Sabre Edge Features 
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Sabre Edge Features
Chris Slade was an All-American defensive end for the Cavaliers in 1991 and 1992, and still holds the ACC record for career sacks with 40. He played eight seasons in the NFL, seven as an outside linebacker, and made the Pro Bowl in 1997. He is now owner of a Planet Smoothie franchise in Atlanta.
In this article, Slade answers five of your questions, including: What was the hardest part of switching from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker? Do you think college athletes (especially linemen) are physically mature enough to make the 3-4 work? How does playing OLB in a 3-4 differ from playing OLB in a 4-3? What are the most important qualities for a good pass rusher? And what made the 1991 Cavalier defense so effective and dominant?
For many Cavaliers, including freshman guard Branden Albert, Saturday's win over Western Michigan represented their first experience in a college football game. Because of that, it's understandable that the performance fell a long way short of perfection. But we don't grade on a curve around here. We evaluate each position along with special teams and the coaching staff, giving out mostly B's but also a few C-minuses.
Al Groh might not like it, but this is how we watch Virginia football games now, don't we? Not worrying about the final score so much as searching for flaws that may prove fatal against tougher competition. If so, we saw way too many Saturday night against lowly Western Michigan to feel good about the rest of the season.
Wali Lundy's injury. Michael Johnson's fumbles. Jason Snelling's fumbles. Marques Hagans' interceptions. Shaky line play. Missed tackles. Porous pass defense. Four sacks allowed. A missed field goal. A sea of errors silenced the sea of orange. That the Cavaliers won by 12 points almost didn't seem to matter, did it?
The Cavaliers open the 2005 season against one of the most disappointing teams in college football last year. But new head coach Bill Cubit sees a new attitude at Western Michigan and believes the Broncos will be one of the more improved teams in the MAC.
Virginia is coming off a disappointing 2004 where expectations of a conference title and a big-time bowl game went unmet. There are lots of new faces at critical positions for the Wahoos and this opening day tuneup will give the coaching staff some early looks at how these new starters might impact the upcoming campaign.
As a Virginia football fan, how have things changed since Al Groh became head coach nearly five years ago? For one thing, the game environment is different. Now there's a “Sea of Orange” and a marching band at Scott Stadium. Tickets are harder to come by - and more expensive. The price of being a fan has gone way up. So, perhaps, have your expectations for the program. You may be spending more time than ever on TheSabre.com. But at its core, has anything really changed about rooting for the 'Hoos?
We invited fans to discuss these topics this week and got a great response from a broad spectrum of the Cavalier community. What are the thoughts and experiences of your fellow fans? Well, let's see what everyone had to say…
While paying close attention to the Cavaliers last season and throughout this offseason, it has become apparent that certain issues must be dealt with in order to have a successful 2005 campaign. This applies to every team in college football and is what makes the sport so exciting. Whether it be injuries, luck, philosophy or talent, the top teams separate themselves from the rest, and often in ways that don't make sense on paper. Let's take a look at five issues that could make or break Virginia's season, including the health of Ahmad Brooks.
Though Virginia's offense fared better overall in 2004 than 2003, the lack of a vertical passing game haunted the Cavaliers when they needed it most - in big games against tough defenses. The Florida State game exposed weaknesses in the passing attack and provided a blueprint for slowing the UVa offense: concentrate primarily on stopping the run.
So what can the 'Hoos do this year? Successful implementation of the new hybrid spread offense will open the passing lanes, improve visibility for the undersized Marques Hagans and draw combination coverages. The hope is to create isolation situations with defenders that should open up the field for receivers as well as running lanes for the shifty Hagans.
Defense dominated the ACC last year, and 2005 should be more of the same. Of the 12 conference teams, just three have returning starters at quarterback. The inexperienced QBs will have their hands full with all of the high-caliber defenses in the league. Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State, N.C. State, Maryland, Boston College and Clemson all should be stingy, but Miami may have the best mix of offense and defense.
Here are predictions for the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions, along with a preseason All-ACC team that includes four Cavaliers.
Virginia's changes in the defensive coaching ranks should help the 'Hoos improve against the pass. Al Golden has been emphasizing tougher man-to-man coverage techniques and ball disruption, while Levern Belin has tried to get the DL putting pressure on the QB. Given the talent that he has at ILB in Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham, Mark D'Onofrio has many options when it comes to unleashing his players on the QB as well. Thus far in practice, it appears that some fresh blood has led to fresh energy and new looks from the pass defense.
When you hire a coach who's been in the NFL the past 13 years, it's impossible to know how good he'll be at recruiting high school players. But Al Groh didn't take long putting those doubts to rest. He reeled in the highest-rated haul in UVa history in 2002 and has compiled solid to superb recruiting classes ever since.
Groh has made recruiting - what he calls the accumulation of talent - arguably the highest priority for himself and his staff, and the results have been impressive. But he faces new challenges now and in the future on the recruiting trail. Over the next few years, he needs to recruit faster players. His in-state success rate probably must improve. And UVa almost certainly has to achieve more dramatic results on the field in order to attract better and better recruits.
Football games are won and lost in the trenches and the running game is the most effective way to consistently move the football. That's the Al Groh mentality. He didn't bring together one of the most diverse and talented groups of running backs in the nation just to catch passes. Groh is a run-first, power-football guy and that will be the focus in 2005. There is a solid nucleus of proven starters and reserves to make the “smashmouth” football of last season an annual event.
The philosophy of the 3-4 defense against the run is a simple one. The big bodies on the defensive line are tasked with holding the line, while the linebackers fill the gaps to make plays on the ball carrier. This is particularly true with the 2-gap variety of 3-4 played by UVa. Typically it is read-and-react oriented and has been somewhat frustrating since it appears the defense is “catching” the offense instead of putting them on their heels. This was especially evident in the big games last year as the Cavaliers were blown off the ball and dominated on the ground.
