Sabre Edge Features 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TheSabre.com
Your source for independent coverage and discussion of University of Virginia sports
Sabre Edge Features
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.
Consistently winning the battle up front was a big factor in the Virginia football team's turn-around year in 2011. Offensively, the Cavaliers were fourth in the ACC in total offense, averaging almost 400 yards per game. Defensively, UVa was third in the ACC in total defense thanks in part to a veteran defensive line. More often than not, that unit was able to control the line of scrimmage to prevent big plays on the ground. The Cavaliers must replace three out of four starters up front in 2012 so junior defensive end Jake Snyder, the lone returning starter, will be relied upon heavily to keep the unit's momentum going.
Defensive end Billy Schautz made a big impact on Virginia's defense in 2011 as he carved out a niche as a dynamic pass rusher. With experience at linebacker in the previous 3-4 scheme, he gave the staff the added luxury of zone blitzes where he could drop in pass coverage from the line. Schautz answered five preseason questions for TheSabre.com. Stay tuned to the Hoo Preview for the same set of questions for someone from every position on the field.
Virginia's defense took a huge step forward last season and much of the improvement came in the Hoos' defense against the run, led by a big uptick in the play the defensive line. The 2012 season brings new challenges as both the front four linemen and the defensive backfield have to replace veteran performers but things look a little better up front in terms of experience. The Hoo Preview takes a closer look at the D-Line.
When Bill Lazor accepted the job as Virginia's offensive coordinator, he brought with him a pro-style offense based on a physical running attack and timing-based passing routes. Establishing that identity helped the offense climb up the national rankings in total offense the past two years. It also placed a premium on receivers that can execute the details of the aerial attack because mistakes with steps, route depth, or reads can destroy the timing and rhythm of the offense.
A still relatively young group of receivers will take on that task in the absence of Kris Burd and Matt Snyder, a pair of sure route runners that completed their senior seasons in 2011. The Hoo Preview takes a look at the receivers to see who the likely contributors could be in 2012.
Looking at the Virginia roster, there seem to be plenty of shifty speedsters in the receiving corps. Tim Smith, Darius Jennings, and Dominique Terrell all fall into that category. When it comes to a possession-style receiver with a big body, though, the list thins out considerably. That's where sophomore Miles Gooch could make a mark in 2012. Gooch 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.
After a week of open practices, it's easy to see the impact that third-year coach Mike London has had on the Virginia football program. There is competition on both sides of the ball and there are athletes all over the field. London has gotten it done on the recruiting trail, bringing elite talent to Charlottesville. One of the crown jewels of London's first recruiting class was former Gilman standout Darius Jennings, who is ready to make a big impact in his sophomore season.
One of the themes that has emerged from both spring and fall camp in 2012 is that the Virginia offense wants to me more explosive this season. From early looks at August practice, receiver is an obvious position where UVa has speed and playmaking ability to potentially produce more explosive plays. That's why Cavalier fans might see an increased use in the wide receiver screen this season. The Hoo Preview takes a look at "How receiver screens work" in this latest article.
The Virginia special teams as a whole were up and down last season. Along the way, the cover and return units provided Cavalier fans with plenty of headaches in 2011 too, especially on punt returns. The entire special teams unit hit a wall in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. The Cavaliers had two punts blocked, sent a kickoff out of bounds, poorly executed a fake field goal, and failed to recover an onside kick. What will special teams look like in 2012? The Hoo Preview takes a look.
The Virginia football team won eight games in 2011, but many of the biggest contributors finished their careers after that run to the Chick-fil-A Bowl. That included all of the kickers, meaning there is plenty of competition this fall for playing time at placekicker and punter. Junior Drew Jarrett is one of the new faces trying to earn a special teams role with the Hoos this season. Jarrett 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.
With the heated battle at quarterback and all the experience returning at running back and wide receiver, it is easy to forget about the tight end position. Actually, forgotten would be a good word to describe what has happened to the tight ends in the Cavalier offense. With the focus on three-wide sets and a two-back backfield, the tight end's production has decreased dramatically the past two seasons. Coach Mike London and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor are determined to get the tight ends more involved in the offense in 2012.
