Analysis Features 
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Analysis Features
What were the best and worst things about Virginia's offense, defense and special teams during the 2005 regular season? What did the coaches do well, and what do you wish they had done differently? Who was the team's MVP? And what are your early predictions for the Music City Bowl? Mike Ingalls, John Galinsky and Nick Sauer join Sabre Edge subscriber Marc Porow (Super Sized Hoo) in discussing a season that most fans found at least somewhat disappointing.
I'm a sucker for symbols. And as experts and the rest of us grapple to understand the problems facing the program after the fifth year of the Al Groh era, many of the issues are embodied in the way the coaching staff has utilized one player. From the need to start Marques Hagans at quarterback to the play-calling for him to his road woes, we can see many of the program's issues burdened on the shoulders of #18.
Hagans was UVa's martyr, in a way, a tragic figure who took on the team's problems and fought for heroic victories, but who in the end couldn't overcome his predetermined destiny - set by the very flaws in the system that he often faultlessly embodied.
All the media attention may be on football and the conference's first championship game right now, but the ACC at heart will always be a basketball conference. Nothing nationwide can compete with the pageantry, tradition and glory of the conference, though the souped-up, 16-team Big East will do its best to try.
For the ACC, this year probably will mark a step down in overall talent, but that was almost inevitable given player attrition. Still, there are some returning stars and plenty of freshman phenoms, so the ACC will still manage to be one of the nation's top conferences. Here's one man's guess to how things will pan out in the conference during Dave Leitao's first year at UVa...
Before the season, I pinpointed five things that I thought were necessary for Virginia to have a successful year. I felt they needed to stay healthy, be more aggressive, find ways to change games, win special teams and play angry. What went right and what did not? Now that the regular season is over, let's take a look and give a few grades.
Last night's game proved what we already knew - Sean Singletary isn't just Virginia's MVP, he's its MIP. Most Important Player. Most Indispensable Player. Most Irreplaceable Player. When he was on the court, UVa outscored Northwestern by 26 points. When he sat on the bench, the Wildcats were 11 points better. That was no coincidence.
Singletary will be the driving force for the Wahoos all season, provided - cross our fingers, knock on wood - he stays healthy and out of foul trouble. Should that happen, maybe the Cavs won't be as bad as everyone thinks.
Yes, my prediction was wrong, but with five minutes remaining in the third quarter and Miami leading just 15-10, you were wondering whether or not 'ole Greg called it right. This game reminded me of something my father used to say. “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.” Virtually every Miami score was a result of a mistake on special teams or when the 'Canes converted a long down-and-distance situation on a drive.
Miami is good. The Hurricanes didn't look great against the Yellow Jackets but don't blame the defense. Through 10 games, Miami is leading in the country in total defense (236.6 yards per game), passing defense (133.4 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (76.98). The 'Canes are tied for second in scoring defense, allowing only 11.4 points per game, and are 15th in run defense (103.2 yards per game).
As if last week's loss wasn't painful enough, the Cavaliers may face an even tougher challenge Saturday. Miami's defense is the best in the country and this game is on the road. But as Georgia Tech proved, the Hurricanes do have weaknesses and can be beaten in the Orange Bowl.
What will it take for the 'Hoos to pull off a monumental upset? On offense, they'll need to use the shotgun, work crossing routes and break their tendencies. They also must win the special teams battle and stop Miami's running game. A defensive touchdown (maybe by Kai Parham) would help, too.
This week's respective unit grades also reflect the collective effort of the Cavaliers. In a loss such as this, it's often difficult to fault one particular area of the offense or defense because the breakdown was across the board. From play-calling to execution, the UVa offense was inept, and the defense and special teams weren't much better. So grades are low for everyone, including a C-minus mark for Al Groh and the coaching staff.
This is David and Goliath, folks. Fight it all you want, but the Hokies are one of the big dogs in the ACC and right now, along with Miami, there are only two (sorry, Seminole fans). But the 'Hoos have slain their share of giants in Scott Stadium and they will have a chance again Saturday at high noon to fire up the sling and see if they can take out the seventh-ranked team in the land.
Nick Sauer, Mike Ingalls and John Galinsky discuss nine questions about the Cavaliers going into Dave Leitao's first season as head coach. Who will lead them in scoring and rebounding? What are their biggest strengths (hint: Sean Singletary) and weaknesses? Who will be the biggest surprise? What difference will Leitao make? What are realistic expectations for the 'Hoos and how do they stack up against the rest of the ACC?
