Analysis Features 
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Analysis Features
After a disappointing 24-17 overtime loss against Miami on Saturday, Virginia coach Al Groh noted that the Cavaliers had several chances to pick up another win but "it was kind of like sand in our hand; we had it but we couldn't wrap our hands around it". Groh wasn't directly referring to turnovers in that statement, but he could have been. After all, two uncharacteristic fumbles somehow slipped out of Hoo hands and ended any chance of pulling off another late-game win.
Miami leads the ACC in scoring offense by averaging 32.0 points on average in league play. They are 38th nationally in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) as well. But is it because they're really good or because their defense and special teams make scoring a lot easier? Read on to find out.
After losing three games by more than 25 points earlier this season, the Virginia football team has put together a remarkable turnaround in the last four weeks. UVa has won four straight games and ascended to the top of the ACC's Coastal Division standings. Without question, one key to the Cavaliers' resurgence has been the improvement on offense.
Unlike the Dow Jones, this week's stock report is all good on The Sabre. Virginia is showing progress in several areas. Individuals and units are logging better execution grades. And the best news is that UVa is doing all that while winning games en route to the Coastal Division lead. How did it all shake out against Georgia Tech? Let's take a look.
Talk about a team effort. With running back Cedric Peerman leading the ground attack, Virginia connected through the air as well in the 24-17 victory over Georgia Tech. Marc Verica passed for 270 yards, including a pair of touchdown strikes to Kevin Ogletree and Maurice Covington, who delivered with a career-high 5 receptions for a career-high-tying 76 yards.
The Virginia football team's receiving corps is helping the offense have a more balanced attack in 2008, giving the Hoos more options with medium and deep patterns. That has helped complement the running game. It has also opened up other passes to the tight ends and running backs by drawing the defense's attention downfield. Look no further than the overtime wheel route completion to John Phillips against North Carolina if you need an example of the receivers' impact on the offense.
Since being named the offensive coordinator before the start of the 2006 season, Virginia fans have had plenty of opinions on Mike Groh. Much criticism has been lobbed his way thanks to the Cavaliers' offensive rankings; the offense often resides in the bottom 1/4 of the nation's teams and currently sits 104th in total offense. Saturday probably didn't change those opinions for the most part.
But I will say this - and I fully understand it has no bearing on evaluating the offense's production on his watch - the man cares about his job and loves Virginia football.
In a game with several standout performers - Cedric Peerman, Matt Conrath, and Eugene Monroe all received a weekly ACC honor for example - it can be easy for a player to get lost in the statistical shuffle. Still, you don't expect that to happen to a three-year starter. Especially when that starter led the team in tackles. But in some ways, that's exactly what happened to Antonio Appleby after this weekend's 35-20 victory against East Carolina.
Despite a 35-20 victory, the ECU grades show there are plenty of areas for the Cavaliers to work on prior to their ACC showdown with North Carolina. Our trend report shows a disturbing issue from earlier in the season reappeared against ECU, one that could have a huge impact against the Heels and Georgia Tech. Special teams play continues to be a sore subject as well. Overall there are good things to report, although the running back grade may surprise you.
East Carolina's defense can be dangerous to opposing offenses - since 1999 the Pirates have scored 40 non-offensive touchdowns, which is tied for 13th nationally in that time period. The Pirates have already racked up a trio of non-traditional scores in 2008 - cashing in on a pair of kick blocks and an interception. Defensive coordinator Greg Hudson's group still holds down No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 Conference USA statistical rankings in the four major defensive categories: scoring defense (1st), total defense (2nd), rush defense (3rd), and pass defense (4th).
Anyone that says they saw this coming is not telling the truth. No one saw a 31-0 spanking of the Maryland Terrapins coming. Most assuredly Ralph Friedgen did not see it coming. But what was the difference? In this week's trend report, you see significant improvement in four of the major areas we highlighted as essential to winning in last week's scouting reports and those were the major factors in an unexpectedly high mark performance. Our trend report also show some continuing disturbing trends in special teams play, especially in the punt return and kickoff coverage operations.
Virginia appeared to be a completely different team Saturday night than in the early part of this season. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, completing passes, making the blocks, creating holes, converting on third downs and the list goes on. Despite the difference in outcomes, it's the same players executing the plays ... except for one Cavalier who made all the difference. Returning from a lingering injury, Cedric Peerman made his presence felt all over the field: running, blocking, catching and even preserving the defense by keeping them off the field.
Marc Verica's first two starts as Virginia's quarterback have been drastically different in some ways. At Connecticut, he had a high completion percentage, made shorter pass attempts, finished with one turnover, and got pulled. At Duke, he had a low completion percentage, attempted some deeper passes, tossed four interceptions, and played the whole game. Verica didn't direct a touchdown drive in either game.
During The Sabre's 10-Day Hoo Preview of Virginia football as I looked ahead at the schedule I put the Blue Devils in the cupcake column saying the Cavaliers had owned the Blue Devils the last five seasons and they will own them again in September. I derided college football analyst Phil Steele's prediction that Duke would not only finish higher in the Coastal Division but would defeat the Cavaliers.
With apologies to Steele and Duke; I was wrong. A decent outing by the defense kept the Hoos in the game but the offense was dreadful. The good trends (yes there were some, especially in pass defense) unfortunately could not compensate for major problems on offense and in the red zone as you'll see in our report.
After Saturday's loss to perennial bottom-feeder Duke, quarterback Marc Verica summed up both his performance and the team's performance this season thus far. "It can't get any worse than this. We've got nowhere to look but up," Marc Verica said Saturday on the Virginia Sports Network. You said it, Marc. Because things looked bad - very, very bad - in a 31-3 loss at Duke.
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