Heading into this weekend's contest against Wyoming, one of Virginia's primary concerns is the play of its offensive line. With four first-time starters, the unit struggled during the season-opener, both in protecting senior quarterback Christian Olsen from Pittsburgh's pass rush and in creating running lanes for senior tailback Jason Snelling.
Youth and a lack of depth are the two main issues facing the offensive line, led by position coach Dave Borbely. Of the starters Saturday night, only sophomore left guard Branden Albert started last year. Sophomore left tackle Eugene Monroe, junior center Jordy Lipsey, junior right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham and freshman right tackle Will Barker filled in the rest of the starting positions.
The surprising decision made by junior right tackle Eddie Pinigis to quit the team and transfer to Liberty near the end of training camp hurt Virginia's depth. Pinigis was concerned about playing time after he saw Barker pass him on the depth chart.
"[Pinigis] leaving obviously created a problem with depth," Barker, a Pennsylvania native, said. "But we're moving people around, some people playing other positions, other sides of the line, and we're going to build off that and get what works."
Barker said that he has stayed in contact with Pinigis and that the two remain friends. He also recognizes that he faces increased pressure to perform now that he is the unquestionable starter at right tackle.
"I've been given an opportunity almost on a silver platter, so I have to take advantage of it and go out there and prove myself," Barker said.
Barker is confident that he, along with the other inexperienced linemen, will learn quickly as the season progresses.
"The more I play, obviously, the better I am going to get and the more experience I will have," he said. "Some of the problems I had were footwork, and maybe I was thinking a little bit too much."
The offensive line is tasked with protecting Olsen, who was sacked only once against the Panthers. The signal-caller, who is also stepping into a starting role, has given nothing but encouragement.
"You always want to encourage them, but there is really not much you can say," Olsen said. "I don't think they played bad, and I don't think at all that they were the reason we lost the ballgame. For as many first-time starters as we have, I thought they did a heck of a job."
Virginia coach Al Groh understands the importance of a cohesive offensive line and also recognizes that it takes more time for the group to mesh together than their defensive counterparts.
"They are so close-quartered in there, and they're so many quick changes that occur," Groh said. "The defensive lineman slides from one shade to the other, and you've made the line call, and you have to stay in it, but it's happened enough times before where you and I are working together and I just know that when this guy shades inside you're going to take him and I can move on to the next guy. We've just done it together often enough. There may not be enough time for me to say, `You take him, you take him,' -- I know that you're going to, and you know that I'm going to."
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