Much blame has been placed on the 3-4 scheme, but I think wrongfully so. It isn't the system that fails in the big games. It has been a combination of two other factors - implementation and personnel.
Say this for Al Groh: He runs a clean program. There hasn't been a whiff of scandal since he arrived 56 months ago. Most of his players (the ones who stick around) graduate. Few have gotten into trouble off the field. Football hasn't tarnished the university's image under his watch. If anything, it has enhanced it. Groh has represented UVa well.
At the same time, there are questions about Groh's leadership style and his way of running the program. Is he too domineering? Does he stifle the creativity of his assistants and players? Is he open to new ideas? Let's look at some of the intangible aspects of Groh's football program, such as discipline, attitude and leadership.
You only have to attend one Virginia football practice to see how much time and attention Al Groh devotes to special teams. On Monday, for example, the Cavaliers spent 32 minutes of a two-hour, 21-minute practice working just on punting, kickoffs, punt returns and coverage, kick returns and coverage, and field goals. That's two more minutes than they used for offense vs. defense scrimmage situations.
Groh has emphasized special teams ever since he arrived at UVa, even taking the unusual step (for a college coach) of hiring a full-time special teams coach. That focus has paid off with solid to superb results in every phase of special teams but one. (Yeah, you know what that is.)
While attending the past few open practices, I was struck by the overall athleticism of the team, the enthusiasm on the field and the pace of the practices. I was encouraged by the passing game, the defensive line and the special teams. But I was concerned by the secondary and the QB situation behind Marques Hagans.
During his 13 years in the NFL, Al Groh earned a reputation as a defensive guru. As the linebackers coach of a dominant LT-led defense with the Giants and as the coordinator of some stingy units with the Patriots, he went to Super Bowls with both teams.
So when Groh took the job as Virginia's head coach in 2000, many fans were hopeful he would build a championship-level defense in Charlottesville. Sure, his 3-4 scheme was almost nonexistent in college, but he won big with it in the pros. Could he do the same here?
Before you grab the pitchforks, let me start with some disclaimers. I understand that the chances are almost nil that someone other than Marques Hagans will be starting behind center to begin the year. And, barring any major catastrophe (knock on wood), Biscuit will likely be our signal caller for every non-garbage time minute of the season.
Regardless, I've always been intrigued by the arguments heating up the board over whether Hagans should be tearing it up as our quarterback or as our star wide receiver in his final season. So, I figured I'd toss the points of each side up in the air and let the chips fall where they may. Think of this as an interesting manifestation of that lifelong football quandary: Is it more important to win now or to build for the future?
Following his team's 35-14 loss at Penn State in 2002, Virginia coach Al Groh was asked about the difference between the two teams. He gave a succinct answer: “Power.” At the time, even as the Cavaliers were on their way to a surprising nine-win season, Groh wasn't pleased with their lack of size, strength and power, particularly on offense. The running backs were young. The offensive line was light. The ground game was among the worst in the country.
That's all changed. Last year UVa led the ACC in rushing and total offense with a premier power running attack. But have the 'Hoos become too conservative, one-dimensional and predictable?
OK, OK. Ever since we started “Ask the Experts” last December, about half of your questions have concerned the 3-4 defense. So here you go. George Welsh and Ty Smith (a defensive coordinator at three colleges) used both the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses in their long coaching careers, and in this article they answer the following questions.
1) What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses?
2) The 3-4 defense used to be the most common alignment in college and pro football. Now it's the 4-3, though the 3-4 is making a comeback, particularly in the NFL. What accounts for that evolution?
3) Looking at personnel, what is the difference between the 3-4 and the 4-3 in terms of the physical requirements and on-field responsibilities at each position?
4) How much does the scheme matter? Can you win championships in college football with a 3-4 defense?
As UVa's starting quarterback in 1991, Matt Blundin led the ACC in passing efficiency and threw 224 passes without an interception. He was picked in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs and played for the Chiefs, Bears and Lions. He currently teaches and coaches at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.
In this installment of “Ask the Experts,” Matt answers five of your questions about QB play, including how to read defenses, the different challenges at each level of football, the significance of height and the difficulty of teaching high school players.
If the Cavaliers are going to have a successful 2005 football season and contend for the ACC championship, a few things will have to happen. Let's take a close look at some of the things that may make or break the season for the Wahoos, starting with the line play on both sides of the ball.
Virginia’s 2005 schedule is an interesting mix of good, bad and ugly matchups. We’ll break it down here by analyzing the games that should rock Scott Stadium, the biggest creampuff, the potential slip-ups, the make-or-break game and the one the ‘Hoos really, really need to win.
The Virginia baseball program has already reached new heights under Brian O'Connor. With consecutive 40-win seasons and NCAA tournament appearances, the Cavaliers have put together the best back-to-back years in the program's long history. But where do they go from here?
UVa loses some outstanding players, including #4 overall draft pick Ryan Zimmerman, but the influx of talent may be even greater. Here's an early look at who's gone, who's back and the impact newcomers for 2006. We'll also explore what needs to happen for the program to reach the next level. Will we be seeing the 'Hoos in Omaha anytime soon?
Former UVa head coach George Welsh, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, rejoins us to answer more of your questions about college football. In this installment of "Ask the Experts," he tackles the following questions:
1) How much did your offense change when you had a mobile quarterback as opposed to a pure pocker passer?
2) What was your favorite (and least favorite) part of being a college head coach?
3) How significant is home-field advantage, and how does UVa's advantage compare to others in the ACC?
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