Let’s be honest with ourselves, a loss to Duke would ignite a riot down Rugby Road. And at the same time, a home win over the Blue Devils would qualify to be as satisfying as a dinner full of Rice Cakes. Yet a win is a win and after last week’s debacle, one of those would be nice.
Truthfully going into the second game of the season, Virginia doesn’t just need a win, it needs its offense to produce. Never did we think so much would be riding on Duke vs.Virginia in 2007.
THE OBVIOUS
As we articulately say back in my old stomping grounds of Philadelphia, if you want win the game “FIND THE FRIGGGGIN’ END ZONE!!!”
While this does state the obvious, Virginia hasn’t been able to accomplish such a feet since the second quarter of a 17-7 win against Miami on Nov. 18, 2006. That’s 10 quarters and 10 months ago.
This past week, long were the echoes of “we’re playing the ’06 season with the 2007 team.” So why did the 2006 offense feel the need to make a cameo? Take a look at the Wyoming aftermath:
- Virginia’s 108 yards of total offense? Lower than any game last year.
- Wyoming totaled 88 plays.
- Virginia recorded minus 3 yards rushing.
- Virginia had 6 three and outs and three series of two or less plays.
- Virginia had 5 first downs. Wyoming had 28.
- 3rd down conversions? UVa: 3-13, Wyoming: 10-19.
Virginia’s offense may switch it on over night. It may just help that they are playing against a Duke defense that surrendered 45 points to the UConn Huskies, who struggled last season as the 81st ranked offense.
More constructively in this outing, Virginia might want to try walking before it can run. A made assignment begets a good block begets a first down begets a drive which begets yardage which begets points which begets momentum. Saturday Virginia just can’t win. It needs to produce. This offense needs to wake up because the season alarm clock has already gone off and it reads 0-1.
CALL DR. PHIL
“One of the hard things about that position is that everybody knows what the result is, everybody knows what the performance is more so than any other position, and when a player’s performance at that position isn’t up to what he wanted it to be or what he expected it to be then that’s when you really find out who can play quarterback. Everybody knows what it was and everybody knows why, and that’s often the making or breaking of a quarterback on every level.” – Al Groh on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
Jameel Sewell needs a good outing on Saturday not just for his stat sheet but for his mental stability. Sewell, in every literal sense of the phrase, couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn against Wyoming. The young quarterback threw above, below, beyond, and behind his receivers and everywhere in between; he rarely connected on the numbers or in stride. He looked razzled last week and I only can imagine, deep down, that seeing Peter Lalich enter the game didn’t give Sewell a warm, fuzzy feel.
If the wrist is truly a “non-issue” then I am left to wonder about Jameel’s mental approach? Is there a learning block? “It’s pretty early yet in his second year to try and make a determination as to what and why, but clearly it didn’t progress too far beyond what it was last year,” said Groh.
Was last week or last year the aberration?
Whether it be taking off out of the pocket to scamper or just one solid connection with a receiver on the first series, Sewell needs to find one brick and build from that. Offensive coordinator Mike Groh needs his signal caller’s game to resume the construction on the career that started last season.
If Sewell doesn’t get it done this weekend, you might wonder how long it takes to fold the project for a younger, fresher piece of Lalich property.
GET THE DEFENSE OFF THE FIELD
The offense doesn’t get all the blame. Mike London’s defense struggled to make solid tackles and played soft in coverage against Wyoming. It also remained on the field for 88 plays. Perspective? The Cavaliers’ 2006 defense didn’t reach its 80th play of the season until the third quarter of last year’s second game.
The D privately might like to ring the necks of the offense for their regular practice of three and out, but it can’t look too far from the mirror after allowing 471 yards of total offense and 27 first downs (11 in the first 20 minutes of the game). The Hoos looked to be trapped in a nastier game of “Keep Away” than Danny DeVito in the middle of Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley. They were always one step behind it seemed.
Virginia’s defense needs to be down right nasty, take care of business, limit third down conversions (3 of 15 in last year’s game), and get off the field this week. An afternoon against Duke shouldn’t constitute a day of wear and tear.
Prediction: Virginia 30 Duke 7
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.
