|
-
QB Jameel Sewell (10) struggled at times behind center, but he showed enough poise to encourage Virginia for the 2007 season. |
CHARLOTTESVILLE--The University of Virginia football team won't go to a bowl game for the first time since 2001, but Cavaliers coach Al Groh doesn't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
While Groh's young team could use the extra practice time in December, the sixth-year coach said it may be more beneficial to get an early jump on next year's team.
Groh said if the Cavaliers had won Saturday at Virginia Tech instead of losing 17-0, it would've been 6-6 and preparing for a lower-tier bowl game. He said he'd rather look ahead to 2007.
"I think the prize can be a lot greater," Groh said.
Groh will visit recruits who have already orally committed, and try to land a few more in the coming weeks.
The Cavaliers are expected to bring back 10 starters on defense and nine on offense next season. They may lose just four players who contributed heavily to the team's disappointing 5-7 season.
Groh said none of his players are expected to declare early for the NFL Draft. Junior defensive end Chris Long would be the only likely candidate, but Groh said Long's indications he will return.
Following the loss to Virginia Tech, Long said the Cavaliers will be motivated by their lack of success for next season.
"What you try to do all year is just take these mental pictures, watching other teams celebrate and that sort of thing," Long said. "I'll be taking a lot of mental pictures during the bowl season, and I just can't wait to get out there next year."
The Cavaliers' season started on a down note when they traveled to Pittsburgh and were beaten 38-13. They then needed a missed extra point to defeat Wyoming 13-12 in overtime at home.
The following week, it became apparent that the Cavaliers could be in for an even longer season than most anticipated.
They used three quarterbacks in a 17-10 home loss to Western Michigan. Kevin McCabe made the first start of his career, but was replaced by original starter Christian Olsen in that game. In the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell made his first appearance, but the Cavs still fell.
They were 2-4 following a 31-21 setback at Western Michigan, and Groh came under fire from fans and Internet message board users. Virginia fell to 2-5 the following week after it blew a 20-0 lead in a 28-26 home loss to Maryland.
"It wasn't the way the seniors wanted the season to go," departing cornerback Marcus Hamilton said. "But that's just how it is. That's the way things went this year."
After the loss to Western Michigan, Sewell went on to start the remaining nine games with very mixed results.
At home, the left-hander from Richmond often delighted Scott Stadium fans with his strong arm and running ability.
But Sewell was 3-1 at home and 1-4 on the road with the lone victory coming at winless Duke.
For the season, Sewell threw just five touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Groh said in shut-out losses to Florida State and Virginia Tech, the game was moving too fast for Sewell.
"Just a lot of baby steps," Sewell said of his progress. "I had a couple of good games, then declined. It was an up-and-down season for myself."
The same could be said for most of the Cavaliers.
However, the team's defense came on strong under the leadership of defensive coordinator Mike London, who returned after a one-year stint as an assistant coach with the NFL's Houston Texans.
The Cavaliers' defense was second in the ACC in points allowed during conference games with 14.5. The unit was fifth in the conference in total defense and third in sacks.
Groh said his team "can play defense with anybody."
"Towards the end of the '05 season, we lost our way a little bit on defense," Groh said. "We just kind of got off the path. I think we're back on track right now and with all those players coming back plus more talent coming up, we have expectations that we now have got that thing in place and got it going the way we want it to go."
The same can't be said for the offense, which finished last in the ACC in total production and gave up five interception returns for touchdowns.
However, every starter with the exception of wide receiver Fontel Mines and Jason Snelling will be back.
Groh said freshman running back Keith Payne, who redshirted this season, will compete to replace Snelling next season. Hamilton is the only departing starter on defense. Freshman Vic Hall or sophomore Mike Brown is expected to take over for him next season.
The Cavaliers played just one true freshman (defensive lineman Nate Collins), meaning the other 18 members of the 2006 class will have four years of eligibility left.
Groh said with that influx of talent, he hopes his team can get on the right track and play in the ACC title game like Wake Forest and Georgia Tech will do on Saturday.
"We have a team that was 4-7 [Wake Forest] and a team that was 7-5 [Georgia Tech] last year playing in the championship game," Groh said. "Obviously they had a belief in themselves, they trusted their plan, had confidence in what they could do and here they are."
Notes
Sewell (throwing wrist), wide receiver Kevin Ogletree (wrist), outside linebacker Clint Sintim (shoulder) and wide receiver Emmanuel Byers (undisclosed injury) will all have offseason surgery, Groh said. He didn't indicate the severity of the injuries.
The last three coaches Virginia defeated this season were all eventually fired. The Cavaliers beat North Carolina's John Bunting on Oct. 19, North Carolina State's Chuck Amato on Oct. 28 and Miami's Larry Coker on Nov. 18.
To reach TAFT COGHILL JR.:
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
