Sabre Edge Features 
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Sabre Edge Features
Not long ago a writer from Yahoo! Sports provided a feature called, "Virginia Cavaliers Football: The 25 Most Devastating Losses of the Past 25 Years." I linked this feature within Sabre NewsLink fully expecting the author to provide a companion piece listing the Top 25 greatest wins of the past 25 years. He, unfortunately, did not. Never fear, I did. I didn't want to leave the Wahoo fan base hanging, so I made my own list of UVa's greatest wins.
The season-opening game of Mike London's third season as UVa's head coach comes against his alma mater. That's not the only tie between Richmond and Virginia in this matchup, though. In fact, connections between the two schools abound. For example, for Michael Rocco and Richmond head coach Danny Rocco, it's a family outing. Read about that and get Sabre Editor Kris Wright's keys to the game in the game preview.
To cut to the chase, Michael Rocco will start his 14th straight game at quarterback for Virginia on Saturday when Richmond comes to town. On the season's first two-deep, Rocco retained his position as starting quarterback with Phillip Sims listed as the back-up option. David Watford holds the No. 3 slot. Read about the quarterbacks and more in this notes article.
Another season is almost upon us and like most seasons, questions abound. Answers to those questions will come in time and so I suppose we could just set aside the questions and allow things to unfold as they will ... but if we did that, could we really call ourselves fans? No, of course not, as it is part of the DNA of any fan that one must ponder the questions. Here are 10 such questions that I am chewing on going into the 2012 season.
As part of TheSabre.com's annual Hoo Preview, the site catches up with some of the program's true freshmen to talk about the transition to college, practice, season expectations, and more. Recruiting analyst Chris Horne and Editor Kris Wright interviewed Maurice Canaday, Trent Corney, Canaan Severin, C.J. Moore, Kwontie Moore, Mike Moore, and Greyson Lambert to talk about their first seasons with the Wahoos.
The Virginia offense made tremendous strides last season and looks primed for big things in 2012. Several key playmakers return, and the Cavaliers welcome in a host of talented newcomers. As is par for the course of preseason camp, there are more questions than answers at certain positions. Fortunately for Cavalier fans, however, one area of certainty with the 2012 squad is the quality and depth of the running back group.
Much of the Virginia football team's offense is based on being physical and running the football. That mindset establishes a tempo for the offense and sets up many of the system's play-action pass routes. If you're going to run the football, of course, it helps to have talented running backs. There are no issues there for the Hoos. Kevin Parks, a sophomore in the RB corps, wraps up the "5 questions" series for the Hoo Preview.
Young gun or proven veteran? That is the question. When contemplating the quarterback situation at Virginia, it got me thinking about the pros and cons of starting an inexperienced, highly touted quarterback over a consistent veteran who might not have nearly the same potential for greatness. It's something that has been talked about in fan circles for ages, and something UVa fans have discussed more times than they would like over the last couple of decades.
When most observers think of rhythm in football terms, they think of quarterbacks who effectively take the snap, go through their drop smoothly and throw the ball comfortably after setting up. The pass easily connects with the target. So with that in mind, while understanding that rhythm is elusive, let's take a look at "How to create quarterback rhythm" in this latest article for the Hoo Preview.
Since his arrival at Virginia the Mike London mantra has been clear - faith, family and football. "My priorities, how I run the program are: Faith, Family and Football," London told the Charlottesville Daily Progress back in November 2011. For the Hoos, quarterback Michael Rocco may well serve as the embodiment of that philosophy.
Who will emerge from the quarterback competition as the starter? Who will be the back-up QB? How many quarterbacks will redshirt? Virginia fans anxiously have waited for depth chart news at quarterback this fall. UVa coaches, on the other hand, simply are not in a rush to make any final decisions. As a result, the Cavaliers' starting quarterback for the opener with Richmond next Saturday remains unknown, but the Hoo Preview breaks down the candidates.
Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco faced a quarterback competition with David Watford last fall as both players battled for the spot left vacant by Marc Verica. In the end, Rocco won the job and he started all 13 games for the Hoos during their 8-5 season. So while the starting quarterback at Virginia for 2012 remains to be seen with Rocco, Watford, and Alabama transfer Phillip Sims in the mix, Rocco answered The Sabre's "5 Questions" for the preseason.
After struggling with a switch in schemes in 2010, Virginia's defense displayed tremendous improvement in the second year of coach Mike London's tenure. Defensive coordinator Jim Reid's unit trimmed the averages for points, total yards, first downs per game, rushing yards, and third down conversions per game. That defensive progress played a huge role in the Cavaliers' 8-5 season. Virginia assistant coach Anthony Poindexter helped break down "How to tackle" for the Hoo Preview.
For the Virginia defense, 2012 will be looked at as a transition year. After finishing third in the ACC in total defense in 2011, the unit must undergo a major facelift this season. UVa must replace three starters on the defensive line and in the secondary. A plethora of freshmen and sophomores will get a chance to compete for starting jobs as the Cavaliers reload on defense. At the safety position, sophomore Anthony Harris is ready to step into the spotlight.
Once the offseason began for the Virginia football team, it didn't take long for many to zero in on the secondary as one area of concern for the 2012 season. Losing three multi-year starters from the depth chart tends to cause such observations. The Hoo Preview takes a look at the UVa secondary in this latest article.
Most people have probably heard the old phrase 'sink or swim' at some point. It's common lingo for throwing someone into a challenge with little preparation as if you were throwing them into the deep end of the pool with no flotation device. They'll either rise to the occasion or come up short. Virginia defensive back Demetrious 'Tra' Nicholson received that treatment last season.
The Virginia football season kicks off in less than two weeks and Wahoo fans are eager to see what the next chapter in Mike London's early head coaching career will reveal. It's year three of the Coach London era at UVa, and one that brings hope to Cavalier fans that the program is ready to take the next positive step in its evolution. But before I give my summary of what Virginia football could be for 2012, it's important to take a step back and realize where we were when Coach London took the job.
Change has been a recurring theme for the Virginia defense the past few seasons. In 2009, UVa ran the 3-4 alignment on defense in Al Groh's final season in Charlottesville. Two years ago, new head coach Mike London and new defensive coordinator Jim Reid brought the 4-3 scheme to Grounds. The unit experienced massive growing pains in the first year of the 4-3, but had a turnaround season in 2011. Through all the changes, one thing has remained the same for the Cavalier defense, though: the play of linebacker Steve Greer.
In many defensive schemes, including Virginia's version of the 4-3, the linebackers inherit the role of playmaker. Much of their job involves flowing through the defense to make tackles. Offenses, naturally, try to counter the defense's strategy and that often means using a lead blocker. There is a technique laden with fundamentals in beating that block. Virginia linebacker coach Vincent Brown helped break down "How to beat a lead block" for the Hoo Preview.
When you look at the linebacker position at Virginia, one thing is instantly obvious. There is a major experience gap. Beyond starting tackling machines Steve Greer and LaRoy Reynolds, no other linebacker on the roster has logged much playing time at all. With that said, let's take a look at the names and faces in the linebacker corps as the Hoo Preview continues.
Daquan Romero took on a new position when he arrived at UVa last season, moving from defensive end in high school to linebacker in college. This fall, Romero switched something else too. His number. Now wearing lucky No. 13, Romero figures into the depth chart at strong-side linebacker where he says he is feeling more comfortable than a year ago. He answered The Sabre's "5 Questions" for the preseason. Stay tuned to the Hoo Preview for the same set of questions for someone from every position on the field.
Football fans have watched the scenario play out many times. Trailing on the scoreboard, an offense begins to march down the field as time dwindles away. A receiver breaks open for a quick-hitter. The fans see it, the quarterback sees it, and, bam, the ball is on the turf. Comeback hopes dashed courtesy of a defensive linemen's hand in the throwing lane. Virginia defensive line coach Jeff Hanson helps break down "How to bat down a pass" for the Hoo Preview.
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