Despite rain showers around Charlottesville, the Virginia football team still spent a lot of time on its outdoor practice field Monday in addition to some work in the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility. That gave the coaches the opportunity to evaluate players in varying conditions as the Cavaliers continue their preseason work for the 2016 season.
UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall, who did not like the execution or concentration levels Saturday, was more pleased with the third day of practice.
“Sharper today in terms of the concentration and the execution and the intent so I was encouraged by the mindset in particular today,” Mendenhall said. “Bright spots on both sides with still a long, long, long ways to go. We’re making progress in terms of moving forward as a football team. The consistency still is a long ways a way but the willingness is there so I’m encouraged.”
The team added shoulder pads to the uniform for the first time this preseason Monday and it took some time for the players to adjust to that after being in helmets only over the weekend.
”We put the pads on for the first time today so executing in the run game was a little slow at first I think just because it was the first day back hitting and stuff,” Virginia linebacker Zach Bradshaw said, ”but we picked it up by the midway point of practice and then we finished really strong.”
Quarterback Race Continues
After Friday’s first practice session, UVA quarterbacks coach Jason Beck indicated that the staff would probably look to increase the reps for transfer quarterback Kurt Benkert. The coaches had 15 practices to evaluate Matt Johns and Connor Brewer so they want to get a closer look at Benkert, who operated in a similar system at East Carolina before transferring to Virginia at the start of the summer.
Mendenhall gave a peek at his thought process on a quarterback competition on Monday with Beck adding that it is best to place the players in as many as game-like competitive situations as possible to get a good read on it.
”First, I think you make sure you look at who you have and make sure that each has an opportunity to have enough plays in competition to demonstrate what their strengths are in relation to what’s called,” Mendenhall said. ”We’re trying to put them all in the best position within their skill set to show what they can do. You certainly have to have the numbers and documentation to back up are they moving the team and, if so, at what rate. Then there’s a chemistry and a leadership component that is not measurable but is certainly noticeable. All of those have to have enough time to manifest for you to determine what that looks like. Sooner rather than later is the ideal, but that’s why it’s kind of an art rather than a science.”
There are three important notes from that quote. One, the coaches want to to put players in the best position within “their skill set to show what they can do.” This played out at BYU just last season as Mendenhall wrapped up his tenure there. The Cougars included more designed quarterback runs and read option looks with Taysom Hill, but more quick passes or pocket rollouts with Tanner Mangum. Both came with the same formations, receiver patterns, and so forth but with the offense tailored toward a strength.
Two, the coaches “have the numbers and documentation” to track the effectiveness of the candidates. This isn’t surprising as Mendenhall is a numbers wonk, using a variety of measurements as an evaluation tool across the roster. Lastly, “there’s a chemistry and a leadership component” that must be considered. Whoever the starting QB ends up being must have the respect of this teammates.
Benkert clearly has an edge when evaluating physical skills with Johns and Brewer. He has a stronger arm for deeper throws or more powerful short throw. He has a quicker release that allows the ball to get out quickly whether he is on the run or not. He appears to be at least a little bit more mobile than his competition too. Plus at approximately 235 pounds, Benkert checks in 20 pounds bigger than Johns and 40 pounds bigger than Brewer.
On the flipside, Johns and Brewer have had more experience with their teammates. Johns has stuck it out at UVA through multiple quarterback competitions, through tough losses, and through the coaching change. Quarterbacks transferred all around him, but he stayed put, kept grinding, and kept leading. That’s a big bonus in the chemistry department. Brewer, meanwhile, showed his competitive spirit by surging in the QB competition in the spring.
Benkert said it was a little bit weird in the summer trying to step in as the leader a quarterback is expected to be, while still learning the ropes of Virginia and the football program at the same time. He added that getting on the field, however, changes things because then you can lead by example and by what you can do for the team. The general key to leadership as a quarterback, he said, is to show confidence to your teammates. In this no-huddle system, that means being vocal and encouraging in between series on the sidelines.
”They hear your voice and they hear confidence in your voice,” Benkert said. ”That’s how you let them know ‘hey I’m ready to go and I expect you guys to be ready to go and we’re going to move the ball.’ One of the things I tell them before we go out is just make plays. Football is a sport where you have to do your job, but at the end of the day you have to make those competitive plays to keep moving the ball in tough situations.”
Ultimately, the quarterback competition will come down to execution and the first part of Mendenhall’s thoughts, though. Who can use their individual skills to move the team the most consistently? The players aren’t in the dark on the results as they get feedback from the coaches each day.
”We review it ourselves and they also hit on key points,” Benkert said. ”They try not to overload you at all, which is really beneficial in this learning process. They definitely give you everything you need to succeed.”
The coaches go beyond what they’re telling the players too. Mendenhall said there are informal meetings all day every day among the coaches … and essentially all of them include quarterback conversations, both from an evaluation and planning standpoint.
”They’re happening all the time and that’s one of the topics every single day, multiple times a day so we have a great idea what we think so far,” Mendenhall said.
Emerging Contributors On Defense
While the quarterback competition continues to work itself out, some of the spots on defense are already settling in as the Hoos transition to a 3-4 base defense.
Donte Wilkins leads that list after standing out in the spring at nose tackle. He’s continued his strong play at the start preseason practice. Alongside Wilkins is Andrew Brown, a junior that has struggled to make his mark so far in his career. After missing the first day of practice, Brown is working on the first unit at defensive end. Redshirt freshman Eli Hanback and junior Arizona State transfer Jack Powers appear to be in the mix as well, but Mendenhall said Monday that the coaches are still working on getting at least five defensive linemen ready.
