Breaking into any professional sport requires physical skill as well as mental tenacity. Rookies especially are liable to face many successes and letdowns. Former Cavalier quarterback Matt Schaub's rookie season has been a rollercoaster ride.
Before Marques Hagans and the bootleg offense, Virginia used to rely on the arm of Schaub, who picked apart defenses with a slew of short passes. During his two years as a starter, Schaub set nearly every passing mark in the Cavalier record books.
Last spring, the Atlanta Falcons, with new head coach Jim Mora Jr., plucked Schaub from the draft board in the third round. Schaub hoped his success would carry on the NFL level, especially with the Falcons.
"I felt very prepared," Schaub said. "The offense Coach Mora is installing here is very similar to the one we ran at Virginia. It's helped that I've already seen some of the things we run here."
Not only did Schaub find himself in familiar territory with the offensive system, but in Atlanta, Schaub kept his roommate, former Cavalier Ryan Sawyer, as well. He found himself in the national spotlight again, by lighting up the Falcon's offense in the preseason. By the end of the preseason, Schaub was the surprise of the rookie class, passing for 645 yards on 54-for-86 attempts. His biggest adjustment, he says, was the speed of the game.
"The one thing that everyone points to, especially for quarterbacks, is the speed of the game," Schaub said. "The defenses in the NFL are faster, and they hit harder."
Schaub's performance in training camp and preseason helped him beat out Ty Detmer for the backup quarterback spot behind Falcons star Michael Vick. Vick, a former standout at Virginia Tech, has helped Schaub learn some of the nuances of the NFL.
"Who wouldn't want to be learning from Michael Vick?" Schaub said. "Despite the fact that he's a Hokie, he's helped me this year."
The Falcons carry on their college loyalties to the professional level. Schaub's sole Cavalier compatriot is defensive end Patrick Kerney, who for the last three years had to carry the Cavalier banner himself.
"I've been quite lonely here," Kerney said. "When we took Deangelo Hall [another Hokie] in the first round, I got worried. But when we took Matt in the third round, I got excited. It's nice to have another person around to deal with all the Tech players."
The quarterback's success on the field did not surprise many Virginia football fans after they had witnessed his two stellar seasons in Charlottesville. However, after the Nov. 6 Virginia football game versus Maryland, the usually well-mannered Schaub was arrested and charged for assault and battery following a fight outside a Corner bar.
Schaub's play during the regular season received mixed reviews. Once the Falcons had already locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, Mora benched Michael Vick as a precautionary measure. In his place, Schaub started two games and completed 31 of 63 passes for 320 yards. For the season, the rookie threw for four interceptions and only one touchdown, with a passer rating of just 41.9.
After having received a glimpse of his potential and his possible success in the NFL, Schaub would like to put the negative spotlight behind him.
"One day, I would like to be given the opportunity to be the starting quarterback of an NFL team," Schaub said. "This is my chance to learn and show people what I can do."
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