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Virginia can't hide its flaws
Steve DeShazo
Date published: 10/2/2005 By STEVE DeSHAZO COLLEGE PARK, Md.--Halloween doesn't arrive until the end Through three underwhelming wins over marginal foes, the Cavaliers had insisted that the only important thing was the final score. Their flaws were excused, their mistakes covered. But there was always a sense of foreboding. Yesterday, those fears came to fruition. A 2-2 Maryland team that Virginia shut out last year hung 570 yards and 45 points on the Cavaliers, despite the return of All-America linebacker Ahmad Brooks. The Terrapins ran at will, converted third-down passes and scored whenever they needed to. "Their defense was pretty strong, but it seemed like we could do whatever we wanted from a team perspective," said Maryland tight end Vernon Davis, giving the Cavaliers a simultaneous compliment and insult. Truth be told, the Cavaliers' defense is nowhere near as good as the sum of its talented parts. They were ranked 18th in the country entering the game, mainly because they had played three offensively challenged opponents. Coach Al Groh had earned praise for his guts in going for it on fourth and one late in a tie game against Syracuse. Unsaid was that he didn't trust his defense to stop the Orange. Yesterday, we found out why. Maryland shredded the Cavaliers' front three, opening enormous holes for sophomore Lance Ball to gain 163 yards on just 17 carries. Virginia allowed Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach to throw for a career-high 320 yards and receiver Danny Melendez--who was in coach Ralph Friedgen's doghouse last season--to set career bests with nine catches for 125 yards. Perhaps most importantly, Ralph Friedgen and his staff badly outcoached Groh and his. That's the bad news for Virginia. Here's the worse news:
Date published: 10/2/2005
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