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Coach Mike London stresses the importance of proper tackling technique. |
The pressroom at the John Paul Jones Arena had a lighter tone this week after Virginia’s convincing 48-21 win over Eastern Michigan. However, head coach Mike London came prepared to answer the tough questions about his team’s performance, and also chimed in on issues affecting the football world at large. Tackling has become a nationwide issue, not just one confined to Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers have had their share of woes this season due to poor tackling and improper technique, but Monday’s press conference also highlighted the trending topic of tackling with regard to player safety and leading with the head. The NFL will be cracking down on hard hits in the wake of an extensive concussion study, and some players (such as James Harrison) and fans are unhappy about the perceived softening of football. Hard hits aside, it’s important for players of all ages and levels of ability to tackle correctly to minimize injury to themselves and others.
Coach London strongly believes in emphasizing proper technique.
“I think football is such an inherent physical game, obviously you never want to teach to lead with your head down because that’s dangerous, it’s careless,” he said. “You always want to try to teach with your head up, your neck up, your neck bowed to support the strength of your shoulders, go chest to chest more than anything else, then wrap up with your arms.”
London also spoke about being on the lookout for perpetrators of hard hits around the league. Protecting the player comes first, and a little bit of foresight and knowledge heading into the game can be crucial.
“I think helmet-to-helmet contact right now has been very recognizable not only in the ACC but also nationally with the emphasis of it – because it’s about player safety. Helmet-to-helmet [hits] are player safety issues. It’s more of an emphasis now,” he said. “If you see a guy leading with their head, and it seems to be habitual, I have an opportunity before the game to instruct the referee about certain things – look out for this. They’re put on alert. I do know that all referees look at the game film. Their supervisors look at the game film, see if there’s any person or technique or anything out there that’s also close to blurring the line or crossing over the line.”
Turning the Corner
Getting a win against an FBS opponent for the first time this season has done wonders for the team’s morale. No one was particularly down before, but the players are feeling the positive effects of a home victory.
“It was a much needed win just to get some good things going around here again,” junior corner Chase Minnifield said.
Now the Cavaliers are hungry for their very first ACC win this year, but it won’t come easy. The momentum from the Eastern Michigan game will be crucial in the days heading up to the Miami game.
“It was a big win. We’re still looking for that first ACC win, but any win is good at this point,” wide receiver Matt Snyder said. “It was a great confidence booster and the offense really got going, especially in the second half. We’re going to look to carry that into the Miami game.”
It’s All About The U
The No. 22 Miami Hurricanes sweep into Charlottesville after a convincing defeat of ACC foe North Carolina. The Canes have talent, tradition, and a whole lot of “swagger.”
“Their skill positions are dynamic with their receivers. They have two outstanding running backs that are big and can get after you. On the other side, defensively, when you lead the country in tackles for losses, that means you have guys up front penetrating, coming off the edge, doing some things to create that second-and-longs, third-and-longs, which we don’t need,” London said. “I think they’re fourth in the country in sacks because they have guys that can rush, 300 plus pounders, and they push the pocket pretty well. So all aspects of what they do, when they’re on, they play pretty well. We’ve definitely got to play our best game.”
Virginia will have to answer with some “swagger” of its own, but Miami isn’t intimidating the Cavaliers. The team is riding a post-victory high after defeating Eastern Michigan at home and can’t wait to get back on the field, after some intense film study, of course.
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Matt Snyder and the Cavalier offense need to gain momentum early against the Hurricanes. |
“Miami’s always a big, physical, fast team and I don’t think this year is any exception. We’ll have to – I’m actually headed over after this to watch film. After I check that out I’ll probably have a better answer for you,” Matt Snyder said.
Key to the Canes’ Offense
Two words: Jacory Harris. The junior quarterback’s performance has spelled either victory or doom for Miami all season. Harris has thrown for 14 touchdowns, but has also tossed 10 interceptions. Five of those interceptions have come in Miami’s two losses. Harris’ performance seems to be an indicator of the team’s success as a whole.
