Virginia’s football season kicks off in approximately 24 hours! It’s time for Friday’s Final Thoughts.
The Sabre panel picks are in (go vote in the poll!) and all five people, me included, have UVA winning against Richmond in the opener. Average score: 35.6-14.2. I’m the most optimistic on offense at 48 points. Greg Waters and BadgerHoo are the most optimistic on defense at 10 points.
While I’ve made a game pick, I haven’t published a season pick. I think 5-7 to 7-5 is the likely window. I’m an optimist. I’ll go with 7-5.
Early in preseason practice, receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Andre Levrone left the field with injuries. Mendenhall had hinted later in August that both were on track to return, but without a timetable. Now it looks like both may be healthy enough to take some snaps in the opener. “We’re at full strength,” UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall said, “and so we’ve had a number of players that have been beat up a little bit and had a few nicks going into and through fall camp, but at this point every receiver we have in the program is capable and ready to play, and with the addition of some first years that have emerged that are doing a nice job, so we’re at full strength at wide receiver.”
It still hasn’t gotten much play in the lead-up to the game, but UVA’s kicking situation will be worth keeping an eye on this week. Linebacker Zach Bradshaw and tight end Richard Burney trained themselves to become long snappers after the academic loss of Tyler Shirley. Matt Johns should be fine at holder – he has experience there – but Dylan Sims will be in the full-time kicking duties for the first time. “Our kicking game is still a work in progress overall,” Mendenhall said this week.
Some freshmen will play according to Coach Mendenhall. “My hope is to play as many as possible that have earned a role, so that doesn’t mean I’m going to play them if they’re not ready or haven’t earned a chance to play, but I think there will be a handful,” he said. So prepare yourself for burned redshirts and redshirt freshmen debuts Saturday.
The true freshmen with numbers on the Virginia roster are No. 34 Bryce Hall (DB, No. 2 on depth chart), No. 37 Jordan Mack (OLB, No. 2 on depth chart),No. 39 Chris Moore (DB), No. 52 Robert Snyder (ILB), No. 80 Hasise Dubois (WR), No. 81 Joe Reed (WR), No. 85 Cole Blackman (WR), No. 95 Juwan Moye (OLB), and No. 98 Landan Word (ILB).
Some players with less hype that I’m interested to see in action: David Eldridge (WR – making a lot of catches in practice highlights), Jake Fieler (LG – long awaited debut), Cory Jones (OLB – thought he looked promising in 2015’s fall practices so let’s see what he’s got), Jahvoni Simmons (ILB – highly ranked recruit, but injury led to redshirt last season), and Daniel Hamm (PR – I’ve said since his debut against VMI that I’d put him at punt returner since he has good vision and a decisive first cut so let’s see if I had a good idea or not).
Yes, I like the diamonds and their return to the end zone. No, I don’t love the numbers on the side of the helmet but I can tolerate it.
Free game programs. Subtle, but really smart marketing move by UVA.
If you haven’t seen this video, it’s definitely worth it.
Glad you are warming up to the numbers on the helmet. I’m excited to cheer for this group because they have earned the privilege to take the field of competition representing our institution. Hope everyone has a fun weekend.
Just read this article to revisit the pre game hype (35.6 -14.2) average prediction score. That sir is a positively Jeffersonian prediction.