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Virginia and Wake Forest meet this weekend in a match-up of similar teams. Both have one ACC loss. Both have two losses overall. Both have had long winning streaks, including the Deacons' current six-game run. Both rely on defense first and have somewhat turnover-prone offenses. So who blinks first in this staring contest? Wes' Ways To Win give you the keys to a Cavalier victory.
In last week's edition of "The Hawk's Nest" we discussed wide receiver trick plays. This week, let's turn our focus back to the defensive side of the ball and discuss shedding blocks. I will discuss three topics that pertain to shedding blockers: How to shed a block, how to apply shedding a block to a called defense, and drills that help players learn how to shed a block.
Leaving Raleigh, there certainly was a "what could have been" feeling for the Hoos. Some opportunities were left on the field, some balls bounced the wrong way, some penalty flags were thrown at the worst possible moment ... and the seven-game winning streak ended as a result.
Watching the game live and looking back at it afterward, I was struck by how strange a feeling the game had, and how strange some of the stats were in the end. Looking at the game stats, had I not known the final score, it would not have surprised me one bit to see UVa lose by three touchdowns. And yet, the opportunity was there at the end to sneak out with a win. In the end, that leaves a lot to break down after the game.
I make no secret about it - every year, Maryland is right up there at the top of the list when it comes to teams I want to beat. It has been that way for several years now. And to do it in comeback fashion, on the road, at night, to go 7-1 ... needless to say, I am in a fairly good mood right now. Breaking down this game is not a chore, it is a pleasure. What did we learn against the Terps?
"You live by the meltdown, you die by the meltdown"
-- Al Groh, Oct. 16, 2007
Okay, he didn't really say that. But at this week's press conference, Coach Groh could sum up the game with that short Grohism, get up, and leave. And we'd all know what he meant. The Battle of the Inflated Records came down to teams feasting on each other's screw ups. An interception here, a bad snap there - a fitting way for teams that barely fit their records to lock horns. What's that other saying? "Whoever has the ball last and doesn't botch the snap will win?" Well, it's not a saying yet - not before Coach Groh uses it in his press conference.
While the actual midpoint of the season was last week, a lot of Hoo fans looked at the UConn game as the real midpoint, the last game in what was viewed as a stretch of winnable games before the team heads into a tougher stretch of ACC competition. But UConn was no automatic win, and the Hoos again had to overcome a late deficit to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.
Halfway through the season and the Hoos are 5-1. Had you offered that midseason record to Hoo fans prior to the season, I suspect that you would have had a lot of takers. And yet, after a nailbiter against Middle Tennessee State University, many fans seem puzzled by the product they see on the field. I can understand that perspective; after all, UVa is winning a lot of games at the margins this year. But they are winning, and that makes breaking down the game a lot more fun.
After some scorching-hot home games, Charlottesville finally delivered one of those perfect early autumn days. And after some noon starts, the schedule finally delivered a late kickoff that allowed us all to enjoy it. Students were at their cocktail parties. The rest of us were hanging out with friends in the parking lots, passing the time with some food, beverages, and conversation. Ah, enjoying a Saturday at the University the way Thomas Jefferson would've wanted it to be enjoyed ... had he known about football and parking lots.
I remember watching last year's game at Pitt. Nice field, good food, nice to see Nate Lyles return. After that, I cannot remember many positives from the day. It was a long night in the Steel City. This year, a different story. Really different. What did we learn from Virginia's 44-14 blowout against the Panthers on Saturday? Here's a hint: Ras-I Dowling was active on special teams once again.
TheSabre.com intern Nick Ward took a trip to Pittsburgh this past weekend where he saw the Panthers take on UConn. The Huskies, of course, rolled to a 34-14 victory, leaving Pitt searching for answers. Nick knows two things after watching the game in person: Pittsburgh won't be a push-over opponent and the Virginia defense must stop "Shady" under the lights this weekend.
Another week, another win. Wow, I like the sound of that. And this week's win over a tough opponent in Georgia Tech was by far the most impressive victory of the season for Al Groh and his squad. After all the Yellow Jackets are the defending Coastal Division Champions and they were still upset about a home loss to Boston College. What did we learn from the Cavaliers in the 28-23 win?
Game four of the season is now behind us, and the Wahoos are working on a winning streak. With honor in their hearts and ... wait, what's that?
"The ruling on the field is a Virginia Cavalier victory. The victory is under review."
Sounds like the refs haven't finished confirming our win. Don't worry guys, take your time. It's not hot up here in the upper deck or anything.
For the sake of the 2007 season, UVa had to beat UNC this weekend. Had to. By two points. By 12 points. By 20 points. Didn't matter ... just had to win. And win, the team did. It was not the prettiest of wins, but it was a win nonetheless. The victory taught us that this year's Cavs can win on the road. What else did we learn?
How hot was it? Hot enough to pay three-fitty for a cup of tap water! Yes, we braved the heat, the lackluster offense, and the price gouging this weekend to watch the Hoos get back on track (sort of) to take a critical (kind of) conference win early in the season.
And, high up in the upper deck, yours truly was downing the last bottle of Aquafina in the stadium and taking mental notes about the first home game experience of the season. Jon Copper, Peter Lalich, and Dontrelle Inman all make the list. Writing about 2008's team with 2007's notes, kicking off now ...
In wrapping up last week's article, I finished with the comment that I would not want to be the Duke football team the next weekend. Simply put, I did not see any way that the Hoos were going to return from Laramie and then lose to Duke. And it didn't happen, as expected. Still, the Duke game was not without its speedbumps for UVa. What did I learn from the contest with the Blue Devils?
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