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This is suppose to be a joint effort write-up. I'll give you the reasons why Virginia is NOT a good play, and B.A.R. will tell you why Pittsburgh IS a good play.
With Virginia, it is a story of the Good, the Bad and the UGLY.
The GOOD:
After a year as a backup quarterback at Notre Dame, then a year of sitting out, then two more years as a backup quarterback at Virginia, it's officially Christian Olsen's time. He entered the spring No. 1 on the depth chart and left the spring in the same spot. The brother of Miami standout TE Greg Olsen, he was even chosen as a captain by his teammates. He doesn't have the talent of Matt Schaub and he sure won't be running around like Marques Hagans, but Olsen knows the offense well and gets to throw to the deepest group of receivers and tight ends of the Al Groh era.
After the graduation of ACC career TD leader Wali Lundy, it's tough putting the tailback situation in the "answers" category -- especially since not a whole lot was decided. We do know, however, there's plenty of talent in this backfield and that Groh is all for the two-tailback rotation this fall. Converted fullback Jason Snelling successfully changed his position, while former Parade All-American Michael Johnson changed his attitude and looks ready to finally break out as a senior. The staff also liked what they saw out of sophomore Cedric Peerman and are extremely high on redshirt freshman Mikell Simpson.
Clint Sintim started every game at outside linebacker last season, but Groh said recently it was more of a "take-up-space" position for the Cavs last year. Not in 2006. Now a sophomore, Sintim was a monster this spring.
So was redshirt freshman Jeffrey Fitzgerald. As a result, Virginia is no longer anxiously seeking a replacement for DE Brennan Schmidt, who tied a conference record by starting in 51 games. Fitzgerald won the starting spot over sophomore Alex Field.
The BAD:
The Virginia Cavaliers only bring back 5 starters on the offensive side of the ball and 6 starters on the defensive side. On top of this, these losses were not only at key positions, but they were also STUD players! They will be very hard to replace and Groh has officially come out in the Spring and pronounced this season as a true "rebuilding" year. "We have a significant rebuilding job ahead of us," Groh said. "We've had some losses, some pretty huge losses … "
The defense will now start a grand total of one senior. And who is going to plug the holes up the middle? The interior of the line is a mess and the terrific inside linebacking duo of Brooks and Kai Parham, who left early for the NFL, is now history.
So Olsen has the quarterback job, but who will be protecting his blind side? Or for that matter, his not-so-blind side? And what about the guy who snaps him the ball? All-American tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson leaves a gaping hole, but it's not the only one. Center Brian Barthelmes and the other tackle, Brad Butler, are also gone. That's 124 career starts in all. Experienced replacements waiting in the wings? Not so much.
So is the punter really replacing the school's all-time scoring leader? With reliable kicker Connor Hughes out of eligibility, it looks like Chris Gould is relinquishing his starting job at punter to try something he hasn't done since high school. He won't do both, though, which leaves the inexperienced Ryan Weigand as his replacement.
The UGLY:
No ACC team has experienced more offseason turmoil -- an arrest, player dismissals and injuries -- than Virginia, which ended the 2005 season on a positive note by defeating Minnesota 34-31 in the Music City Bowl to finish 7-5. As if the departures of several top seniors, including quarterback Marques Hagans and All-American offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, weren't enough to overcome, word came on the eve of spring practice that three starters on the Cavaliers' defense had been kicked off the team. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks, safety and team captain Tony Franklin and defensive end Vince Redd were all banished for various infractions that Groh has refused to detail. Brooks and Franklin were three-year starters, while Redd made a career-high nine tackles in the Music City Bowl win.
Groh was forced to overhaul his staff following the departures of offensive coordinator Ron Prince, defensive coordinator Al Golden and special teams coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. Groh brought in four new assistants and promoted his son, Mike, to offensive coordinator. Of his new staff, Groh said, "It's a very challenging way … to break into their positions."
If the losses were not bad enough, Virginia's woes continue in fall camp:
Deyon Williams, Virginia's best wide receiver, will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot Friday and will be out indefinitely, Cavaliers Coach Al Groh said yesterday. Williams, a senior captain, probably will miss Virginia's season-opening game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 2.
Need I say more?? LOL Some of you are wanting great reasons to take Pitt here, and I think Big Al will give them to you, but the fact is, Pitt only has to go out and play good, tough, sound football against this team to win by a TD or more.
