2011 Pre-Season Preview: Virginia Cavaliers

2010 Record: (4-8, 1-7 in ACC)

Head Coach: Mike London (28-13 All-Time, 4-8 at UVA)

Last Bowl Game: 2007/2008 Gator Bowl (lost to Texas Tech 31-28)

2010 Preview

Returning ACC Offensive Firepower

Schedule

9/3: William & Mary (2009 result: lost 26-14)

9/10: at Indiana (2009 result: won 47-7)

9/17: at UNC (2010 result: lost 44-10)

9/24: Southern Miss (2009 result: lost 37-34)

10/1: Idaho

10/15: Georgia Tech (2010 result: lost 33-21)

10/22: North Carolina State

10/27: Miami, Fl (2010 result: won 24-19)

11/5: at Maryland (2010 result: lost 42-23)

11/12: Duke (2010 result: lost 55-48)

11/19: at FSU (2010 result: lost 34-14)

11/26: Virginia Tech (2010 result: lost 37-7)

2010 Offensive Statistics:

Scoring: 25.3 ppg (7th in ACC, 75th in Nation)

Rushing Yds/Game: 139.33 yds/game (6th in ACC, 77th in Nation)

Passing Yds/Game: 265.6 yds/game (3rd in ACC, 25th in Nation)

Total Yds/Game: 404.8 yds/game (3rd in ACC, 37th in Nation)

2010 Defensive Statistics:

Scoring: 28.3 ppg (10th in ACC, 70th in Nation)

Rushing Yds/Game: 203.67 yds/game (11th in ACC, 105th in Nation)

Passing Yds/Game: 192.2 yds/game (3rd in ACC, 25th in Nation)

Total Yds/Game: 396.1 yds/game (10th in ACC, 78th in Nation)

2010 Misc Stats:

Turnover Margin: -0.58 per game (10th in ACC, 101st in Nation)

Penalties: 73.3 yds/game (last in ACC, 118th in Nation)

Returning Starters:

Offense: 8

Defense: 10

Kicker/Punter: 2

Top Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: QB Ross Metheny, Soph (13 of 17 for 171 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT)

Rushing: RB Perry Jones, Jr (137 for 646 yds, 4.7 ypc, 1 TD)

Receiving: WR Kris Burd, Sr (58 rec for 799 yds, 5 TD)

Tackles: LB LaRoy Reynolds, Jr (6)

Sacks: DE Cam Johnson, Sr (6)

Interceptions: CB Chase Minnifield, Sr (6)

Al Groh had four consecutive winning seasons at UVA from 2002 through 2005 and had his best season in 2007 when Virginia went 9-4. In Groh’s last two seasons the Cavs posted a 8-16 record. Last year Virginia made the switch to a familiar face in Mike London. London was the DC under Al Groh for the 2006 and 2007 seasons before getting head job at Richmond. London was very successful at Richmond as he went 24-5 in two seasons before getting called up to the ACC. In his debut season at UVA, London’s team went 4-8 (which was a one game upgrade over 2009 but they lost one more ACC game). There is no question that this is a rebuilding job for London and Virginia. One very positive off the field sign for Cavs fans was London’s first recruiting class, which ranked Phil Steele ranked 4th in the ACC (he uses a cumulative ranking system where he takes the major recruiting services and averages them together). I really like the hire of Mike London and I think that he will help Virgina turn the corner. The question now is how long with it take to turn that corner? We caught up with the Virginia blog Lambeth Field to get their take on the 2011 version of the Cavaliers.

Mike London went 4-8 in his debut season at Virginia. What did he do well and what does he need to work on as a coach?

On the field, UVa won the games they were supposed to, but when you were favored in 2 games (2 wins were over I-AA teams) it’s hard to try to rally a fan base behind that. Off the field, the improvements were much more significant. When Mike London was hired, he had to change the attitude of players and fans and everyone has responded. Whether it is the new openness to the media, or player chosen uni combinations, or traveling around the state to hold spring practices, most people have really enjoyed the new philosophy.

