Hoo Preview ’09: Offensive Line

The Roster

60: Mike Price, C – 6’5″, 265, R-Fr.

61: Will Barker , T – 6’7″, 320, Sr.

62: Billy Cuffee, G – 6’5″, 320, So.

63: Austin Pasztor , G – 6’7″, 315, So.

64: Jack Shields, C – 6’5″, 285, Jr.

65: B.J. Cabbell , G – 6’6″, 305, Jr.

66: John Maghamez, C – 6’3″, 275, R-Fr.

67: Landon Bradley , T – 6’7″, 275, So.

68: Anthony Mihota , C/G – 6’4″, 275, So.

69: Lamar Milstead , T – 6’5″, 285, So.

70: Luke Bowanko – 6’6″, 300, Fr.

71: Matt Mihalik , T – 6’7″, 295, R-Fr.

72: Oday Aboushi – 6’6″, 300, Fr.

74: Patrick Slebonick , G – 6’5″, 290, Sr.

75: Isaac Cain , T – 6’4″, 300, Jr.

76: Hunter Steward – 6’7″, 315, Fr.

77: Aaron Van Kuiken , T – 6’7″, 305, R-Fr.

79: Sean Cascarano – 6’6″, 255, Fr.

* Numbers subject to change

For a unit that was thrown under the bus at this time last year, the offensive line didn’t turn out all that bad in 2008.

That is particularly true of pass protection, where Virginia finished first in the ACC in sacks allowed (16), while playing a pocket passer at quarterback. Run-blocking is a different story, as the Cavaliers rushed for a conference-worst 96.6 yards per game; the Hoos were more of a sometimes up, sometimes down running team. Inconsistent. Four times, they ran for 32 yards or less; on three occasions, though, they rumbled for 172 or more. So there were glimpses of an upside even in the running game.

This season, Virginia returns essentially the same unit, with one rather large exception, physically and otherwise: Eugene Monroe at left tackle. With coaches and players high on likely replacement Landon Bradley , though, the team consensus is that this year’s O-Line can be solid, and perhaps even better than that.

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