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Al Groh |
On his Cavalier Call-In radio show tonight, Al Groh talked with host Mac McDonald about the win over Georgia Tech and the upcoming game against Virginia Tech. He also took questions from fans about special teams, Jason Snelling, the coverage against Calvin Johnson, when it’s OK to call a timeout, the in-state recruiting strategy, how the VT game affects recruiting, containing Marcus Vick , and more.
Callers and Questions
1) Cathy in Charlottesville asked who coaches special teams and what he’s done to make them so successful.
Groh noted that Mark D’Onofrio is the special teams coordinator, but five other assistants also are involved in coaching different facets of special teams. Last year D’Onofrio coached all of the special teams units but this year Groh said he wanted “to utilize the ingenuity and creativity of the coaching staff.” The only assistants who aren’t involved in special teams are Ron Prince, Al Golden and Mike Groh.
2) Joe in Christiansburg said he lives near Blacksburg and always hears about how great Virginia Tech is. He said Virginia has no reason to feel inferior to anybody and the Cavs have proven they can beat anybody, “so let’s go out and beat the Hokies.”
“That’s a very good message,” Groh said. “I’m sure we’ll get utilization of it here during the course of the week.”
3) David in Columbus, Ohio said Jason Snelling “showed a lot of heart and a lot of drive” against Georgia Tech and asked how Groh plans to use him against the Hokies .
Groh noted that Snelling has played a significant role in the past two games as a tailback “and we plan on continuing it that way.”
4) Vince in Norfolk said Marcus Hamilton staked a claim for All-ACC honors with his performance against Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson. Other than Hamilton’s coverage, Vince asked, how did the Cavaliers defend Johnson?
“That’s a good question,” said Groh, who said the Cavs used a variety of coverages. Sometimes Hamilton covered Johnson by himself. Other times he got help. Groh said Johnson was the kind of player “who deserves special attention” so they set up their defense to make it as difficult as possible for him to get the ball.
5) Rodney in Stuarts Draft said his 9-year-old daughter had to be rushed to UVa Hospital over the weekend. Some players, including Connor Hughes, came by the hospital to visit her and Rodney passed along his thanks. .
Groh said a number of players regularly spend time visiting children at UVa Hospital and “it’s as good for our guys as it is for the children who are there.”
6) Tom in South Hill asked if UVa’s players are told to take a timeout when it looks like the play clock will expire before they can get off the snap.
“We think timeouts are very precious, so we’re trying to save them for the end of the game and the end of the half,” Groh said. He said they’ll take timeouts on third down or in the red zone, but in some situations they’d rather take the five-yard penalty than burn the timeout.
7) John in Hampton Roads asked about UVa’s plan for in-state recruiting since there are so many great prospects in Virginia.
“It’s the same as when we came here,” Groh said. “To go into every school every year, whether or not they have prospects. To stay in touch with the coaches and know about the upcoming players. To be as active a player in the Virginia player market as is conceivable. To make our evaluations and go after those players we think will fit well with how we do business and hope to appeal to what they’re looking for.”
8) Nathan in Richmond asked if players get more excited and pumped up to play the Hokies than they do against other teams.
Groh said the coaches try not to change their approach during Virginia Tech week, but he acknowledged that there’s a different feel to the week for the players. “There’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm for it,” Groh said.
9) Matt in Roanoke asked how the Virginia Tech game affects recruiting within the state .
“I think everything is part of the cumulative effect with how things work out,” Groh said. “I think you help your chances by winning more than you hurt your chances by losing.”
Groh said both programs are on solid footing and have much to offer regardless of what happens on the field in a given year. The most important factors in recruiting, he said, are the personal relationships coaches build with recruits and how the player feels he will fit into a program.
10) Chris in Richmond asked if Groh felt he needed to hold VT quarterback Marcus Vick under a certain rushing yardage total to win the game.
Groh said that when the Cavs face a good runner, the coaches don’t mention specific numbers but they emphasize how important it is to keep that player under control. They also create a gameplan to contain him.
Notes and Quotes
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