Coming off a 2-10 season, last-place predictions and hot seat conversations are likely to follow. That’s certain to lead to questions of motivation and proving people wrong. Almost two weeks ago, this Sabre column suggested that Media Day at Virginia, however, could be an opportunity to change the narrative and refocus the attention to execution and better production.
That’s exactly what the Cavaliers have latched on to near the end of the first week of practice and it was evident all around Media Day on Friday at the John Paul Jones Arena. The first question of the day was about Greyson Lambert and players not looking over their shoulder on the field. The first words out of coach Mike London’s mouth on the day to set the tone in public? It had nothing to do with motivation or attitude.
“For us, it’s about the executing of the plays that our coordinators are asking these young men to do,” London said. “Greyson feels comfortable in what he’s doing. He’s the best at doing what we are asking our quarterbacks to do at this point.”
It’s a theme that carried throughout the afternoon.
Most noticeable thing at training camp so far?
“The biggest change or the pleasant surprise has been that I’ve seen the players out there executing their assignments better,” London said. “It’s the benefit of [having] the same coordinators, schemes, and systems. I believe the players we have that are performing the assigned tasks are performing in a way to give us a chance to produce on the field. … It’s been positive to see the players on film executing the things that we know can allow them to be successful on the field.”
Creating more turnovers and scoring off of turnovers?
“The biggest thing that I’ve seen that’s been a positive is the execution of what we’re asking the players to do. That’s practice habits, that’s going after the football, and all of those things are entailed,” London said. “In the end, it’s ultimately about the production.”
Time of possession and scoring more points?
“Our lack of productivity – we had the ball, we just couldn’t get it in the end zone and just couldn’t create big plays. That’s who we were last year,” offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild said. “Obviously, those explosive type plays and scoring plays in the red zone we’ve got to improve on.”
“We were just very inconsistent last year. A lot of it is our own doing. It’s amazing how many games you can be in and give yourself a chance to win if you don’t screw it up,” Fairchild said later. “We’ve got to eliminate the penalties, the turnovers, snapping the ball over the guy’s head – the things we did to shoot ourselves in the foot, that’s the starting point. If we can get a little more explosive … that will help us as well.”
What can the special teams do to improve returns and coverage?
“We have better depth and better experience. I know the one thing I’ve learned over the years is usually in my second year kids understand the system, the terms, and the techniques that we’re using,” special teams coordinator Larry Lewis said. “I think because of that, we’ll be better.”
Talk, of course, is only part of the equation. Actions, starting with UCLA on August 30, ultimately will tell the tale but turning the conversation to execution sends a clear message to the players and to anyone else listening. That’s the right place to start.
Clear Quarterback Starter
When offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild wrapped up his first spring practices at Virginia in 2013, he had an unenviable quarterback situation. Two starters from the year before, Michael Rocco and Phillip Sims, both had left UVa so that left him with the task of choosing a first- time starter for the position. Ultimately, the coaches settled on David Watford. Fairchild said at Friday’s Media Day that Greyson Lambert, the other chief competitor in the race for snaps was “in no way, shape or form ready to play.”
After ranking near the bottom of the country in many statistical passing categories last season – namely yards per attempt, yards per completion, and interceptions – the Virginia coaching staff spent time evaluating the quarterback position early in the offseason too. Watford had started every game, but Lambert had made appearances in relief. The conclusion led to an open competition in the offseason for the starting job.
Fairchild said Lambert seized control of the race early in the offseason and that there is no question about the starting job this August.
“Getting back to last year, David coming out of spring ball, we felt as the coaching staff, was our best chance to win. We didn’t play well enough at the quarterback spot last year so we went into the spring, opened it up and made it a competition, and Greyson just had a tremendous offseason. Clearly he’s the starting quarterback,” Fairchild said.
Nicholson’s Road Back
Virginia senior Demetrious Nicholson had never missed a game in his football career before last season. Before a turf toe injury against Ball State on Oct. 5, he had started 30 straight games for the Cavaliers.
The original thought was that time to heal from October into the spring would be the right course instead of surgery. So Nicholson allowed the injury to progress and joined workouts in the spring but pain from the injury reappeared. That led to more MRIs and surgery, which also revealed a cyst that was removed during the procedure. With practice underway in August, Nicholson still hasn’t been cleared for full participation.
“It’s one of the toughest times of my life having to miss last season and then having surgery in May and now trying to get back out there,” Nicholson said. “It’s been very tough but I’m embracing it all because it is out of my control. I can’t stress too much about it. I just have to keep going to the trainer and keep doing what I have to do to better myself.”
Nicholson and true freshman Andrew Brown are both dealing with turf toe complications right now.
“There’s a certain level where they are cleared to participate right now,” London said. “For them to get completely cleared, that will be for our doctors in consultation with the players themselves. We want to make sure when they do come back and are participating fully that they’re able to excel in what we’re asking them to do. Right now, we’re happy with where they are and they’re progressing nicely.”
For a competitor like Nicholson, the road back to playing time isn’t a clear checklist of steps. It’s more about pain level, the ability to play explosively, and the evaluation of the medical staff.
“It’s not a full checklist [to get back]. It’s just when I can really start cutting, really planting, and really putting pressure on my toe and pushing off of my toe to where it’s not too bad of pain. Of course, it’s going to hurt, I just had surgery in May until it is all the way healed, it’s going to hurt. But until I can go and be able to stand it and not start limping,” Nicholson said. “When I go back to the doctor, he’ll check me out again and see what I’ve been doing. Then he’ll clear me and I’ll be able to go.”
Is redshirting a possibility for Nicholson if the injury doesn’t reach a certain point this fall?
“I haven’t really thought about that yet. That hasn’t even been a thing I’ve thought about doing because I feel like that would take away from me trying to mentally recover,” Nicholson said. “I’ve just been thinking about playing and getting better right now.”
Paraphrase Alley
- Mike London said the evaluation of Dominique Terrell and a sports hernia injury is ongoing and a redshirt decision has not been made yet.
- Offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild said he has been very impressed with true freshman receivers Jamil Kamara and Doni Dowling and that he expects both to play this season.
- Fairchild said any chances for senior offensive tackle Jay Whitmire to return are “down the road” and that the Hoos will enter the season with him inactive.
- The coaches indicated that the offensive scheme would be similar to last season despite the change of quarterbacks, but Fairchild noted that it would be tailored to the strengths of the players expected to play. Fairchild also indicated that the staff would take a look at some packages where David Watford’s skills could be utilized.
- Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta emphasized the importance of substitution defensive packages like nickel due to the use of multiple receivers and spread formations.
- Tenuta also said Max Valles would be asked to handle varying responsibilities in the defense as a hybrid linebacker and defensive end type player.
- Tenuta said that defensive tackle Chris Brathwaite, who has returned to the team after a year away to address academics, is a good kid but that he has to keep working to get into the two deep on the depth chart.
- Tenuta had high praise for David Dean and Mike Moore. He said Dean makes things go for the defensive line on the inside, while Moore has improved leaps and bounds from Tenuta’s first spring at UVa.
- Larry Lewis, special teams coordinator and running backs coach, said that figuring out a running backs rotation would be a challenge since Kevin Parks, Khalek Shepherd, and Taquan Mizzell all have considerable skills.
- Lewis said that punter Alec Vozenilek may be one of the strongest players on the team pound for pound.
- Lewis said Tyler Shirley, Alex Foertsch, and Jeb Byrne are in mix right now to be the starting long snapper.
