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Sabre Edge Features
In preparing for the 2013 season, I've decided to take a look at the Virginia football team through "Spring Superlatives." Things kicked off with "Most Depth" and "Most Likely To Surprise" articles. The next installment should be a fun one because there is a lot of room for debate I think. Which position for the Cavaliers has the "Most Potential" for the 2013 campaign?
When Mike London took over as head coach of the Virginia football program, recruiting became one of the key areas of focus. In order to turn around the Cavaliers, the coaching staff needed to bring in more talent to create depth and competition. Now after stringing together multiple solid recruiting classes in a row, some of those early recruits are entering their second and third season on the field. That experience could start to shine through this season. With that in mind, let's look at the next superlative-style breakdown with "Most Likely To Surprise" for the Hoos.
With spring football practice in the rearview mirror and fall football practice still a summer away, there's plenty of time to dissect, discuss, examine, and evaluate the Cavaliers. One way to do that is with some superlative-style breakdowns. Let's get started with the recognition for "Most Depth" for the Hoos, a competition that has grown more fierce thanks to the recruiting efforts of recent years. What position holds the honors?
When the Virginia football team released its post-spring depth chart, the offensive side of the ball drew the most attention and overshadowed the defense in some ways. A quarterback competition and unforeseen shuffling on the offensive line will do that. Looking at the defense after the spring, however, held no surprises. The Cavaliers need to replace production in some key spots, but they have a lot of talented contributors returning. Let's take a look at the post-spring depth chart for the defense.
While Virginia's quarterback race holds the top conversation spot this offseason, the offensive line isn't far behind. The UVa football team released a post-spring depth chart last week and an O-Line shuffle caught everyone's attention. After all, the front five struggled through an up-and-down 2012 season and the new depth chart reflects the move of the line's best two players. Simply put, the coaches are looking for cohesion, consistency, and better run blocking ... and they still hadn't found the right mix by the end of 15 spring practices.
The Virginia football team released a post-spring depth chart last week and the offensive side of the ball drew the most attention. Discussion trended that way for two reasons: the quarterback competition and an offensive line shuffle. Both categories left Cavalier fans concerned heading into the summer. First, let's look at the quarterback spot where David Watford, Greyson Lambert, and Phillip Sims are eyeing the top spot for the 2013 season.
The Virginia baseball team nailed down a three-game sweep of Florida State over the weekend. Kyle Crockett finished off Sunday's win with 4 strikeouts in the final 2 innings as UVa won 5-2. Check out 19 images of the final victory in the series.
The Virginia men's basketball team improved its overall number of wins for the fourth straight season under coach Tony Bennett. The squad finished 23-12 this season and wrapped up the year in the NIT Quarterfinals against Iowa. Eyeing areas for improvement with a roster that is expected to return nearly intact, one thing the Cavaliers can do better is put pressure on opposing defenses.
The Virginia football team wrapped up spring practice this month as three new coordinators got their first chance to work with the Cavaliers. One group that turned heads this spring is the defensive line, thanks in part to the new approach of Jon Tenuta. Plus the front four for the defense have a special assistant for their position in head coach Mike London, who worked in the NFL as a D-Line coach. Here are some notes on Eli Harold and the defensive line.
Virginia wraps up spring practice this week, but the public and the media got their last look at the Hoos during the Spring Game last weekend. With the quarterback battle still going, linebackers to replace, and more storylines, there's plenty to discuss. That's a perfect time for a Sabre Roundtable so Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Frank Maloney of Hoos Talking radio, EDGE subscriber HoosQ, and TheSabre.com Editor Kris Wright answer 5 questions about the Wahoos.
The Virginia football team made its last public appearance for spring practice this past Saturday in the Spring Game, which the Orange team won 18-15 over the Blue. Of course, there are new coaches all around the McCue Center this spring, but after Saturday's live action in Scott Stadium, some fans have wondered what's different? The offense is still a pro-style scheme with multiple formations and the defense is still features a 4-3 base look. Let's take a look at some of the variations and some other potential alterations after seeing the Cavaliers in action this past weekend.
Leafless trees served as the backdrop for the Virginia football team's annual Spring Game on April's first Saturday. While signs of new life hadn't hit the limbs yet, they were everywhere on the field for the Cavaliers as the Orange and Blue teams squared off with new coordinators calling the shots and new faces getting chances at many positions. The afternoon resulted in an 18-15 win for the Orange team and provided a glimpse of some of the alterations in Charlottesville.
Coach Mike London is heading into his fourth season as head coach of the Virginia football program. London's journey as head coach at UVa has seen its highs and lows over the course of his first three years on the job. What will year four bring? In the latest edition of "The Sabre Interview" series, I caught up with London to talk about the 2013 schedule, the program's future, and much, much more.
Virginia running back Clifton Richardson didn't feel like himself on the field until late last year. A preseason hamstring injury hampered his sophomore season from August to November and by the time the leg felt right again, the Cavaliers' 2012 campaign had ended. Richardson said he has trimmed down and defined his muscles during the offseason as part of his quest for carries in 2013. Read about that and more in these spring practice notes.
At first glance, at least to outside observers, science and satire don't have much in common. For long-time Virginia and TheSabre.com fan Jason Goodbody, however, there is an obvious connection. Goodbody, known as Copernic around the message boards, should know. He's been published as both a scientist and a satirist. Learn more about Goodbody in the latest edition of FanWatch!
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