Picking up from where I left off yesterday...
Damn, we're finna have a downright NAAASTY defense. Three A's in nasty.
Defensive Line
Starters: #58 Eli Hanback / senior, #16 Richard Burney / senior, #99 Jowon Briggs / true freshman
Backup(s): #91 Mandy Alonso / junior, #94 Aaron Faumui / sophomore, #76 Jordan Redmond / sophomore
Others: #50 Tommy Christ / sophomore, #95 Ben Smiley III / true freshman, Isaac Buell / sophomore
Outlook: The Silverbacks (DL) are a lot like the Rhinos (OL), completely flipping what was a weakness of the recent past into a strength. This is a position group laden with quality depth. Two differences between the 2019 DL and the 2019 OL: 1) The Silverbacks have two senior leaders in Hanback and Burney, and 2) the Silverbacks have a guy with certain Aaron Donald-ish star potential, true freshman Jowon Briggs.
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Don't get yourself too hung up on positions or anything other than this -- Can this group stop the run and can this group apply some interior pass rush pressure? I believe it's a resounding yes on both fronts, especially considering what should be a nine-man rotation allowing everyone to play fresh. And angry. Angry waves of brutal punishment crashing down upon the opponents' offense.
Remember, last year, we somehow made due with just 3-5 healthy bodies, including two guys who were true freshmen at the time in Faumui and Redmond. In a perfect world, those guys would have redshirted... but... the experience they gained should accelerate their growth.
Hanback's a battler who will set the tone, Burney adds in strength and athleticism, Briggs brings next-level ability, the Alonso/Faumui/Redmond trio are starter-quality backups, and true frosh Smiley can rotate in and add some oompf. Jury's out on Christ and even more so Buell, but those two will have a chance to sparkle in spot duty.
Nine guys, all of them good, all of them ready to perform. Wow. We've come a long way from 2018's season-long war of attrition.
2019 Confidence Scale (out of 10): 10
For my money, this is the best spot on the team heading into the season opener. Of our nine guys who figure to factor into the rotation, I think at least four have NFL futures. The headliner is going to be Briggs, but the other guys are damn good, too.
For my money, this is the best spot on the team heading into the season opener. Of our nine guys who figure to factor into the rotation, I think at least four have NFL futures. The headliner is going to be Briggs, but the other guys are damn good, too.
Linebacker
Starters: #4 Jordan Mack / senior, #11 Charles Snowden / junior, #33 Zane Zandier / junior, #14 Noah Taylor / sophomore
Backup(s): #22 Robert Snyder / junior, #17 Elliott Brown / junior, #42 Nick Jackson / true freshman, #56 Matt Gahm / junior
Others: #45 Reed Kellam / senior, #98 D'Sean Perry / true freshman, T.C. Harrison / redshirt freshman, #66 Jairus Satiu / true freshman, #93 Hunter Stewart / true freshman
Outlook: This is another position group where Hoofans should be feeling good about the ability level and depth. Jordan Mack is a king thumper in the middle of our defense. Zane Zandier, "ZZ Stop," is a tone-setter for the type of evil, mean-spirited energy you need at the heart of a good, strong, intimidating defense. He's a real motherfucker, and I mean that as an absolute compliment. Meanwhile, if I were buying a football jersey for this season, it'd be #11. I think Charles Snowden is our breakout star of the season... and I think he'll have the chance to bolt for the NFL after his junior season at UVA. The fourth starter is Noah Taylor, who's been a stud in all of the offseason work. This is one helluva starting quartet.....
.....and there's not a huge drop-off to the second unit. Snyder is a less violent, more consistent Zandier, Brown is a clear understudy and heir apparent to Snowden, basically a xerox copy of Snowden, Gahm brings pass rush upside to the mix, and true frosh Jackson brings good pedigree and nice recruiting rankings to the fold.
The first of my two concerns lies deeper on the roster -- If injuries pile up at linebacker, I'm not sure our young guys will be ready for prime time.
My second concern is pass rush. These OLBs have to generate the edge pressure. I feel confident in Snowden and Gahm, less so the others.
.....and there's not a huge drop-off to the second unit. Snyder is a less violent, more consistent Zandier, Brown is a clear understudy and heir apparent to Snowden, basically a xerox copy of Snowden, Gahm brings pass rush upside to the mix, and true frosh Jackson brings good pedigree and nice recruiting rankings to the fold.
The first of my two concerns lies deeper on the roster -- If injuries pile up at linebacker, I'm not sure our young guys will be ready for prime time.
My second concern is pass rush. These OLBs have to generate the edge pressure. I feel confident in Snowden and Gahm, less so the others.
2019 Confidence Scale (out of 10): 8
Mack, Zandier, Snowden, Taylor, goosebumps. Snyder, Brown, Jackson, Gahm, it's a small drop-off. But after that, who the hell knows? Plus, we need two more guys to step up as edge rushers beyond Snowden and Gahm. Brown is an obvious candidate. But who else?
Still, this is a group we should be feeling really good about rolling into the season opener. It's much less of a projection than was needed at running back and wide receiver.
Mack, Zandier, Snowden, Taylor, goosebumps. Snyder, Brown, Jackson, Gahm, it's a small drop-off. But after that, who the hell knows? Plus, we need two more guys to step up as edge rushers beyond Snowden and Gahm. Brown is an obvious candidate. But who else?
Still, this is a group we should be feeling really good about rolling into the season opener. It's much less of a projection than was needed at running back and wide receiver.
