2003 Virginia Football Preview: The Defense


Ahmad Brooks

If you never watched a Virginia football game during the 2002 season, you would have to say that the Cavaliers had one of the worst defenses in the country, going simply by statistical ranks. The Cavaliers were ranked 108th in the nation in rushing defense in 2002, which ranked 8th in the ACC. When combined with a pass defense that was ranked 4th in the ACC, Virginia’s overall defense came in 8th in the ACC in total yards given up during the 2002 season, a fact that was not lost on head coach Al Groh.


“We still have improvement to make on the defensive side of the ball,” Groh said. “We came in 8th in total defense, and we’ve got to work to improve that in the fall. We have a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, and I know we can improve our defense all around.”


While the stats weren’t in the favor of the Cavaliers, they certainly didn’t tell the entire story on defense. Virginia’s young defense came up with 37 forced turnovers, which led the league, and ranked 5th in the ACC in scoring defense. The Cavaliers often relied on a defense that bent, but rarely broke, as they would hold a team to a field goal in a crucial drive of the game instead of a touchdown in the red zone. With a few new faces, and 7 returning starters with another year of experience under their belts, Virginia has a chance to wreak havoc on defense this season.


Defensive Line


Keenan Carter

Under the tutelage of new strength and conditioning coach Evan Marcus, the returning starters on Virginia’s defensive line have been working to bulk up over the summer after a 2002 season which featured plenty of ups and downs for the front three. Some struggles were to be expected, however, as the regular rotation featured all freshman and sophomores who were not quite up to the weight standards seen in a 3-4 defense. With the hiring of Marcus, who was previously with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, everyone on the line is expected to be at a better playing weight and strength when the season begins in late August.


Anchoring the middle of the line at nose tackle is 6-5, 285-pound junior Andrew Hoffman, who improved tremendously over the course of last season. The rising junior did well last season for his inexperience and relatively low playing weight. While he did well for his situation, the young man out of South Riding, Virginia needs to have bulked up over the offseason to be a force in the middle of the line against the run. He is a very intelligent player who has a “high motor” and the desire to become a terrific run stopper. If Marcus can put a few more pounds on his frame, Hoffman can be a dangerous player this season.


There is a question as to who will be Hoffman’s backup when the season begins, but it could be incoming freshman Keenan Carter , who checks in at close to 325 pounds. It is hard to predict what Carter’s playing weight will be when the season begins, but it is believed that he needs to get in a little better shape during fall practice. If he can get in good playing shape, Carter could be the force Groh is looking for to man the middle over the next few years.


Chris Canty

On the right side of Hoffman you will find the best player on Virginia’s defense, in the form of second team All-ACC defensive end Chris Canty. The 6-7, 290-pound end came up with 86 tackles and two sacks, even though he missed three games during the season. Canty, who is a junior, has a chance to be a dominant lineman if he can stay healthy throughout the season. The Cavaliers played well against a terrific running game in the Continental Tire Bowl without Canty, so it is scary to think what the improved defensive line will look like when all three are healthy and bulked up.


Kwakou Robinson

Backing Canty up will be sophomore Kwakou Robinson, who started the first game of the season when Canty was out with an injury. The 6-4, 327-pound lineman had his ups and downs as a true freshman, but gained valuable experience in his playing time last season. After a spring practice filled with instruction and repetitions, Robinson could see major playing time if any starter goes down with an injury.


On the opposite side of the line, 6-3, 269-pound Brennan Schmidt is the returning starter after seeing the majority of the time at that spot last season. Schmidt played well as a redshirt freshman last season, but could stand to put on a few more pounds throughout the offseason. Like Hoffman, Schmidt relies on effort and desire in his drive to be an effective defensive lineman. That effort led him to 86 tackles on the season, which was only one less than Canty. If all three starters put a little more weight on, especially in the cases of Hoffman and Schmidt, the defensive line could go from an uncertainty to a strength very quickly.


The rest of the depth on the defensive line is a real question mark heading into fall practice. Returning players Braden Campbell and Melvin Massey both saw time on the line last season, and could be called upon if needed due to injury. True freshman Allen Billyk and Chris Johnson could also see time if needed.


Linebackers

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