Note: Check back in to my blog over the next few days as I will be writing about the defense and special teams later. First, an overall look at the season and the offense.
I thought it was maybe going to be a play that helped define the year. Penn State game in early September at Scott Stadium. Nittany Lions up 16-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Cavaliers' ball. Virginia junior quarterback Michael Rocco, who had gotten pulled earlier in the game in favor of highly touted Alabama transfer quarterback Phillip Sims, scrambled to his left on 3rd and 16 from the UVa 22-yard line and heaved a prayer downfield to relative unknown sophomore tight end Jake McGee. The standout from Collegiate in Richmond leaped up, and while getting mugged by a Penn State defender or two, caught the ball with his left hand for a first down and a 44-yard gain to the Penn State 34-yard line.
The Wahoos went on to the win the game 17-16 when, you guessed it, McGee caught the go-ahead touchdown. The playmaker of the year was born in that game as the 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end went on to wow fans with several more acrobatic catches (and he actually gave a glimpse the week before the Penn State game with a one-handed grab against Richmond) but it was not the birth of a successful season for the team.
The Cavs moved to 2-0 with the victory over Penn State, and I thought it could've ended up being the difference for Virginia making a bowl game or not but it wasn't even that close, really. UVa struggled all year, dropping six straight games after that come-from-behind win over the Nittany Lions before crossing the finish line with a 4-8 overall record, 2-6 in the ACC. In 2011, I estimated Virginia would get to five or six wins and it got eight. This past year, I guessed six or seven wins for what I thought was a program on the rise after an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but instead, I overestimated the 'Hoos' win total by two or three games.
What a difference a year makes. A year ago, UVa coach Mike London was named the ACC's coach of the year and he and his staff were preparing the players for the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta against Auburn on New Year's Eve. Now this year, players and fans will be sitting at home during bowl season and lots of Virginia supporters are calling for London to be fired or at least questioning the hire and wondering if London really has what it takes to help make Virginia a consistent bowl team and a contender for ACC championships. As much as last year helped to build hope that he was the guy, this year helped to destroy that hope as what seemed to be several questionable coaching decisions worked against Virginia this season, most notable of which was London using two timeouts in the final minute of the Virginia Tech game to ice the kicker even though the kick was pretty short instead of calling the timeouts with around a minute left and forcing the Hokies to make or miss the kick and then give Virginia the ball back. That one left a lasting impression on the psyche of the fans and really did not help London's case a good coach at all.
Someone had to take the blame, and it wasn't London yet. So about two weeks ago, changes were made to London's staff. Out were defensive coordinator Jim Reid, defensive line coach Jeff Hanson, and running backs coach Mike Faragalli. Meanwhile, Shawn Moore, who coached the tight ends, will not work in that role next season but will instead have an administrative position, and Anthony Poindexter will give up coaching the special teams but will remain on the staff.
Lots of people questioned these decisions because the defense was expected to be the worst unit this season but ended up being the best (although it was tough to not be better than the putrid offense) and Reid had close connections with several Richmond-area recruits. Also, many believe the offensive line was to blame, and not necessarily the running backs as they had been coached by Fargalli in 2011 and were great. However, Scott Wachenheim kept his job as offensive line coach. Virginia has yet to name replacements and the clock is ticking. Several positions around the country have already been filled, so I don't know if Virginia can use the "the coach we are hiring is playing in a bowl game" excuse because lots of bowl-bound teams have coaches that are going to be elsewhere next season.
Now, here is a look at some more individual thoughts on each unit this season. I'll start with the offense and later on will discuss other parts of the team.
Offense: Speaking of firing coaches, you have to wonder why offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor hasn't been fired or hasn't moved on to coach somewhere else. Some have speculated that perhaps his contract is something Virginia did not want to buy out at this point. But besides that, there seems to be a rift between him and London. It was clear in 2011 that he wanted to play Rocco under center and not David Watford. Once London let Lazor have more control, Rocco had more control of the offense and actually closed the season with the best stretch of games of his career. This year, I think the same thing happened with Rocco but Sims played the part of the guy trying to steal time. Sims was put in way too prematurely against Penn State and did not look ready. Rocco came in and saved the day but it did not launch him and the team to the same success as last season. In the Louisiana Tech game, Rocco threw three picks, including a pick six, and he was eventually pulled for Sims again. This time, Sims looked pretty good and almost led the Cavs back from a 44-24 deficit in the fourth quarter. Sims did not replicate that success over the next few weeks, however, as the offense really bottomed out against Duke, Maryland, and Wake Forest. And when I say bottomed out, I mean points-wise. Yardage-wise, the team was actually moving the ball decently. That was one of the frustrating things all season. For four games in a row, Virginia outgained its opponents only to lose on the scoreboard. Lazor is a disciple of Joe Gibbs, and the offense is based on a strong running game setting up an effective play-action passing game. Virginia had neither this year because the running game was weak and Lazor was unable to really get the offense off the ground. And I really believe that lack of running game was the problem all year. It wasn't like the offense in 2011 was a world-beater. But the Cavs could run the ball with the best in the ACC and, as a result, Virginia scored a few more points per game, just enough to win a few more games. Virginia had close wins in 2011 -- 28-21 over Miami, 14-13 over Florida State, 24-21 over Georgia Tech, 34-31 over Indiana, 21-20 over Idaho -- and there was just something about that team and that offense getting it done when it mattered. UVa lost a lot of those close games this season -- 44-38 to Louisiana Tech, 27-20 to Maryland, 16-10 to Wake Forest, and 17-14 to Virginia Tech.
