The creation of the spring game is not intended to be a "game" in the respect of a competitive entity with any real stakes riding on the outcome. Though the coaching staff devises a scoring system to maintain a semblance of a final score, the game's primary purpose is to serve as a showcase of next year's Cavalier football talent. It whets the appetite of fans and gives players the preseason thrill of playing in Scott Stadium at the culmination of grueling spring practices.
Although the losing team indignantly received the Blue and Orange Hydrant, the game ran more as a controlled scrimmage for the display of developing talent.
In this respect, the game functioned perfectly - Virginia's strengths and weaknesses were apparent even to the casual bystander.
|
The team itself, of course, was more critical of its performance but optimistic of its future, knowing the spring game is more an indication of what they need to work on than what they did effectively.
"We've just got to keep improving," running back Alvin Pearman said. "We've got a nice couple of months to keep training - getting faster, getting stronger, getting smarter."
It is with this philosophy in mind that Virginia examines its potential soft spots.
The quarterbacking post surely is the most important and similarly the most scrutinized. It may not prove a weakness but the uncertainty is unsettling.
Sophomore Matt Schaub is the starter, but freshman Marques Hagans is expected to vie for snaps. Schaub threw accurately when he had time in the pocket but threw wildly under pressure. One could hope the starter and self-proclaimed team leader would have more command and poise, but those will come with the security of being the full-time starter and taking every snap.
The most visible team weakness was the kicking game. Head coach Al Groh did not even attempt a punt Saturday, noting that sophomore punter Sean Johnson would not be with the team for the 2002 season because he decided to take a year off for a Mormon retreat and simultaneously proclaiming incoming freshman Tom Hagan as next year's starter.
Hagan is an unproven commodity at the college level, but more distressing was the performance of the placekicking game. Redshirt freshman Kurt Smith handled all of the field goal attempts, splitting the uprights on only three of six attempts. Reliability will be the issue -- he hit from 47 yards but missed from 28.
"He's got a lot of leg," Groh said. "That's not an issue. He needs confidence. Consistency. Accuracy."
The defensive line also hinted that it might be an area of concern. While it is encouraging for the offense that the Virginia running backs ran for 170 yards, it must be noted that the yardage came against the team's own defense. The defensive line especially was unable to hold the line of scrimmage, being blown off the ball by the offense. The Cavaliers boast a strong linebacking crew highlighted by returning starters Raymond Mann and All-ACC selection Angelo Crowell, but the linebackers had difficulty making plays on the ball carrier because the line was unable to keep the blockers off the linebackers.
The offensive line is expected to pose another problem, but the prodigious ground attack Saturday shows the unit has promise. It created significant holes for its runners.
"The offensive line did a great job for us," Pearman said. "It was one of the question marks for the team this spring, but they really came together for us today"
Read More
Football lands three additional transfers
By Peter Kriebel | YesterdayOne common trait that stands out with this most recent batch of transfers is size.
Men’s basketball suffers road drubbing versus California
By Emory Huffman | YesterdayVirginia submitted another rudderless performance.
