Hoos - Defense

The UVA defense bears an eerie similarity to the UVA offense, areas of concern from last year have had an extra year to develop, and prior strengths have graduated contributors, leaving them weak.

DL - Running a 3-4 scheme, you would be wrong to think the DL would have any real depth. Luckily, the season-ending injury of Chris Canty in 2004 provided experience for some young DEs, so entering 2005 they have snaps under their belt. While the starters going into the fall are stalwarts from the end of last year, the position holds potential as Chris Long and Vince Redd have the ability to develop into beasts. At NT Virginia is extremely shallow, as Keenan Carter recovers from an injury plauged spring, and Kwake Robinson comes after a position shift where he filled in poorly for Canty.

Personal note - DL success is the direct link to how far UVA goes this year. Last year a combination of injuries and poor play resulted in opposing quarterbacks having long pockets and being able to pick on our inexperienced secondary. Secondary support was provided by dropping LBs Blackstock and Brooks into coverage, taking away their innate pass-rushing skills. In order to prevent big plays, UVA had to run more conservative schemes (i.e. no blitzing from the secondary), and the extra time QBs had helped them to advance their offenses. Good DL play pressures QBs and forces mistakes and allows more creativity from the overall defense, as opposed to basic zone coverage.

LB - For a position that has two of the best LBs in the ACC (Parham and Brooks) at ILB, the remaining spots are up for grabs and depth is an issue. Look for SO Jermaine Dias and Clint Stintim to secure starting positions at OLB.

Personal note - I find it ridiculous UVA has been unable to sign LBs from the current crop of recruits. Brooks is gone next year, opening his spot, and the Two Deep is filled with players with no game experience. A stud LB could start from Day One.

Secondary - The most glaring, and gaping hole from 2004 has improved, but only because of a year of experience. I forsee the emergence of younger players (SO - Nate Lyles, SO - Jamaal Jackson, possibly FR - Mike Brown and FR - Chris Cook) to supplant upperclassmen by the middle of the season, based on competition and athletic ability.

What scares me the most about the 2005 UVA team is the wide deviation between their potential and the result of underacheivement. Espically under Groh, in years past you could prognisticate UVA's wins +-1, but a combination of schedule and the emergence of key players makes it difficult to determine. I will address their upcoming season next.