In times of hardship, there is a popular saying, "If it weren't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any luck." If anyone can attest, it's the Cavaliers. Let's face it: When it comes to maintaining a healthy, injury-free roster, well, Virginia has not had much good luck. Torn ACLs, groin strains, hamstring pulls, broken wrists; year after year, it's the same routine.
Where does Virginia go wrong when it comes to avoiding injuries? Yes, we are all aware that football is a physically-demanding sport. Yes, we know the weekly occurrence of 200/300-pound solid guys pushing, tackling and belly-flopping on individuals has the potential to take a toll on one's body. But am I the only person who remains perplexed by Virginia's inability to remain immune from injuries?
Seriously, is it something in the water? The Gatorade? Are our training facilities not up to par? How about the medical trainers? Is it our field? The Charlottesville air? Hey, I'm just curious, aren't you?
Take this season. First came the loss of leading receiver, junior Kevin Ogletree, and junior cornerback Mike Brown early in spring training. After these spring losses, early fall ushered in some minor injuries that have temporarily taken a few players out of action. Junior tackle Eugene Monroe missed a few games nursing a pesky knee injury. The Cavaliers leading rusher, junior Cedric Peerman, was injured against Middle Tennessee and missed the remainder of that game, as well as Saturday's UConn matchup. Not even junior cornerback Chris Cook has been able to escape the malady madness. A knee sprain left him sidelined Saturday as well. Eerily, Cook has probably gotten used to injuries; in 2005, he broke his right leg in the fifth game of the season and missed the remainder of the season.
All these injuries have left Virginia to rely on some more low-profile players, many of whom are redshirts. As the Cavaliers have found out, these guys are quite talented.
For instance, budding from the shadows of Peerman -- because of his recent injury -- the past two games, redshirt freshman tailback Keith Payne has shown he can be fruitful on the football field. In fact, he and junior tailback Andrew Pearman have stepped up in Peerman's absence, leading Virginia's offense. Payne completed his first career touchdown Saturday, giving the team its first score of the day. The 'Payne Train,' as one spiritedly inebriated fan so elegantly put it Saturday, represents Virginia's promising future.
Another redshirt standout, sophomore fullback Rashawn Jackson, offers more hope of new talent. Jackson originally made a considerable impact on special teams as an inside linebacker; however, he moved to fullback for the 2007 season. Here he has proven to be a skillful blocker, opening holes against opposing defensive linemen and powerful linebackers. Just look to Peerman's impressive rushing stats to see Jackson's influence. Holes are being opened, one thing's for sure. Jackson's Middle Tennessee touchdown contribution shows he also opens up another scoring avenue for the Cavaliers.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver walk-on Staton Jobe has made a name for himself, and it's not just, "the guy from Texas who plays the guitar." Jobe, like Payne and Pearman, has climbed the ranks of the playing ladder, thanks in large part to junior Kevin Ogletree's injury. In Virginia's disappointing match against Wyoming, Jobe led the team with 27 receiving yards on two catches, and his 17-yard catch was Virginia's longest of the game.
In addition, another redshirt standout is Jeffrey Fitzgerald, a sophomore defensive end. A unanimous 2006 All-American, Fitzgerald recorded 64 tackles his freshman year. Last season he led the team with six sacks, third most all-time by a Virginia freshman, and ranked third nationally among rookies. This season, Fitzgerald, and senior defensive end partner Chris Long, have combined for 12 sacks. If the duo keeps this up, the Cavaliers stand a very good chance of realizing coach Groh's "36/36 goal" (defense's goal of a season-high 36 sacks and 36 turnovers).
We cannot fail to mention redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell. Although Sewell appears to have his really productive, and not-so-productive days, on average his stats are up, and he is doing well for a young quarterback. Sewell became the 18th player in school history to pass for 2,000 yards in a career.
In the past few games, Virginia has won by a field goal, beaten a team by one point and won two others by five points or less. The team is now 6-1, thanks greatly to previous redshirts, who have "shown up" when the call came.
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