(Article was written with help from ESPN Archives.)
With Virginia, it is a story of the Good, the Bad and the UGLY.
The GOOD:
After a year as a backup quarterback at Notre Dame, then a year of sitting out, then two more years as a backup quarterback at Virginia, it's officially Christian Olsen's time. He entered the spring No. 1 on the depth chart and left the spring in the same spot. The brother of Miami standout TE Greg Olsen, he was even chosen as a captain by his teammates. He doesn't have the talent of Matt Schaub and he sure won't be running around like Marques Hagans, but Olsen knows the offense well and gets to throw to the deepest group of receivers and tight ends of the Al Groh era.
After the graduation of ACC career TD leader Wali Lundy, it's tough putting the tailback situation in the "answers" category -- especially since not a whole lot was decided. We do know, however, there's plenty of talent in this backfield and that Groh is all for the two-tailback rotation this fall. Converted fullback Jason Snelling successfully changed his position, while former Parade All-American Michael Johnson changed his attitude and looks ready to finally break out as a senior. The staff also liked what they saw out of sophomore Cedric Peerman and are extremely high on redshirt freshman Mikell Simpson.
Clint Sintim started every game at outside linebacker last season, but Groh said recently it was more of a "take-up-space" position for the Cavs last year. Not in 2006. Now a sophomore, Sintim was a monster this spring.
So was redshirt freshman Jeffrey Fitzgerald. As a result, Virginia is no longer anxiously seeking a replacement for DE Brennan Schmidt, who tied a conference record by starting in 51 games. Fitzgerald won the starting spot over sophomore Alex Field.
The BAD:
The Virginia Cavaliers only bring back 5 starters on the offensive side of the ball and 6 starters on the defensive side. On top of this, these losses were not only at key positions, but they were also STUD players! They will be very hard to replace and Groh has officially come out in the Spring and pronounced this season as a true "rebuilding" year. "We have a significant rebuilding job ahead of us," Groh said. "We've had some losses, some pretty huge losses … "
The defense will now start a grand total of one senior. And who is going to plug the holes up the middle? The interior of the line is a mess and the terrific inside linebacking duo of Brooks and Kai Parham, who left early for the NFL, is now history.
So Olsen has the quarterback job, but who will be protecting his blind side? Or for that matter, his not-so-blind side? And what about the guy who snaps him the ball? All-American tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson leaves a gaping hole, but it's not the only one. Center Brian Barthelmes and the other tackle, Brad Butler, are also gone. That's 124 career starts in all. Experienced replacements waiting in the wings? Not so much.
So is the punter really replacing the school's all-time scoring leader? With reliable kicker Connor Hughes out of eligibility, it looks like Chris Gould is relinquishing his starting job at punter to try something he hasn't done since high school. He won't do both, though, which leaves the inexperienced Ryan Weigand as his replacement.
The UGLY:
No ACC team has experienced more offseason turmoil -- an arrest, player dismissals and injuries -- than Virginia, which ended the 2005 season on a positive note by defeating Minnesota 34-31 in the Music City Bowl to finish 7-5. As if the departures of several top seniors, including quarterback Marques Hagans and All-American offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, weren't enough to overcome, word came on the eve of spring practice that three starters on the Cavaliers' defense had been kicked off the team. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks, safety and team captain Tony Franklin and defensive end Vince Redd were all banished for various infractions that Groh has refused to detail. Brooks and Franklin were three-year starters, while Redd made a career-high nine tackles in the Music City Bowl win.
Groh was forced to overhaul his staff following the departures of offensive coordinator Ron Prince, defensive coordinator Al Golden and special teams coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. Groh brought in four new assistants and promoted his son, Mike, to offensive coordinator. Of his new staff, Groh said, "It's a very challenging way … to break into their positions."
If the losses were not bad enough, Virginia's woes continue in fall camp:
Deyon Williams, Virginia's best wide receiver, will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot Friday and will be out indefinitely, Cavaliers Coach Al Groh said yesterday. Williams, a senior captain, probably will miss Virginia's season-opening game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 2.
Need I say more?? LOL Some of you are wanting great reasons to take Pitt here, and I think Big Al will give them to you, but the fact is, Pitt only has to go out and play good, tough, sound football against this team to win by a TD or more.
