Midterm Grades

Gotta squeeze this out quick before the game today...


Prior to the season I issued a report card to sort of wrap up the trifecta box preview of the football team.

Here are the position-by-position midterm grades for each unit.  (Preseason grades listed in parentheses.)

Remember, a C is average. A+ is reserved for position groups like Alabama's running backs position (featuring reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, future NFL workhorse back Trent Richardson, and explosive change of pace back Eddie Lacy). F is reserved for positions destined for no possible outcome other than total and complete disaster. I think you get the picture.


Quarterbacks (C-)... D+
Worse than I feared, but not necessarily because of Marc Verica.  I have been disappointed in the two freshmen to this point in the season.

Running Backs (C+)... B-
It's about what I expected, but with Payne filling the Dominique Wallace role.  I've been impressed with Perry Jones, even more than I thought I would, hence the slight uptick in grade.

Fullbacks (D+)... B
Max Milien has been a revelation.  We need to give him more carries, and more receiving opportunities in the flats.

Wide Receivers (B-)... B-
Kris Burd has been great, and Dontrelle Inman has played better than anyone could have expected.  Losing Tim Smith hurt, but Matt Snyder is really coming on in Smith's absence.

Tight Ends (B-)... C-
I don't think Joe Torchia played very well before he went down with another shoulder injury.  What a tragic bust that guy's UVA career has been.  I like what we're seeing out of Colter Phillips, however.

Offensive Line (C+)... B-
They're coming together.  The pass blocking has been mediocre, but the run blocking has been above average and has shown some flashes of greatness.  Morgan Moses and Oday Aboushi ooze star potential, which makes me excited about the future.

Defensive Ends (C+)... C
Cam Johnson has been very good in spots and Zane Parr is extremely active, but the pass rush from the ends has been inconsistent at best, nonexistent at worst.

Defensive Tackles (B-)... C+
They lose a whole letter grade for the way Georgia Tech steamrolled us up the gut.  Otherwise, I've been fairly happy with the Jenkins/Conrath/Dolce rotation.

Outside Linebackers (D+)... C-
They struggle to keep contain, but LaRoy Reynolds and Ausar Walcott have shown us some glimpses of the players they can become, and I love that trajectory for these two guys.

Middle Linebackers (B+)... C-
Steve Greer has disappeared.  Aaron Taliaferro has played fairly well, but Greer is the one who really needs to step up.

Safeties (B)... C-
Rodney McLeod hasn't been healthy, and this unit has surrendered way too many big plays.

Cornerbacks (A-)... C
With Ras-I Dowling not on the field for most of the first half of the season, Chase Minnifield has ascended to star status.  But he (and the corners in general) tend to make two good plays, then give up a backbreaker.  It needs to be better.

Kickers/Punters (D)... C
Jimmy Howell might be the team's MVP so far.  The placekicking started out really bad, but seems to be stabilizing.

Returners (C)... B
Raynard Horne single-handed elevates this group's grade.  He has been spectacular.  Now we need to find a punt returner...

Overall Team Grade (C)... C-
I have slightly less faith in the team, mostly due to the struggles on defense and at the quarterback position.  So while the backs and the o-line are playing better than I thought they would, that progress has been mitigated by poor tackling on defense and poor decision making from the QBs.


If you love the report card theme as much as I do, then you'll also love these two articles from two of the rags that cover Virginia Football (there is actually some pretty good stuff in there):


U.Va. midseason report: Virginia is looking for something to build on in late season


Virginia midseason report card