questionable for this weekend, has reportedly returned to his 2007 form, which was a heck of a lot better than his ’08 form. We’ve heard Torrey Mack compared to former UVa touchdown machine Wali Lundy. We’ve heard that true freshman Dominique Wallace is a potential Thomas Jones-type of back.

Then for goodness sakes, unleash the hounds!

What’s my line?

One problem, though. As Coach Al Groh has said several times over the years, all backs run the same when there’s no hole.

Ah, there’s the rub.

Virginia’s offensive line has been putrid in the first two weeks. Smaller, quicker lines from Texas Christian and William & Mary have run around these guys like clowns in a circus act.

The fact that quarterback Jameel Sewell has just as much difficulty making the proper reads on whether to hand the ball off or keep it on certain running plays as he does reading defenders on passing plays has left this offense dead in the water — and dead last in the ACC.

Underwhelming so far

That’s right, this new-fangled offense that we believed would be the answer to Virginia’s prayers is cellar-dwelling in the 12-team league as it flies to Hattiesburg, Miss., today to try to avoid the program’s first 0-for-3 start since 1982. UVa is last in the ACC in total offense, exactly 80 yards per game behind Duke; last in scoring offense; surprisingly tied for ninth in rushing offense with Florida State; and ahead of only Virginia Tech in passing offense.

The only way the Cavaliers are going to escape defeat in the Deep South this weekend is to put together a successful running attack, that is if the O-line’s big uglies can get their act together. Otherwise, they have no chance.

How important is it to be able to run the ball out of the spread, or any other offense for that matter?

“Like so many offenses, it really helps,” Groh said when asked about how crucial it is to run the football.

“One, it helps control the clock,” Groh pointed out. “If you can control the clock by making first downs, then by doing that, then that’s one of the ways to keep your hand kind of on the tempo of the game. Then, obviously the balance that it creates in your [play-calling] selection, and how it impacts the opponent’s thought process as far as pressuring the quarterback is concerned.”

Much of UVa’s problems against TCU — particularly an almost inconceivable eight sacks allowed — derived largely from the Cavaliers’ ineptitude in the running game. Knowing that Virginia was struggling to throw the ball and unwilling to throw it deep to keep them honest, the Horned Frogs safeties cheated up to where there were practically eight, nine defenders in the so-called box.

TCU’s pass rushers were pinning their ears back and coming after Sewell all night long.

Had UVa completed a couple of its late-game long passes earlier in the game, it would have made TCU think twice about coming after Sewell so often.

However, that’s part of the balance that Groh referred to. The passing game opens up the running game and vice versa. When neither is working, well, you go 0-2, and don’t look good doing so.

Traditionally, the running game has been a big part of Wahoo football. Even last year when the team struggled, Cedric Peerman was the focal point of the offense and he almost beat Georgia Tech singlehandedly in one of the season’s biggest upsets.

In the two losses, four UVa backs have carried the ball a total of 20 times — 13 of those by Simpson. By contrast, three quarterbacks have 49 carries.

We know that one of the beauties of the spread is that a mobile quarterback who can both run and throw can be a terror to deal with. If the line ever gets back on track and can actually open holes and pass defend, then Sewell will become a much more effective weapon.

Still, if you’ve got the backs, and the line does its job, then it’s kind of like an army having a cannon. If you’ve got a big gun, then shoot it.