But what London really needs to work on is translating his success off the field to on the field. Understandably, he is playing with someone else’s cards, and it will take a few classes to get the players he needs, but he needs to both adapt and succeed this year, which will be a Herculean task.

Virginia finished 3rd in the ACC last year in Total Offense behind their senior QB Mark Verica. Who is in line to replace him this year?

Kind of segwaying into this question, one of the issues some people had with Mike London last year was not 100% committing to a quarterback entering fall practice. Although Verica was the starter, he sometimes got a quick hook. And, unfortunately, we are in that same boat again this year. You have 4 (that’s right 4) quarterbacks that could end up starting this year. The front runners are 2nd years Ross Metheny and Michael Rocco, with redshirt 1st year Michael Strauss and true 1st year David Watford.

Who will get it? While Strauss and Watford are very mobile and Mike London likes the dual threat QBs, they have not seen enough live action and are behind the other two in grasping the playbook. So that leaves Metheny and Rocco, and the rumor mill is turning on this one. Most people, including myself, think that Rocco has the advantage going into practice, but some, including people close to the program, think that people are rallying around Metheny. While it is up in the air, what we don’t want to see is two quarterbacks going into the season. We don’t want to get into that again.

Virginia gave up 28.3 points per game which placed them 10th in the ACC. Which players need to step up on defense this year?

Defense was the Achilles Heel of the team last year, mainly because of London coming in switching Al Groh’s 3-4 set back to the 4-3. Now in year 2, the front seven should be more congealed, led by 4th year DE Cam Johnson and 3rd year WLB LaRoy Reynolds. The secondary was solid last year, but not very deep, and this year it will feature some 1st years right off the bat. But the good news is 4th year CB and potential NFL 1st rounder Chase Minnifield is back, and while not super fast, plays an extremely smart game. If the offense can not turn the ball over and give short fields this year, this number should improve.

Who are some newcomers that you think can come in and immediately challenge for playing time?

Can I say all of them? Just kidding, but it will be interesting to see what London does here. While red-shirting players has been the norm around these parts for a couple of decades, there is just too much talent and too many needs to keep shirts on some of these players. The two positions you will see 1st years play immediately are at wide receiver and secondary. Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell should lock up at least 2nd team WRs and Demetrious Nicholson and Brandon Phelps should compete for starting jobs at cornerbacks or nickel formations. But the player that will have the biggest impact is Daquan Romero, who enrolled early and already has locked up a spot in the 2 deep at WLB.

Looking at the schedule, what are the most important games for Virginia this year?

Most people look at the big games of the year like Virginia Tech, FSU, and Miami, but if the Hoos can go 6-6 and reach a bowl game it would be a huge deal in Charlottesville. So the games we are really going to focus on are the fence games like Georgia Tech at home on 10/15 and Maryland on the road 11/5. The GT game will be the first time Al Groh will be back in Charlottesville coaching and there are some players that have had that game circled for two years. Maryland is always a rival game, but I think the Hoos need a road ACC win this year, and with the other games being UNC, Miami, and FSU, Maryland is a logical choice. If the Hoos win 1 of these, it will be very possible to break into the bowl mix.

What is your gut feeling on the final record for the 2011 season and what makes the season successful in your eyes?

We have touched on it a little already but marked improvement would make it a successful season, so 5-7 would be nice. If somehow they go 6-6 and make it to a bowl, it would be massive, especially with the classes that London is bringing in.

Coming in August: ACC Preview

Starting August 1st: CFBZ Top 25 Countdown

2011 Team Previews

ACC- Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, NC State, UNC, Wake Forest

Big 12- Baylor , Iowa St, Kansas, Kansas St, Texas Tech

Big East- Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn, USF

Big Ten- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota ,Northwestern, Penn St, Purdue

C-USA- East Carolina, Houston ,Marshall, SMU, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF

FCS- Georgia Southern, Georgia State

Independent- Army

MAC- Akron, Ball St, Bowling Green, Buffalo , Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Temple, Toledo, Western Michigan

MWC- Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, Wyoming