For each game, we list five things Virginia needs to do (the absolutes) and five things the Cavaliers would like to do (the desirables). Here are the absolutes and the desirables for Saturday’s homecoming game against Akron.

ABSOLUTES

1) Patience and field position

The first two items appropriately deal with trying to manage Akron quarterback Charlie Frye. Frye accounted for 68 percent of the Zips’ offense (3,837 of 5,643 total yards) in 2003. He also accounted for 58 percent of the their touchdown production. In this year’s opener against Penn State, Frye was responsible for 81 percent of the offense when he threw for 223 yards and rushed for another 17. He handled 83 percent of the load last week against Middle Tennessee State with 415 of the 502 yards of total offense. So what’s the point? Stop Frye, stop Akron.

Frye has a big arm and able receivers and can hurt opponents with big pass plays. The punting, kickoff and coverage units need to have their best performances of the year against Akron to force the Zips to begin drives deep in their territory and require them to go long distances to score.

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