No. 24 Oregon 44, Virginia 26
One step at a time. That is the way UVa fans should look at this season. So far, so good. Although the Cavaliers lost by one more point against Oregon than they did against Richmond, progress seemed to be made. I predicted a 56-24 loss, but the performance was better than that. Losing to a top-25 FBS team by 18 is better than losing to a top-5 FCS team by 17. Yes, the Virginia defense didn't perform that well, giving up 632 yards, but which defense has done well against the Ducks' offense in recent years? Virginia's offense once again showed glimpses of what it can be, and even left a few points on the field.
Most importantly, Virginia was flying around on the field and having fun, coach Bronco Mendenhall said. He said the team was a joy to coach, and that the execution would catch up. I thought the "fun" comment was telling about what was going on under the previous regime. Though the players certainly did seem to like having Mike London around at times, the game itself did not look fun, and the team did not always look enthusiastic. The game of football itself should be fun. I'm sure the coaching staff has something to do with that. Mendenhall has said that one of the reasons practices are so hard is to make the games easier and fun. And the coaches seem to enjoy each other. If the coaches are getting along and have good chemistry, then it is more likely that the atmosphere on the team will be one of togetherness. And despite the loss, Mendenhall said he was able to communicate to the players the progress they've made outside of the raw statistics and to continue to be confident.
One statistical area that improved a lot was Virginia's running game, which compiled just 38 yards vs. Richmond. Against the Ducks, though, the Cavaliers racked up 193 yards, with a career-high 126 from Albert Reid on 15 carries. He scored one touchdown, while Taquan Mizzell also had a touchdown and 48 yards on 10 carries. Jordan Ellis added 46 yards. Kurt Benkert was not as accurate as he was against Richmond, completing 20 of 39 passes for 193 yards, two TDs, and two picks. It just seemed like he was a little off. Oregon's defense isn't a juggernaut, so I think it was more of an off day for him. Something to keep in mind when analyzing Benkert is that even though he is a junior, he's just started two games and hasn't seen much time in general. He will still develop as he gets used to the speed of the college game. Keeon Johnson had six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Warren Craft had his first TD and caught two passes for 23 yards. Doni Dowling, who hurt his arm in the Richmond and wasn't sure if he would play, had four receptions for 54 yards.
In the end, it sounds like a cop out, but Virginia beat Oregon 20-14 in the second half. For a team looking for small victories, I don't think that is something fans can overlook.
One step at a time. That is the way UVa fans should look at this season. So far, so good. Although the Cavaliers lost by one more point against Oregon than they did against Richmond, progress seemed to be made. I predicted a 56-24 loss, but the performance was better than that. Losing to a top-25 FBS team by 18 is better than losing to a top-5 FCS team by 17. Yes, the Virginia defense didn't perform that well, giving up 632 yards, but which defense has done well against the Ducks' offense in recent years? Virginia's offense once again showed glimpses of what it can be, and even left a few points on the field.
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| UVa RB Albert Reid had 126 yards and a touchdown. |
One statistical area that improved a lot was Virginia's running game, which compiled just 38 yards vs. Richmond. Against the Ducks, though, the Cavaliers racked up 193 yards, with a career-high 126 from Albert Reid on 15 carries. He scored one touchdown, while Taquan Mizzell also had a touchdown and 48 yards on 10 carries. Jordan Ellis added 46 yards. Kurt Benkert was not as accurate as he was against Richmond, completing 20 of 39 passes for 193 yards, two TDs, and two picks. It just seemed like he was a little off. Oregon's defense isn't a juggernaut, so I think it was more of an off day for him. Something to keep in mind when analyzing Benkert is that even though he is a junior, he's just started two games and hasn't seen much time in general. He will still develop as he gets used to the speed of the college game. Keeon Johnson had six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Warren Craft had his first TD and caught two passes for 23 yards. Doni Dowling, who hurt his arm in the Richmond and wasn't sure if he would play, had four receptions for 54 yards.
In the end, it sounds like a cop out, but Virginia beat Oregon 20-14 in the second half. For a team looking for small victories, I don't think that is something fans can overlook.
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