Virginia Cavaliers
Overall Rank: #60
ACC Rank: #8
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Wahoos have high hopes for UVA football…for some reason. They nabbed a top quarterback prospect…who has since been deemed ineligible and is off the team. They started last year off 2-0…and managed just two more wins the rest of the way. They have a very popular in-state rivalry with the Virginia Tech Hokies…and haven’t beaten VT in ten years. In 2010, they brought in FCS power coach Mike London from Richmond to turn the tide of the program around…and he’s managed a 16-21 record with just one bowl appearance as the Cavaliers’ head man. I suppose things are looking up…simply because they’ve been down for so long.
2012 Record: (4-8, 2-6)
2012 Bowl: none
Coach: Mike London (16-21 at Virginia, 40-26 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Steve Fairchild
Defensive Coordinator: Jon Tenuta
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Kevin Parks, RB, 734 yards
Passing: None
Receiving: Darius Jennings, WR, 568 yards
Tackles: Anthony Harris, DB, 87
Sacks: Jake Snyder, DE, 2.5
Interceptions: Maurice Canady, DB, 2
Other Key Returnees: RB Khalek Shepherd, WR Dominique Terrell, WR E.J. Scott, WR Tim Smith, TE Jake McGee, OL Jay Whitmire, OL Morgan Moses
Key Losses: QB Michael Rocco, QB Phillip Sims, RB Perry Jones, DL Chris Brathwaite, DL Jake Snyder, LB Steve Greer, DB LaRoy Reynolds
Strengths:
For a team sitting near the bottom of ACC projections, not many things look rosy. The team’s leading rusher returns, as do a number of experienced offensive linemen. This should greatly aide the new quarterback, whoever it ends up being. Khalek Shepherd is also coming back, cementing both the punt and kick return games for a team that needed work in those areas. Behind center it may be more addition by subtraction. Michael Rocco played a good amount and was just mediocre. As for Phillip Sims, potential goes out the door when a player does not do the things necessary to stay on the field. Instead, quarterback will be battled over by two redshirt players this summer. On the defensive side, UVA held their own, albeit not against a very formidable slate of opponents. They finished in the top third of the conference in total defense and pass defense.
Weaknesses:
Perhaps the QB situation not withstanding, the loss of a number of players from this roster will do nothing but deplete an already shaky core. Four of their top defensive producers are now gone. Some players have chosen to transfer rather than be a part of the rebuilding of this program. And it will take time, even outside of the quarterback situation. The team generated very little pass rush or push into the opponent’s backfield a season ago. They were dead last in the conference in turnover margin. If fans are happy about the fresh start at the most important position, and choose to overlook the fact that not a single signal-caller on scholarship will have thrown a pass last season, then so be it. This team has many other shortcomings that are harder to explain away.
The Bottom Line:
With the influx of new teams and new talent into the ACC starting this year, it seems even more remote that the Cavaliers will be challenging for anything more than bragging rights against some of their more heated foes. A bowl berth this season would be nice; a winning conference record may be asking a lot; a win against a down Virginia Tech squad could be the moral victory 2013 can offer UVA.
Projected Bowl: Independence Bowl
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 128.50 (96th in nation, 7th in conference)
Passing Offense: 268.00 (37, 6)
Total Offense: 396.50 (62, 8)
Scoring Offense: 22.75 (93, 9)
Rushing Defense: 144.92 (44, 6)
Pass Defense: 208.42 (33, 4)
Total Defense: 353.33 (28, 4)
Scoring Defense: 28.92 (70, 8)
Turnover Margin: -1.17 (110, 12)
Sacks: 1.42 (98, 10)
Sacks Allowed: 2.08 (71, 7)
Madness 2014 NFL Draft Rankings:
#105 Morgan Moses
Madness 2013 Football Recruit Rankings:
#87 Taquan Mizzell
#179 Tim Harris
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