Wahoo Wire

Courtesy of sportsblink.com

As August comes to a close and students begin to flock back to Grounds, the University of Virginia football program is preparing to usher in a new regime. After nine years in Charlottesville, former head football coach, Al Groh, was shown the door after a highly disappointing three-win campaign in 2009, paving the way for former U.Va. assistant, Mike London. Since taking over the helm, London has created a much needed sense of optimism that was absent for much of the Groh Era, leaving many to wonder if the Hoos have a little bit of magic up their sleeve. In a four part series here at Wahoo Wire, not only will we discuss the state of the program this season, but we’ll fill you in on what to expect for the future. The series will be as follows:

Part 1: What’s new? and Offense

Part 2: Defense and Special Teams

Part 3: Recruiting and the Future

Part 4: Players to Watch and 2010 Season Outlook

Part I

What’s new?

Simply put, everything.

London comes to The University from in-state foe, Richmond, where in two seasons as head coach he amassed an astounding 24-5 record, including a win at the 2008 FCS National Championship.

With him, London brings eight new assistants/coordinators, choosing only to keep Anthony Poindexter from Groh’s former staff. Unlike in recent years where, according to second-year wide receiver Tim Smith, “everybody wanted to be done with football,” the 2010 Cavaliers seem to have rallied behind the new coaching staff and it’s vision.

In his Richmond days, London was known to be a big motivator, and he’s certainly got the Hoos pumped about the future of the program. As second-year linebacker LaRoy Reynolds said in a recent interview, “Anything he asks us to do, we will do it. If he asks us to jump . . . how high? That’s just the way it is. We will do anything for Coach London.”

Offensive Questions

Coming into the 2010 season, Virginia has numerous question marks swirling around the shape of the team, none more apparent than on the offensive side of the ball. Lead by new Offensive Coordinator/Quaterbacks Coach, Bill Lazor, the Hoos’ offense looks to take on a much different shape than it did under Groh. Fresh off of bouts in both the Seahawks and Redskins organizations, Lazor and the rest of the Virginia staff have elected to move the Cavs out of the spread offense into a more of a pro-style set.

Quarterbacks

At the head of this new change is fifth-year senior, Marc Verica, who after a shaky 2008 season that combined flashes of greatness with utterly disastrous performances, rode the pine in 2009 behind Jameel Sewell.

This year, however, Verica has established himself as the clear number one on the depth chart, partly helped by the fact that his only backups are freshmen who have never seen time in a collegiate game. As it stands now, Verica’s backup appears to be redshirt first-year, Ross Matheny, followed by true freshmen Michael Strauss, Michael Rocco, and Miles Gooch, respectively.

If Verica can return to the quarterback that strung together a series of four straight wins in the middle of the 2008 season, then he should have a lot of weapons around him to catch the ball.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

At the wide receiver position, Verica has strong options in second-year wideout, Tim Smith, and his third-year counterpart, Kris Burd. Despite being the number two receiver on the depth chart, Burd lead the Wahoos in receptions last year, hauling in 31 passes for a total of 413 yard. Smith, on the other hand, racked up 15 catches as a true freshman, including two touchdowns.

When the Hoos expand to a three or four man set, expect to see fourth-year Dontrelle Inman and third-year Matt Snyder to get the nod from Lazor. While neither of these two have particularly outstanding career numbers (27 catches for 283 yards and one catch for three yards, respectively), they have established themselves throughout summer workouts and into fall camp, leading many to believe that they can get it done on Saturdays.

Perhaps no one is happier to be rid of the spread offense than fourth-year tight end Joe Torchia. A highly prized recruit out of high school, Torchia saw his role in the offense diminish last year in Groh’s offense. Now, coming off surgery on both shoulders, Torchia is ready to reestablish the Virginia tradition of having extremely productive tight ends. If he can stay healthy, we fully expect him to do just that.

Running Backs

The running back position is, without a doubt, the most uncertain position in this year’s offense. Virginia returns three backs from last year – second-years Torrey Mack and Perry Jones and redshirt first-year Dominique Wallace – who combined for just 131 yards in the 2009 season.

Despite the low numbers, however, the Virginia coaching staff feels confident that the running back position is one of the deepest and most talented on the team. As it stands now, there are six players in the mix to see playing time this season at the running back position, each with their own special skill sets.

After a good spring, Jones appears to be the leader of this pack, as London as said time in and time out that the small scat-back has established himself as the clear number one on the depth chart.

If Jones keeps up his work in the weight room and continues to progress on the practice field, look for him to carry much of the load on the field this season. The coaches have been impressed by his quick cutting abilities and elusiveness, which could translate to big gains on Saturday if his blocking is good.

Behind Jones, Wallace and Mack should battle for carries. Wallace appeared in just three games as a true freshman last year before going down with a season-ending foot injury. Mack, the team’s leading returning rusher, is a downhill runner with the ability to make defenders miss with his quick moves.

There also has been talk that true freshman Kevin “KP” Parks will see time this year if he continues to show progression throughout the rest of fall camp. The three-star back from Mount Ulla, North Carolina has generated a lot of buzz since arriving in Charlottesville in June, but our sources believe that the depth at the back position will lead London to redshirt Parks.

At the fullback position, Virginia has the tough choice of choosing between three good options: fourth-year Keith Payne and third-years Terence Fells-Danzer and Max Milien.

Fells-Danzer, who answered Coach London’s call for a fullback when he converted from linebacker last spring, is the apparent leader going into the fall. At 6-1, 240 pounds, Fells-Danzer has the ability not only to make a difference running the ball in certain situations, but in blocking as well.

Payne missed the entire 2009 season for a combination of academic and personal reasons after averaging 4.1 yards in his fist two years. London has reiterated that Payne needs to earn back the trust of his coaches and teammates by working hard at practice and in the gym. If he can manage to get back on the coaching staff’s good side, Payne should battle Fells-Danzer and Milien for reps this season.

Unlike the other two who come into camp with some hype around them, Max Milien has continued to fly under the radar throughout his time at Virginia. A converted tailback, Milien has impressed running backs coach Mike Faragalli throughout the summer, especially with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. From what we’re hearing, the competition has tightened up since the spring between these three, and now it’s anybody’s spot to win.

Offensive Line

The offensive line has always been a staple of Virginia’s football program (recall NFL players Eugene Monroe and D’Brickashaw Ferguson), and this year is no different.

The Hoos return three starters from last year’s line, including third-year left guard Austin Pasztor, who received honorable mention All-American Honors for the Class of 2012. Also returning from last year’s starting corps is right guard B.J. Cabell and left tackle Landon Bradley.

Going into the 2010 campaign, all eyes are on the right tackle position. With the loss of Will Barker, the spot has opened up for Oday Aboushi, a 6-6, 310 pound second-year out of Staten Island, New York. Aboushi has turned many heads this summer, and many people around the program think he’ll be a physical weapon this season in terms of making holes for the backs to run through.

Behind Aboushi on the depth chart is first-year lineman Morgan Moses. At 6-6, 350 pounds, Moses is the largest individual on the team, and as Mike London puts it, “he blocks out the sun when you stand next to him.” A highly touted recruit out of high school, Moses spent a year at Fork Union Military Academy working on his grades and getting physically stronger. Now, his work has paved the way for him to see some time in the 2010 season, and he will be a vital part of Virginia’s offensive success.

That’s it for this installment of the 2010 Virginia Football Preview. Check back in a couple of days for Part 2, where we’ll survey the Hoos on defense and special teams.