Virginia returns the ACC’s leader in passing efficiency and the league’s second-best player in terms of total offense in Marques Hagans. In 2004 Virginia led the conference in total offense and finished third in scoring offense, but was eighth in passing offense. The passing game must become more of a factor in 2005 if the Cavaliers are to challenge for the ACC’s Coastal Division title.
The backups are serviceable but have yet to instill confidence in observers that UVa’s offense could operate at a high level without Hagans.
Quarterbacks
1) Marques Hagans (Sr., 5-10, 211)
2) Christian Olsen (Jr., 6-3, 226)
3) Kevin McCabe (So., 6-2, 203)
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Marques Hagans |
It may surprise Virginia fans to know that Hagans has a higher career winning percentage than Matt Schaub. Schaub won 17 of the 30 games he started as a Cavalier (.566) compared to nine of 14 for Hagans (.643). Even if you compare the 2002 and 2003 seasons, when Schaub’s teams went 16-8, Hagans’ mark is just below the .666 winning percentage for that two-year stretch. In fact, if Virginia starts the season 5-0, Hagans will surpass Mike Groh’s .720 winning percentage (18-7) as a starter in 1994 and 1995.
What’s the point? For all of the criticism of Hagans, he has won at a level equivalent to some of his more glorified predecessors. In his first full season as the starting quarterback, Hagans led Virginia to eight wins, tying the school record for most wins by a first-year starting QB. He threw for 2,024 yards and nine touchdowns and led the league in completion percentage (.628) while finishing second in the conference in passing efficiency. Hagans was also second in the ACC in rushing among quarterbacks with 394 yards (5.1 yards per carry).
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Christian Olsen |
He is a gifted athlete who can throw any pass in the Cavalier playbook and provides a game-altering ability to run with the football when the opportunity presents itself.
Olsen will serve as Hagans’ understudy with McCabe as the third option. Neither Olsen nor McCabe can match Hagans’ running ability and would likely be asked to run a move-the-chains offense similar to the Schaub offenses of 2002-2003.
Olsen, a Notre Dame transfer, is a solid passer but lacks the deep throwing ability of Hagans. His selection as #2 QB probably indicates that Groh believes Olsen is a less error-prone quarterback than McCabe. Olsen might not make mistakes that would cost the Cavaliers a game, but it’s questionable whether he could make the plays that would win games.
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McCabe came into the program with considerable promise but has yet to emerge as many anticipated. He has a strong arm and a good pocket presence but has shown a tendency to go MIA on occasions. McCabe must improve his practice regimen and start to display his multiple talents on a more consistent basis.
The biggest concern with respect to Olsen and McCabe is that neither has made significant progress in understanding and showing a comfort level in the offense two years into their development. Maybe the fact that two highly-touted freshmen in Vic Hall and Jameel Sewell have arrived on the grounds will be the impetus needed to help Olsen and McCabe step up their game and begin to deliver. If not, we may be talking about both Sewell and Hall fighting for the starting position at this time next season.
The Last Word
Hagans must stay healthy for the Cavaliers to remain in the hunt in 2005. The schedule is too daunting to be left to unproven players. Groh has noted time and again the seasons Bryan Randall and Brock Berlin had as second-year starters in 2004 and the hope is that Hagans has a similar season in 2005. All the elements are there: a solid running game, a deep and talented offensive line and a receiving corps with nowhere to go but up. Hagans has all the tools to be a dynamic college quarterback if the staff will put him in positions to make plays and he takes advantage of those opportunities.
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