It's smashmouth football, with a twist. Virginia's ground game, which ranks first in the ACC and sixth nationally, relies heavily on pulling linemen instead of more traditional straight-ahead blocking.
At 254.8 rushing yards per game, the Cavaliers have improved their average by 124.6 ypg, which if it stands, will be the greatest single season improvement in ACC history. Part of that success can be attributed to the experience of the line. All five players entered the season with some starting experience, and the weekly lineup has remained constant every game this year.
"We've got a bond in place without having to say anything," right guard Elton Brown said.
Brown estimated that he pulls on 75 to 80 percent of all running plays -- a blocking maneuver that requires precise timing from all players. But such schemes can have great rewards.
"You're bringing more guys to the spot," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "It creates more power at the point. Sometimes it allows us to establish some angles that help us block some people that perhaps we couldn't if we had blocked them straight up."
In addition to working on timing, pulling linemen need to be athletic and agile to move from their starting spot on the line to make a block at the point of attack. Groh has found the model of linemen he likes and hopes to continue that trend after the current line graduates.
"They have nice size to them, but this isn't a big, heavy line," Groh said. "It's common for lines to have 300-pounders on it, but we've only got one guy over 300 pounds."
Brown checks in at 338 pounds, but the lightest lineman, center Zac Yarbrough, weighs just 276. Yarbrough is an especially athletic center who is able to snap the ball and still pull to the outside on sweeps. But he has been highly effective in doing so and earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his play this Saturday against Maryland.
News and Notes
Saturday's game will be only the second all-time meeting between these two schools. Miami won the first contest, a 31-21 victory in the 1996 Carquest Bowl. Because the two teams are now aligned in the Coastal division of the ACC, they will play annually. ... Though the Hurricanes have lost their last two games on the final play, Virginia has not played in a game this season decided by fewer than 16 points. ... Alvin Pearman is second in the ACC in rushing yards in conference games (108.8 yards per game), trailing only Virginia Tech's Mike Imoh. Pearman is also tops in the conference in all-purpose yards, averaging 160.1 per game, nearly 40 yards better than second place. Groh endorsed Pearman as a possible candidate for ACC Player of the Year, citing his exceptional contributions in a variety of positions. ... Virginia's seniors will be recognized on Saturday before they play their final home game. This class has played its way to a 29-18 overall record and will likely play in their third bowl game at the end of the season. ... Miami enters Saturday's game at No. 18. Under Al Groh, Virginia is 7-9 against ranked opponents but is 5-3 at home against top-25 teams.
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