“No doubt he is a tall, lean, athletic quarterback that actually would rather stay in the pocket and throw the ball down field to his skill players rather than take off and run,” London said. “You’re right, when he’s on, he’s on. Just hopefully he’ll be off on this Saturday.”
The team has a lot of respect for Harris as a quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he intimidates them. The Cavalier secondary is hungry for more interceptions, and if the front four can rattle Harris, the corners and safeties should see some passes headed their way. Defensive tackle Nick Jenkins can’t wait to take the field against Harris; he has heard the hype.
“He’s great. I think there’s been enough said about him. Everybody knows about him; ESPN knows about him, everybody does,” Jenkins said. “He’s a very good quarterback.”
Out of the Ashes
Players such as Keith Payne , Dontrelle Inman , and Marc Verica have all experienced late-career Renaissances this season. Add junior fullback Terence Fells-Danzer to that list. Fells-Danzer made the switch this offseason from linebacker to fullback, and it has definitely paid off both for him individually and for the team. He hadn’t seen much time at linebacker heading into his junior year after putting in years of preparation.
“I stuck it out for a while, and that’s when Coach London said that the fullback would be a key point in the role of the offense this year,” he said. “That’s when I went to him, shortly after, and talked to him. I sat down with Coach London and he said it was the best opportunity in order to get on the field and help the team.”
That career move certainly paid off. This week, Fells-Danzer was named the ACC Specialist of the Week after his performance in the Cavaliers’ game against Eastern Michigan. Not only did he score his first career touchdown on a three-yard reception, but he added a second score on a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
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Terence Fells-Danzer had a breakout game against Eastern Michigan. |
“Those are the type of things that when a player has a little bit of success play-by-play, game-by-game, hopefully it becomes contagious to other players,” London said. “That’s what we got to do, we got to try to put a stream together of successful plays which lead to successful games which leads to winning games which leads to turning things around. Terence is one of those guys that have got new life.”
Fells-Danzer has had to adjust to catching passes instead of defending them, as well as blocking schemes, play calls, and check downs. His three-yard pass play was one the offense had practiced all year long.
“Sometimes I drop it, sometimes I catch it,” he said. “I made sure I caught it this week.”
Worth Noting
- The match-up between Eastern Michigan and Virginia featured the very first time two schools with an African American head coach and athletic director met in NCAA competition.
- Miami is ranked second in the nation in tackles for a loss with an average of 9.29 per game.
- Miami and Virginia are the No. 1 and No. 2 pass defenses in the ACC, respectively.
- UVa leads the conference in kickoff returns, averaging 24 yards per game. Raynard Horne is the ACC’s individual leader with 26.7 yards per game.
Worth Quoting
“Mother, grandmother, sister, grandfather. And I’m not sure who else … oh yeah, my little sister’s boyfriend.” – Terence Fells-Danzer lists family members in attendance on Saturday.
“I’m a drama major, but I don’t act. That’s everybody’s first question. I like to be the man behind the scenes.” – Terence Fells-Danzer
“I love watching Jake play and he’s been working hard since before he got here. It’s been great to watch him start and play.” – Matt Snyder on watching his brother, redshirt freshman defensive end Jake Snyder , who got his first start as a Cavalier on Saturday.
“Ras-I is doing fine; he’s being a great leader, he’s being a great captain. Some things haven’t gone as he expected, but he’s not letting that show. That’s the good thing about Ras-I, he’s going to be a leader and a captain first.” – Chase Minnifield on Ras-I Dowling, who has been battling injuries all season long.
“Well, one of the goals, as we talked about the week before, chances when you get down in the red zone to score, the third down percentage, I think we were 7 for 14, which is 50%, which is excellent, then 2 of 2 on fourth down. Obviously, one was a pass and one was Jimmy Howell passing on the big fake punt there. But I think going into this game with Miami, it’s going to be important that we make first downs, stay on the field, because they do a great job running the ball, not keeping the defense on the field a long time because they have two dynamic backs, offensive line is big. Those first down opportunities for us are going to be important.” – Mike London