The last few games, with the offense being very ineffective and with the season all but lost, London decided to play both quarterbacks. Miraculously, against N.C. State and Miami, it worked. Virginia scored 31 offensive points against the Wolfpack and 41 against the Hurricanes. The offense sputtered, though, against UNC and Virginia Tech. It seems like Virginia needs to maybe spice things up on offense a bit. Virginia had more than a week to prepare for the Virginia Tech game, yet the offensive game plan was very vanilla and normal. There were no trick plays (except for one ill-fated fake field goal) and the offense didn't take any chances, even when there was really nothing to lose. That was very disappointing but I don't know if that was Lazor's call or London's call.
The pro-style offense seems to be going out of style in college. UVa has lots of athletes on this side of the ball. A faster-paced spread style could work. Sims even mentioned in the middle of the season he would've liked to speed up the offense. I know the spread didn't work in 2009, Al Groh's last year, but the offense has more talent and speed now, and I think some version of it could work. UVa loses Oday Aboushi on the offensive line, and Morgan Moses could possibly enter the draft, and Perry Jones will graduate, but a lot of players are coming back on offense that contributed in 2012. The line can't get worse and will have lots of returners, especially if Moses decides to return. There will also presumably be a new coach for the line. In 2011, Moses played guard and I wonder if a move back there could help the line. The interior of the line was the main problem this year and Moses, a gigantic man, could help strengthen the middle, while at the same time, playing someone else at tackle could get more speed on the edge. Darius Jennings had some good moments but had the dropsies at times. Dominique Terrell struggled early in the season but had a breakout performance against Miami. Tim Smith battled with injuries all year but the offense is better with him playing effectively. Kevin Parks and Clifton Richardson will be back in the backfield, and the running game will add hotly recruited freshman Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell, of Virginia Beach. The tight end corps loses Colter Phillips and Paul Freedman, but Jeremiah Mathis is back along with McGee. At quarterback, Rocco is transferring so he won't be back but the QB situation was already a crowded one. Sims will be back and redshirt freshmen Greyson Lambert and Matt Johns will be able to play after redshirting this season. Also, UVa will add true freshmen Corwin Cutler and Brendan Marshall to the mix. I think the most important thing at this position next year will be consistency. Stick with a QB and ride him from fall camp through the year (and maybe even name a starter in spring camp) unless it is obvious a change needs to be made. Rocco might have been OK this year without Sims figuratively breathing down his neck, in part because it seemed like London wanted to start a controversy despite Rocco ending 2011 on a relatively high note. The coaches, all of them, particularly Lazor and London, must have full confidence in who they are putting out as the starter on game days. Otherwise, there is probably going to be trouble.
I thought it was maybe going to be a play that helped define the year. Penn State game in early September at Scott Stadium. Nittany Lions up 16-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Cavaliers' ball. Virginia junior quarterback Michael Rocco, who had gotten pulled earlier in the game in favor of highly touted Alabama transfer quarterback Phillip Sims, scrambled to his left on 3rd and 16 from the UVa 22-yard line and heaved a prayer downfield to relative unknown sophomore tight end Jake McGee. The standout from Collegiate in Richmond leaped up, and while getting mugged by a Penn State defender or two, caught the ball with his left hand for a first down and a 44-yard gain to the Penn State 34-yard line.
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| UVa TE Jake McGee |
The Cavs moved to 2-0 with the victory over Penn State, and I thought it could've ended up being the difference for Virginia making a bowl game or not but it wasn't even that close, really. UVa struggled all year, dropping six straight games after that come-from-behind win over the Nittany Lions before crossing the finish line with a 4-8 overall record, 2-6 in the ACC. In 2011, I estimated Virginia would get to five or six wins and it got eight. This past year, I guessed six or seven wins for what I thought was a program on the rise after an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but instead, I overestimated the 'Hoos' win total by two or three games.
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| UVa coach Mike London |
Someone had to take the blame, and it wasn't London yet. So about two weeks ago, changes were made to London's staff. Out were defensive coordinator Jim Reid, defensive line coach Jeff Hanson, and running backs coach Mike Faragalli. Meanwhile, Shawn Moore, who coached the tight ends, will not work in that role next season but will instead have an administrative position, and Anthony Poindexter will give up coaching the special teams but will remain on the staff.
Lots of people questioned these decisions because the defense was expected to be the worst unit this season but ended up being the best (although it was tough to not be better than the putrid offense) and Reid had close connections with several Richmond-area recruits. Also, many believe the offensive line was to blame, and not necessarily the running backs as they had been coached by Fargalli in 2011 and were great. However, Scott Wachenheim kept his job as offensive line coach. Virginia has yet to name replacements and the clock is ticking. Several positions around the country have already been filled, so I don't know if Virginia can use the "the coach we are hiring is playing in a bowl game" excuse because lots of bowl-bound teams have coaches that are going to be elsewhere next season.
Now, here is a look at some more individual thoughts on each unit this season. I'll start with the offense and later on will discuss other parts of the team.
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| UVa offensive coordinator Bill Lazor |
The last few games, with the offense being very ineffective and with the season all but lost, London decided to play both quarterbacks. Miraculously, against N.C. State and Miami, it worked. Virginia scored 31 offensive points against the Wolfpack and 41 against the Hurricanes. The offense sputtered, though, against UNC and Virginia Tech. It seems like Virginia needs to maybe spice things up on offense a bit. Virginia had more than a week to prepare for the Virginia Tech game, yet the offensive game plan was very vanilla and normal. There were no trick plays (except for one ill-fated fake field goal) and the offense didn't take any chances, even when there was really nothing to lose. That was very disappointing but I don't know if that was Lazor's call or London's call.
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| UVa OL Morgan Moses |
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