In the Virginia football team’s 27-3 victory over the Louisville Cardinals, the defense was dominant with all three units posting championship level grades. While the offense was not dominant, it was certainly effective with a 21-point second half. That was enough to secure a win.

As for special teams, unfortunately, those collective units remain status quo but there may be some help on the way in the kicking game with Hunter Pearson going two-for-two on field goal attempts and nailing his three PAT chances in this game.

How does it all shake out in the grades? Let’s look.

Greg’s Grades

Superlatives

• Top performing unit (non-special teams): Defensive line
• Needs work unit (non-special teams): Running backs
• Top special teams unit: Kickoff coverage
• Needs work special teams’ unit: Punt return

Offense – Grades

• Total Offense: 81.3 (B-)
• Quarterback: 85.9 (B)
• Running backs: 74.9 (C)
• Wide receivers and tight ends: 85.8 (B)
• Offensive line: 78.7 (C+)

Offense – Quick Takes & Notes

• I assigned responsibility for the INT to the WR unit. Olamide Zaccheaus was open on the slant route and simply did not secure the catch.
• For a FBS QB with limited FBS experience, I think Bryce Perkins has started to get a good feel for what’s happening downfield on being able to connect with the intermediate and deep route receivers.
• Over the last two weeks, the QB spot has recorded passer ratings of 222 (Ohio) and 159 (UL), both championship level marks and an average 88.1 unit grade.
• Another poor week in the red zone with UVA getting only 20 points in six red zone possessions. After scoring 28 of a possible 35 red zone points (80%) in weeks one and two, the Hoos have collected just 44 of 84 red zone points (52%) in the last two games.
• Some may think the O-Line grade is a little low but a lot of UVA’s rushing yards were after contact.
• Unfortunately, the backs averaged just 3.2 yards per rush and 3.7 per play.
• UVA is currently ranked 33rd in the NCAA at 216.6 yards per game rushing and 24th in yards per carry at 5.52. Mobile quarterback are cool toys.
• Good news – Virginia converted 56.3% of its third downs. Bad news – the average yards to gain was seven. I like the 56% conversion rate but not having to get seven yards to convert.
• On 2nd-and-Goal at the eight on UVA’s first drive – Perkins took a seven-yard sack. He needs to learn to get rid of the ball and come back and fight another day on that play.
• Virginia’s offense benefited from the play and ejection of UL’s Kane Pass but I continue to dislike the NCAA’s (and the NFL’s) targeting rules.

Defense – Grades

• Total Defense: 95.9 (A)
• Defensive line: 96.9 (A)
• Linebackers: 95.8 (A)
• Secondary: 95.1 (A)

Defense – Quick Takes & Notes

• The 214 yards the UVA defense allowed were the fewest yards gained by a Bobby Petrino team at Louisville. Virginia held UL to 3.8 yards per play. The last game (12/31/15 – LSU) a Louisville team was held to 220 yards or fewer and under 3.8 yards per play came three seasons ago.
• The last time a Louisville team was held to three points was October 30, 2010 by the Pittsburgh Panthers in a 20-3 loss.
• Virginia’s safeties, notably Juan Thornhill kept Louisville’s QBs (Malik Cunningham) in check. They were aware of their position and were sure in the tackling against the elusive mobile threats. UVA co-defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga said Thornhill probably had his best game of the season.
• Excellent edge containment by the ends and outside linebackers, especially against QB runs.
• The last time a UVA defense held three teams to fewer than 20 points in a four-game stretch came in 2013 against BYU (16), VMI (0), and Pittsburgh (14).
• I’m not sure what equals a triple-double in football but havoc master and ACC Linebacker of the Week Charles Snowden may have hit it this weekend: 8 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 3 run stuffs, an INT, a sack, a QB hurry and 3 pass breakups.

Special Teams – Grades

• Total Special Teams: 70.7 (C-)
• Placekicking: 72.7 (C-)
• Kickoff coverage: 89.7 (B+)
• Kickoff return: 62.1 (D-)
• Punt coverage: 68.8 (D+)
• Punt return: 59.6 (F)

Special Teams – Quick Takes & Notes

• Congratulations to Hunter Pearson for connecting on his first two career field goal attempts. They were accurate and struck well.
• A dreadful day for the return operations which averaged a 61.3 grade. Over the last two games, these two operations have graded out at 67.4.
• Not to beat a dead horse but in the first four games of the season UVA has averaged -0.33, 0.00, 14.33 and 3.33 on punt returns.
• With its 89.7 grade this week, the kickoff coverage unit led the special teams and now has a seasonal grade of 83.1.

Additional Quick Takes & Notes

• The Hoos are currently ranked sixth in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game at 32.3 and seventh with 3.8 penalties per game. Last season, Virginia finished 22nd in fewest penalty yards.

One More Thing – Learning To Fly

One of my favorite musicians is the great Tom Petty, who we lost almost a year ago; one of my favorite songs is Learning to Fly. Allow me to wax poetic in a review of the first third of the season.

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