Virginia tight end Colter Phillips has faced some challenges in his Cavalier career. Last season, that meant playing through pain with an ankle injury that required surgery in the offseason. Healthy again after rehabilitating with fellow veterans Billy Schautz and Steve Greer, Phillips hopes to finish strong in the orange and blue. Phillips 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.
Over the last decade the tight end position has become a great source of pride for Virginia football. You remember many of the names: Casey Crawford, Heath Miller, Tom Santi, Jon Stupar, John Phillips, Joe Torchia, Patrick Estes and Chris Luzar. Seniors Colter Phillips and Paul Freedman top the depth chart this season with Jake McGee and Jeremiah Mathis pushing for more playing time. The most intriguing of the four may be Mathis, who is looking for one thing in 2012.
Since arriving in Charlottesville, coach Mike London has had a simple philosophy when it comes to the offensive line; the best five will play. Tackles have been moved to guards and guards have moved outside, with the goal of getting the most talent on the field. With two starters gone, London and the coaching staff will again be looking for the five most talented linemen to field a starting five. Junior Sean Cascarano has waited for his turn, and is ready to prove that he belongs among the quintet.
Some of the staple plays for many offenses in football feature pull blocking. The concept is simple. Take an offensive lineman away from the line and have him run into open space as a lead blocker. The pull can go in either direction and it can lead the way into a gap between blocks or to the outside area toward the sidelines. UVa offensive line coach Scott Wachenheim helped point out some of the basics on "How to be a pulling blocker" in this article for the Hoo Preview.
Virginia started the same five offensive linemen in every game of the 2011 season. Considering the starting five featured two tackles with NFL potential and two others with a wealth of college experience, that stat played a key role in the team's success. Entering the 2012 campaign, UVa must replace two holes on the line but a steadily growing depth chart makes that a less daunting task than in years past.
Virginia opened football practice Monday at an unfamiliar location but that didn't stop the quarterbacks from being the focus of attention. That's not surprising. After all, high-profile transfer Phillip Sims sparked the offseason interest level in the position when he left Alabama to join UVa so the practice at The Park provided the first side-by-side glimpse of Sims, Michael Rocco, and David Watford. Each flashed signs of starter potential for the Hoos.
It looks like Virginia's Morgan Moses enters this season as a refocused junior. The offensive tackle shed weight in the offseason and begins training camp at approximately 325 pounds. There was also the mature and determined way he talked about the season at UVa's Media Day on Friday where Moses 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.
When comparing the past two seasons at Virginia, one of the top storylines in the 8-5 bowl run of 2011 proved to be the defense's improvement. In the second season of a 4-3 alignment with Defensive Coordinator Jim Reid, the Cavaliers played the run better and created more disruption behind the line of scrimmage. Another key development? Third down defense.
Fall Saturdays tend to provide lots of emotions for football fans. Rivalries are intense. Wins are uplifting. Losses are crushing. When your favorite team can put together enough wins to go to a conference championship game or a postseason bowl, it adds another game or two to the emotional roller coaster. That's part of the fun, though. The Hoo Preview tackles the Virginia schedule next to see what Saturdays - and one Thursday night - could be like for the Hoos this fall.
When Media Day rolls around every year, it's a clear sign that football practice is just around the corner. Virginia met with the press on Friday to talk about the start of practice on Monday, the 2012 season, and expectations for the Cavaliers. UVa captain Perry Jones said the excitement level and expectations are high for a new season to begin.
Virginia coach Mike London came to Charlottesville to rebuild the Virginia football program. An 8-5 record marked the first winning record for the Cavaliers since 2007, snapping a string of three losing seasons. A surprise bid to the Chick-fil-A Bowl provided a little proverbial icing. In Tony Bennett parlance, 2011 was a turnaround year. Now comes the hard part.
TheSabre.com is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the University of Virginia.
Copyright © 1996-2013 TheSabre.com All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy