It has been maybe the most vexing question for Virginia fans since the end of the 2013 football campaign: did the offensive line improve over the course of the season? The answer, after all, could affect how good the Hoos can be in 2014. If the play improved, then it provides hope. If it didn’t, then it causes concern.

Subjectively, I believe the line did show improvement over the course of the season. Even with that said, however, there is still plenty of room for worry as a new season starts.

My game grades indicated that there was a slight improvement from the first half of the year through the second. The average number climbed from 72.1 to 75.3, moving from a C-minus to a C on average. The improvement in the second half grade looks greater when viewed through the prism of the second half competition compared to the first five FBS games. UVa’s first five FBS opponents generated a .661 (43-22) winning percentage, while the final six won .687 of their games (59-27).

The improvement notwithstanding, the line’s overall season grade remained below average at 73.7, a C. The raw numbers indicate mediocre play too. Virginia was 57th nationally in sacks allowed, 96th in tackles for loss given up, 75th in yards per game, and 76th in yards per carry.

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