There have been plenty of discussions about what Virginia has to do to win the game in a general sense, so I am going to look at a few specific “important factors” that could help the 'Hoos triumph over the hated Hokies. I can't bring myself to say “keys to the game” because of the obnoxious key-shaking on “key plays” that the Hokies enjoy so much.
On defense, the Cavs must contain Tech's running game, particularly on first down, and mix up their coverages to confuse Marcus Vick. Offensively, UVa needs to attack VT's vulnerable safeties, especially with the tight ends, and also test Hokie cornerback Jimmy Williams. Marques Hagans has to make good, quick decisions in his final home game.
Undermanned and with their backs to the wall, the Virginia Cavaliers needed to do a lot of things right to knock off #24 Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon. To the delight of the 60,000-plus at Scott Stadium, they did.
Led by Marcus Hamilton, Virginia held one of the nation's most devastating wide receivers to a season-low 41 yards and held one of the top rushing duos in the ACC to half its normal output. The 'Hoos converted 50% of their third-down opportunities against a team that was holding opponents to a 27% clip. UVa posted 161 yards rushing against the 14th-best rushing defense in the land while netting 365 yards against the fourth-best defense in the conference.
At this time last year, Ryan Best had recently quit UVa's soccer team. Byron Glaspy was just another engineering student. Jamaal Jackson and Chris Gorham were on the scout team. Mike Brown was a high school senior. Of all the defensive backs in Virginia's nickel package during the final three quarters Saturday, only Marcus Hamilton played a significant role on last year's team.
Logically, that kind of inexperience in the secondary should have killed the Cavaliers, especially with the ACC's best receiver lining up for Georgia Tech. But logic took a backseat to emotion and heart and fortitude, not to mention some sound strategy and good luck. The result was one of the most remarkable (and important) victories in Al Groh's five years as head coach.
Georgia Tech has not won in Charlottesville since that fateful November evening back in 1990. The voice of the Yellow Jackets, Wes Durham, says it's the “Scott Sisson Curse.” Under Al Groh, Virginia has won three of four from the Jackets and has been able to produce against the Tech pressure. But this may be the most complete team coach Chan Gailey has ever fielded against the Cavaliers. Then again, Gailey brought a very good team into Charlottesville in 2001 and lost.
What does Virginia need to do to beat a very good 6-2 Georgia Tech team this Saturday? There are many keys. The Cavs must take advantage of GT's aggression on defense, protect Marques Hagans and be aggressive in the red zone. Defensively, UVa needs to stop P.J. Daniels, rattle Reggie Ball and see if Marcus Hamilton can contain Calvin Johnson.
While there were certainly areas that were not perfect, the Cavaliers played physical football, they were aggressive and they did what they needed to do - dominate an inferior opponent. Virginia outrushed the Owls, 262-10, and averaged 6.1 yards per play compared to Temple's 2.7. The defense, led by Chris Long, forced three turnovers, netted five sacks, held the Owls to a 22% third-down conversion rate and forced nine three (or less) and outs.
Against an opponent as grossly incompetent as Temple, it doesn't serve much purpose to examine the final score or the stats. Those things are virtually meaningless because they only reflect how the Cavaliers played relative to the competition, and in this case the competition was a joke. Against the Owls, everyone looks good.
To get a better gauge of UVa's performance, you have to dig a little deeper. What matters? What doesn't? I think the resurgence of the running game, led by Jason Snelling, bodes well for the rest of the season. Same with the intensity and aggressiveness of the defense, as long as those things carry over. At the same time, today's game, as lopsided as it was, failed to resolve some of the team's biggest issues going into the homestretch.
Probably the worst thing the Virginia Cavaliers could do this week is look at Temple's national rankings among Division 1-A teams. They are a breeding ground for overconfidence. The Owls ranked in the bottom 10 (of 117 teams) in rushing offense, scoring offense, pass efficiency defense, total defense, scoring defense, net punting, punt returns and passing efficiency. With a lame-duck coach in Bobby Wallace, the Temple players have not quit but they have not been clamoring to “win one for the gipper” either.
After an abysmal loss to UNC, let's take a look at what Virginia needs to do to get back on the right foot against a horrible Temple team this Saturday. The Owls don't pose much of a threat at 0-9, having been outscored 409-86 on the season, so these keys are mostly about what Virginia needs to accomplish going into the homestretch. One thing the 'Hoos need to prove is that they can run their offense without Marques Hagans running for his life.
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