The Virginia Cavaliers won their third consecutive game and fourth in their last five with a solid 31-21 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. With an 81.01 overall grade, the Hoos recorded their third consecutive 80-plus overall grade too. This week’s grades reflect solid efforts across all three operations with key contributions from each.

Reflecting on the discussion from last week’s Duke game regarding the vision of coach Bronco Mendenhall’s Virginia football program, the last three games have shown a collaborative effort on the part of the Cavaliers to win by playing at a consistent level even if not always championship level. But when one operation would appear to falter, the other two seem to pick up the slack. I think that’s what Mendenhall means when he talks about complementary football.

Greg’s Grades

Superlatives

• Top performing unit (non-special teams): Wide receivers and tight ends
• Needs work unit (non-special teams): Linebackers
• Top special teams unit: Placekicking
• Needs work special teams’ unit: Kickoff return

Offense – Grades

• Total Offense: 83.2 (B)
• Quarterback: 85.5 (B)
• Running backs: 81.2 (B-)
• Wide receivers and tight ends: 86.3 (B)
• Offensive line: 79.6 (C+)

Offense – Quick Takes & Notes

• Bad news – the Hoos needed an average of 7.8 yards to gain to move the chains on third down (not a recipe for success); Good news – UVA converted 46.2% of its third down chances.
• Bryce Perkins does a nice job of avoiding pressure but still keeping his eyes downfield looking for open receivers or running lanes.
• Noticing better fakes and better carry-through by backs on inside handoff fakes; RBs did a nice job of getting out in front and delivering good downfield blocks on QB runs.
• Hoos went 1 of 2 on power chances; six run stuffs allowed by O-Line.
• Offensive line allowed three or more sacks for the fifth time in eight games.
• Perkins posted his fifth QB rating of more than 125.

Defense – Grades

• Total Defense: 81.2 (B-)
• Defensive line: 81.9 (B-)
• Linebackers: 78.6 (C+)
• Secondary: 83.1 (B)

Defense – Quick Takes & Notes

• It’s becoming apparent that defense is a priority for Coach Mendenhall and the defense is really becoming the mainstay of UVA’s football program.
• Excellent edge leverage by the defense all afternoon. Not much perimeter running room for the Heels.
• UVA’s defense held UNC to 2.6 yards per carry on first down.
• Through six games, UNC had rushed for 5.1 yards per carry, third-best in the ACC; the defense held the Heels to their lowest total yards rushing of the season (66) and its lowest yards per carry (3.0).
• Six of 12 UNC drives ended as three-and-outs.
• Virginia has held six opponents to under 21 points this season. The last time that occurred was in 2011 when the Hoos held seven teams below 21 points. The defense is currently ranked 18th in scoring defense nationally.
• Uncharacteristically poor tackling by the DBs In this game. Led to lots of YAC (yards after contact) for UNC; improved a little late in the game.
• UVA’s D-Line and DBs have recorded grades of 81.9 or better in each of the last three games.

Special Teams – Grades

• Total Special Teams: 78.7 (C+)
• Placekicking: 93.1 (A)
• Kickoff coverage: 90.7 (A-)
• Kickoff return: 61.9 (D-)
• Punt coverage: 81.8 (B-)
• Punt return: 65.9 (D)

Special Teams – Quick Takes & Notes

• Virginia’s kickoff cover unit posted its third consecutive championship level mark for a three-week average of 91.8.
• The placekicking operation has made eight of its last 11 field goal attempts.
• The Hoos are now eighth nationally in punt returns allowed with a 2.8 yards per return average.
• I didn’t originally include this in the notes but since I made of point of it three weeks ago and Coach
• Mendenhall addressed it in his Monday presser, I thought I’d take the shameless plug. After four touchbacks and five punts inside the 20 in the first five games, Lester Coleman has dropped five inside the 20 in the last three games and booted just one touchback. “About three or four weeks ago we started addressing that with a different vigor than before,” Mendenhall said.

Additional Quick Takes & Notes

• Virginia won the field position battle for the third consecutive week by double digits (Plus 15 yards)
• UVA went undefeated in the month of October for the first time since 2008.

One More Thing

There’s obviously been a lot of talk about the offense and Bryce Perkins. And that’s well deserved. There’s also been conversation about the newest phrase – complementary football – Mendenhall has introduced to Virginia fans. UVA is playing better as each operation plays together and the different operations of the offense, defense, and special teams complementing each other with their respective unit play.

But I want to make a note about just how good the Virginia defense has been this season.

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