Unless one or more of the service academies is involved, rarely can a team throw for 54 yards and expect to win in college football. Al Groh handled this and other topics at his weekly Monday press conference.
Red-shirt freshman Anthony Martinez looked uncomfortable in the pocket all day against South Carolina Saturday, averaging only 2.7 yards per passing attempt. The lack of a vertical attack allowed South Carolina to stack the box against the Cavalier running game, keeping the offense in check for most of the game.
Groh explained that Martinez's performance was not out of the ordinary for first time starters in the team's recent history. "This is the third straight year that we've had occasion to introduce another quarterback early in the season," Groh said. "There has been a fairly consistent level of play from those guys in those games." Schaub, in fact, went only 3-10 for 24 yards in his first start in 2001 against Wisconsin. Since then, he has emerged as one of the premier quarterbacks in the nation. As usual though, the arm-chair quarterbacks have been speculating about such solutions as true freshman Kevin McCabe and red-shirt sophomore Marques Hagans, who was recently converted to wide receiver.
Hagans will take snaps this week at quarterback, where he played early last season.
"That is our plan, yes, provided that he is able to practice at full speed, which he wasn't able to do last week," Groh said.
Groh also was quick to reassert the fact that Hagans himself had similar results to Martinez in his debut last year and made it quite clear that Virginia fans ought to temper their hopes.
"Everybody always wants the other quarterback with the assumption that, obviously, he'll do better," Groh said in a sarcastic tone.
Martinez made his reputation in high school as a big armed, deep ball quarterback and since most of the Cavalier passing attack is based on shorter, high percentage passes, some pundits are questioning whether he is suited for this offense. When asked if they would throw more deep balls to play to Martinez's strengths, Groh was quick to explain.
"That was what the second interception was," he answered.
While the growing pains are evident for the newly-minted starter, Groh is patient and realistic about his progress.
"I don't think we'll be conducting two Heisman campaigns this year," Groh noted. "I don't think someone is suddenly going to rise to that level."
As far as Schaub's return to the field, the coaching staff and their star are taking it one day at a time.
"Matt has not yet scratched the top of his head, so if we can put the Matt Schaub talk to rest for awhile," Groh said.
While Martinez has been the target of much criticism, Groh has made it clear that he understands his player's plight.
"This is the most challenging position in all organized sports," Groh said.
The Cavaliers head to Kalamazoo to take on Western Michigan Saturday, where the focus will be on getting the offense back in the right direction before entering the ACC season.
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