Safety / Sabre
Starters: #28 Brenton Nelson / junior, #29 Joey Blount / junior
Backup(s): #15 De'Vante Cross / junior, #7 Chris Moore / junior
Others: #25 Joseph White / redshirt freshman, #60 Chayce Chalmers / true freshman, #30 Antonio Clary / true freshman
Outlook: Look, none of these guys are Juan Thornhill. As the Chiefs are discovering, Juan is a special, special talent and a special, special guy. None of these guys are Juan Thornhill. But in Nelson and Blount, we have two ACC-quality starting safeties. Nelson is your coverage guy while Blount is your centerfielder. There's a nice mesh between those two skillsets. Chris Moore factors into the linebacker mix, as he's kind of a coverage-savvy chess piece the staff can move around the defense. Cross, meanwhile, has a ton of talent and is finally settled in and developing at a set position after bouncing around the quarterbacks and receivers rooms as an underclassman. I'm confident in our top four guys. The deeper reserve, however, features nothing but newcomers. I'm sure we'll like what we see if/when they hit the field, but at this point it's all unknown.
2019 Confidence Scale (out of 10): 7
I'd compare the safeties to the running backs, and I don't really see a future can't-miss NFL guy in the mix at this point, though Nelson and Blount will both have a chance.
I'd compare the safeties to the running backs, and I don't really see a future can't-miss NFL guy in the mix at this point, though Nelson and Blount will both have a chance.
Cornerback
Starters: #34 Bryce Hall / senior, #1 Nick Grant / junior
Backup(s): #23 Heskin Smith / sophomore, #39 Jaylon Baker / redshirt freshman
Others: #41 Germane Crowell / sophomore, #90 Major Williams / true freshman, #53 Fentrell Cypress II / true freshman, #92 Tenyeh Dixon / true freshman
Outlook: Losing projected starter Darrius Bratton for the season really hurts. Now training camp star Nick Grant is in the spotlight. He has to make plays as offenses throw away from our all-world corner Bryce Hall.
If I were an offensive coordinator gameplanning how to attack the 2019 UVA defense, I'd be looking to do it with perimeter runs to set up play action attacks deep to Grant's side of the field. Test our pass rush and our downfield coverage ability. It's up to our neophyte edge rush and Grant to shut that shit down.
Unfortunately, the non-Hall corners have to be considered the weakest part of our team, until proven otherwise.
There's talent here (looking for Crowell, specifically, to get back in the groove after his injures), and it's about to be tested.
Thank God for Bryce Hall.
If I were an offensive coordinator gameplanning how to attack the 2019 UVA defense, I'd be looking to do it with perimeter runs to set up play action attacks deep to Grant's side of the field. Test our pass rush and our downfield coverage ability. It's up to our neophyte edge rush and Grant to shut that shit down.
Unfortunately, the non-Hall corners have to be considered the weakest part of our team, until proven otherwise.
There's talent here (looking for Crowell, specifically, to get back in the groove after his injures), and it's about to be tested.
Thank God for Bryce Hall.
2019 Confidence Scale (out of 10): 10+++ for Hall, 5 for the other guys
I'm willing to drink the Nick Grant kool-aid, but my eyes will be glued to his #1 jersey Saturday night against Pitt. Plus, we need some of these young dudes to bubble up in nickel, dime, and reserve roles. It's unequivocally the weakness of our defense, in much the same way the defensive line was last year.
So there you have it.
I'm retired from talking about kickers and punters, but it sounds like Nash Griffin (punter), Brian Delaney (K/P), and Justin Duenkel have us on solid footing heading into the fall. Joe Reed returning kicks and TK returning punts gives us two nice weapons on the return units. All of our linebacking depth gives our coverage units a nice bedrock foundation (one of the benefits of running a base 3-4).
Kickoff is 7:00 Saturday night at Pitt. I think Bronco put it best:
"Pitt has been the more physical team in the previous three years, especially in the trenches on both sides. Pitt's offense and defensive front have controlled the game in each of the past three matchups, so there is a physical component, but then certainly an intensity that has to be played with from the beginning to end. Can't be bits and pieces and can't be streaks here or there or series here or there. I think Pitt has done a nice job in that area in our first three matchups, so my message has been consistent."
I'm willing to drink the Nick Grant kool-aid, but my eyes will be glued to his #1 jersey Saturday night against Pitt. Plus, we need some of these young dudes to bubble up in nickel, dime, and reserve roles. It's unequivocally the weakness of our defense, in much the same way the defensive line was last year.
So there you have it.
I'm retired from talking about kickers and punters, but it sounds like Nash Griffin (punter), Brian Delaney (K/P), and Justin Duenkel have us on solid footing heading into the fall. Joe Reed returning kicks and TK returning punts gives us two nice weapons on the return units. All of our linebacking depth gives our coverage units a nice bedrock foundation (one of the benefits of running a base 3-4).
Kickoff is 7:00 Saturday night at Pitt. I think Bronco put it best:
"Pitt has been the more physical team in the previous three years, especially in the trenches on both sides. Pitt's offense and defensive front have controlled the game in each of the past three matchups, so there is a physical component, but then certainly an intensity that has to be played with from the beginning to end. Can't be bits and pieces and can't be streaks here or there or series here or there. I think Pitt has done a nice job in that area in our first three matchups, so my message has been consistent."
We hear you loud and clear, coach. We need to go out and punch them in the mouth.
I'm looking forward to it.
GO HOOS!
The line is UVA -2.5 with an over/under of 47. Essentially, Vegas is predicting a 25-22 win for the Hoos. It'll be much lower scoring than that, and I think we'll beat that spread.
My pick: Virginia 24, Pittsburgh 10.
Lay the points, take the Hoos, and bet the under.
The line is UVA -2.5 with an over/under of 47. Essentially, Vegas is predicting a 25-22 win for the Hoos. It'll be much lower scoring than that, and I think we'll beat that spread.
My pick: Virginia 24, Pittsburgh 10.
Lay the points, take the Hoos, and bet the under.
YES.
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