With football season fast approaching, the Hoo Preview will provide some opponent snapshots in the coming days.

The Cavaliers open November (Nov. 1, time TBD) in Atlanta where they face Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson’s team, as always, presents a unique challenge with a run-heavy triple-option scheme on offense. Last season, Virginia forced five turnovers (three lost fumbles, two interceptions) against GT but still gave up 507 yards and 35 points. Justin Thomas, a back-up to Vad Lee during last year’s UVa game, is now the starter. He rushed for 234 yards on 33 carries with two touchdowns last season.

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets moved to a 4-2-5 look under coordinator Ted Roof, the former head coach at Duke. Roof’s D came home 28th in total defense last season by allowing just 360.2 yards per game. The Jackets tied for 29th in scoring defense at 22.8 points per game.

Vitals

• Head Coach (and record at school): Paul Johnson (47-32)
• 2013 Record: 7-6 (5-3 ACC)
• Offense: Spread option
• Offense Returning Starters: 6
• Offense 2013 Total Yards/Game: 429.7 (44)
• Offense 2013 Points/Game: 35.1 (26)
• Defense: 4-2-5
• Defense Returning Starters: 4
• Defense 2013 Total Yards/Game: 360.2 (28)
• Defense 2013 Points/Game: 22.8 (29)
• Special Teams Returning Starters: 1 (PK)

What To Expect On Gameday

Consistently the teams that have had success against Paul Johnson’s Jackets have done four key things: take away the dive play, tackle well, win the turnover battle, and extend offensive drives to keep the defense off the field. The Jackets thrive on finding the gaps and back-cut holes opened by over-pursuit, poor angles, and missed assignments. Everything begins up front with shutting down the dive in the interior gaps and forcing the QB to take the option wide. Ends and outside backers need to be assignment pure and tackling must be at a premium.

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