Wilkins is impressed with Brown’s progress this offseason.
”He’s showing up at every work out killing it,” Wilkins said. ”I just can’t wait to see what he does this season. He’s going to break out and show the world what they’ve been missing.”
One level back among the linebackers, Micah Kiser and Zach Bradshaw have carved out roles for now as the starting inside duo. They started nine games together at linebacker last season and were both in the top four in total tackles. Kiser had 117 stops, while Bradshaw added 53.
On the outside, some new names are surfacing in the lead spots early in camp. Malcolm Cook moved up from safety and is at 225 pounds now, while Cory Jones and Chris Peace check in at 215 and 235 respectively. Peace had been listed at defensive end initially.
“I like some of the bodies we have there,” Mendenhall said. “Malcolm Cook is doing a really nice job. Cory Jones and Chris Peace. Those three in particular I’ve been really impressed with so far for three days.”
Kiser is confident that the Hoos have an athletic group with a lot of potential on the outside.
”Very athletic. Can play multiple positions up front,” Kiser said. ”A lot of them can play defensive end if they want to, a lot of them can play outside linebacker, a lot of them can play pass-rush specialist – it’s all about Coach Mendenhall figuring out who he wants on the field and putting them in the right position.”
In the secondary, Quin Blanding is the clear leader of the group after two strong seasons in orange and blue already. He had 123 tackles as a freshman and 115 more as a sophomore. Kelvin Rainey, who was third on the team last season in tackles with 68, is going to get snaps at safety too with Kirk Garner, a corner convert, and Wilfred Wahee looking for playing time there as well.
At corner, there are two clear options right now in a group that needs to build some depth. Tim Harris, who has 21 starts in three years, enters his senior year at UVA, while Juan Thornhill is in line to take over the defensive back vacancy left by Maurice Canady. Harris is 6’2”, while Thornhill is 6’1”.
”Harris and Juan Thornhill are the two leaders at this point,” Mendenhall said. ”There are others that are making progress, but right now those are the two I would mention if I had to pick today.”
Regardless of the names that pan out over the course of the preseason and the games ahead, Mendenhall said there’s one area he wants to see some improvement in the coming sessions.
”Physical play is still something we have to continue to work on, but we’re athletic and we’re fast,” Mendenhall said. ”Physical play and early down defense are still something I think we have a ways to go on.”
Worth Noting
Mendenhall said that the team’s attitude is “exceptional – I don’t think it can be any better. They’re hungry, they’re eager, and they’re willing. … Execution will catch up to that mindset at some point. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but as long as that mindset stays in place then we have a great chance for it to catch up.”
Andrew Brown and Doni Dowling, who each missed Friday’s opening practice, are back in action. Brown is picking up first-team defensive reps, while Dowling is being eased back in with less volume. Olamide Zaccheaus has not returned fully yet after an apparent hamstring injury on Friday. Andre Levrone left Monday morning’s practice gingerly with what looked like a lower body injury.
Quarterback Kurt Benkert said this offense is very similar to what he ran at ECU, but it’s moving at higher tempo.
Offensive lineman Eric Smith said that he’s at about 17% body fat and 300 pounds at the start of camp. Smith stood up the pass rush several times in Monday’s practice.
The players get an almost immediate debriefing on how the day’s performance went from the coaching staff in terms of numbers and percentages.
Watching safety Quin Blanding’s diagnosis time at field level is a treat – he sees and recognizes what’s in front of him really rapidly. Mendenhall said he’s “smart” and “doesn’t waste any steps” as a defender.
Donte Wilkins is frequently getting into the backfield so far in camp.
Monday’s session featured a lot of first down work from the 20/25-yard line working out toward midfield. There were more running plays included on the menu as shoulder shells have been added to the uniform. The first two practices had no pads.
Mendenhall said they would love to have eight offensive linemen ready to be in the rotation, but that seven is doable. He said anything less than that is shaky in terms of having enough depth to make it through the year. He likes what he’s seen from Michael Mooney so far as he works his way back into the rotation after an injury cut his 2015 season short and left him out of spring drills.
Starting center Jackson Matteo told reporters that he thinks the offensive line has a lot of depth in terms of people with experience that can be ready to play. Eric Smith said he had more confidence in the depth of the line than at any point so far in his UVA career. There were only 14 offensive linemen listed on the roster at the start of preseason practice.
Jack English has worked at both tackle spots.
Freshman defensive back Nick Grant looked fluid at corner with some of his reps with the third-team defense.
Taquan Mizzell, David Eldridge, Daniel Hamm, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Davis, and others have gotten some work in as returners so far in practice. Of note, linebacker Zach Bradshaw has worked on long-snapping skills at these practices.
Punter Nicholas Conte hit the roof of the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility at least twice during punting drills Monday. When he connects on a kick, it booms and hangs perfectly. The coaches had a rugby style punter last year at BYU, but aren’t showing that look early in fall practice. The punt formation is the spread shield that is common in college football right now.
One stark contrast from fall practice in previous seasons – freshmen trying to earn their way into the action at all. Some freshmen started with the first-team offense or defense on day one in the past.
The coaching staff had a fitness challenge in the offseason. Mendenhall said he lost 14 pounds. ”I like an active, fast, energetic staff so the hidden agenda was to have a fast, energetic, and effective staff,” Mendenhall said.
