Sabre Roundtable: Talking GT and VT

1) If you were to give Virginia a grade for its overall performance against Georgia Tech, what would it be and why?

Greg: A. To hold the Jacket offense to 17 points and to limit a player like Calvin Johnson to four receptions, 41 yards and no scores is something I would have been happy to see the starting unit accomplish, but to do it without two starting safeties and a starting nose tackle, that’s special. This team played with great heart and resilience and it should make all Virginia fans proud.

Jed: A-. Football always centers on execution, but this game was as much – if not more so – about intangibles. Resolve, resourcefulness, guts…the ‘Hoos flashed more of those qualities against Georgia Tech than in any other game all year. They’ll need better production up front on both sides for a similar grade in coming weeks, but for now, as Al Groh would say, “it’s a performance they can be proud of.”

John: A-. The execution was more like a B or B+, given how the offense bogged down and the defense sprung some leaks in the second and third quarters. But the intangibles raise this grade. To overcome the adversity of four suspensions, Nate Lyles ‘ injury and a seriously depleted defense, the Cavs reached down deep to pull out an absolutely critical win.

Charleston Cav: I would give the team a B+. First of all, the ‘Hoos overcame adversity and a depleted team, especially on defense. The ‘Hoos played very well on offense and looked very good in the first and fourth quarters. The defense played a pretty consistent bend-but-don’t-break game, coming up with big stops when necessary and getting pressure on Reggie Ball.

...