Spring Football Cliffs Notes

There have been a million stories in the news outlets about UVA's first spring football practice gauntlet under Mike London. I'm not trying to re-hash any of those numerous human interest pieces. Instead, I just want to provide a quick-hitting summary of the knowledge I'm taking away from this spring's work at the McCue Center and on the practice fields.

(For my observations on the spring game, roll the wheel on your mouse.)


-- Under London and [Offensive Coordinator] Bobby Lazor, Virginia will be running a Power-I formation on offense. Welcome back to the offense, tight ends and fullbacks!

-- With a foundation built on the power running game, the play action passing game should open up nicely.

-- The tight ends and fullbacks will be heavily involved in the passing game.

-- Barring unforeseen disaster, you'll be seeing Marc Verica's #6 jersey behind center in the season opening game against Richmond. (But Ross Metheny could push him hard later in the season if Verica struggles and/or the team isn't winning. Metheny will be the most popular player on the team amongst fans... as the #2 QB.)

-- On defense, ends have shifted to tackle, outside linebackers have shifted to end, safeties have shifted to outside linebacker, and cornerbacks have shifted to safety. The goal? Get faster on defense. London and [Defensive Coordinator] Jim Reid are trying to build a fast, aggressive, attacking defense. The scheme is simplified, and read & react situations will be minimized. I'm certain we'll be seeing plenty of blitzing out of Mike London's 4-3.

-- Many players on the roster will be capable of generating pressure on the opposing QB. Cam Johnson, Zane Parr, Matt Conrath, Bill Schautz, Justin Renfrow, and Will Hill should all be productive in the pass rush. (And this doesn't even include the linebackers and defensive backs who will be coming in on the blitz.)

-- Get ready for a new batch of stars. My short list for "breakthrough performers" of the 2010 season include Tim Smith at WR, Dominique Wallace and Perry Jones at RB, Terence Fells-Danzer at FB, Joe Torchia and Paul Freedman at TE, Oday Aboushi and Anthony Mihota on the o-line, Cam Johnson, Bill Schautz, Zane Parr, and Justin Renfrow at DE, Jared Detrick at LB, Dom Joseph at safety, and Chase Minnifield at CB.

-- Be confident in the secondary, defensive line, running backs, wide receivers, and punting as we head into training camp. Be nervous about the linebackers, quarterbacking, and kicking.

-- Many spots on the depth chart have been settled during spring ball. The battles for starting spots that will linger into the summer include: left tackle -- Landon Bradley vs. Hunter Steward, #2 wide receiver -- Kris Burd vs. Dontrelle Inman, weakside linebacker -- Ausar Walcott vs. LaRoy Reynolds, free safety -- Corey Mosley vs. Dom Joseph, kicker -- Robert Randolph vs. Drew Jarrett vs. Chris Hinkebein.

-- If you want to try to project wins and losses at this early stage, follow this guideline: probable wins -- Richmond, VMI, Eastern Michigan; possible wins -- @ Duke, Maryland, @ Boston College; longshot wins -- Florida State, North Carolina; near-certain losses -- @ USC, @ Georgia Tech, Miami, @ Virginia Tech. Be happy if this team gets to five wins.

-- Watch the o-line closely. If it comes together, gels, and plays at a high level, we could be a pretty decent team by season's end. I think o-line play is this season's x-factor.

-- 55% of Virginia Tech fans fear Mike London on the recruiting trail.