That countdown clock keeps ticking away as Virginia’s first game of the 2007 season is just hours away. What can the Cavaliers expect in Laramie? The Cowboys are expecting the largest home crowd in years and probably have a little bit of revenge on their minds. But those are merely “motivational” factors. What about on the field? The Sabre’s Keys to the Game are unveiled in our new feature – Wes’ Ways To Win – as ESPN’s Wes McElroy gives you the Hoos’ checklist for victory.
SEND THE DOGS
Everyone is waiting to see some particular aspect of this Virginia football team. My personal wonderment has led to what could be in year two of Mike London’s defense. Last year, the building blocks were laid on the foundation and that resulted in the 17th ranked defense. This year we find out just how pretty the house can be.
Wyoming, meanwhile, has spent much of its preseason with the same offensive line questions that perplexed Virginia last season. Mainly, how good are the Cowboys up front with inexperience? They essentially lost both guards and both tackles from last season because 6-7, 312-pound junior Kyle Howard moves a step over from guard to fill a vacancy. With only two returning starters, spring practice and training camp alone cannot gel an offensive line (See Virginia 2006, Games 1-5). The Cowboys in the trenches will get trial under fire and that won’t be a good thing with the Cavaliers’ front seven.
Send a few in. Hold a few back. Rely on just Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald for penetration. Unload all seven. London needs to mix it up, but the theme should be the same: Release this group with pent up aggression.
Sharks smell blood. Veteran defenses smell inexperienced O-Lines. Don’t give up the big play, but send the dogs on this new group of Wyoming five.
RUNNING BOTH WAYS
Run and stop the run. Simple, yet really important in this contest.
Virginia’s clear and cut question mark circles around the wrist of Jameel Sewell . Is he really ready to go? The Cavaliers can do themselves a favor by not putting the onus of the game on the wrist and accuracy of their young quarterback. Sure, this team will need Sewell’s arm, legs, and wrist in the opener but do they need to rely on it already?
Instead, UVa should grind it out against Wyoming’s new front three, all sophomores. Cedric Peerman , Keith Payne , and Andrew Pearman can roll right in and show why their numbers have been called. Grind away, chew up clock, eat up yards, give the Cavalier defense a rest and wear down the Cowboys in their own rarified air. Mike Groh’s unit cannot keep busting three and outs in the first half or this team will need a nap before the middle of the third quarter.
Just on the opposite end, Wyoming’s element causes concern around playing in the elevated altitude of Laramie. A few Wyoming beat reporters have told me that the altitude can affect certain teams if they do not prepare for it as a factor. One such reporter said it decimated Ole Miss a few years back yet San Diego State has never once been affected by it.
The best bet for Virginia is to not take any chances. Stop the run, shut down the majority of 3rd down conversions, avoid stupid penalties, and get off the field as quickly as possible.
GET YOUR HEAD RIGHT
We can dance around all the X’s and O’S. Confidence can breed all the optimism we can handle. None of it matters if this team can’t win on the road.
The numbers speak for themselves as Al Groh’s Virginia teams are 10-24 on the road, including a 7-17 traveling ACC mark. The last time I checked Laramie is 1,700 miles away from Charlottesville. Hence, a road game.
What is Virginia’s problem on the road? If I had the answer, I’d give it to you. If Al Groh did, this team wouldn’t be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when it leaves the confines of Scott Stadium.
If this season is going to be different, the Cavaliers need to ditch their “Can’t win on the road” monkey on their back immediately. That means getting those helmets screwed on straight. Believe you can win. Be aggressive. Ignore the surroundings. Execute. Win.
After getting the feel from Laramie this week, this town knows that an ACC school is coming to town, which constitutes a BCS school coming to town, which means that not only Cowboy fans are cheering for Wyoming but so is the entire Mountain West Conference.
Wyoming will be ready at home. Will Virginia, finally, be ready on the road?
Prediction: Virginia 21, Wyoming 10
Wes McElroy is a sports talkshow host for ESPN 840 AM in Charlottesville. The Final Round with Wes McElroy airs week days from 4 to 6 p.m. Listen live on the Web site.
