2013 Virginia Spring Football Analysis

Virginia Cavaliers 2013 ... Head Coach: Mike London

Virginia Cavaliers

2013 Schedule
8/31 BYU
9/7 Oregon
9/14 OPEN DATE
9/21 VMI
9/28 at Pitt
10/5 Ball State
10/12 at Maryland
10/19 Duke
10/26 Georgia Tech
11/2 Clemson
11/9 at North Carolina
11/16 OPEN DATE
11/23 at Miami
11/30 Virginia Tech

Why To Get Excited … after slumping a year ago, the ‘Hoos got a much-needed infusion of talent on the coaching staff. New offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild and tight ends coach Tom O’Brien are both former head coaches, with a similar vision on offense. Jon Tenuta has a proven track record for attacking opposing offenses, and for transforming the talent in his stable.

Why To Be Grouchy … where are the stars? Virginia is painfully light on playmakers on either side of the ball. Of the five Cavs that earned at least honorable mention All-ACC in 2012, only two, TE Jake McGee and CB Demetrious Nicholson remain in C’Ville. The offense lacks field-stretchers for QB Phillip Sims, who’ll try to hold off David Watford during the offseason.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … coaching up the O-line. Four starters may return, but the unit’s premier blocker, LT Oday Aboushi, is primping for a career in the NFL. And last year’s front wall was an underlying reason why the attack struggled so mightily. The Cavs failed to create enough space for the nation’s 96th-ranked ground game, and were 71st in sacks allowed.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Cavaliers have to generate more of a ground game. The season went into the tank partly because the team was dead last in the ACC in turnover margin, but the offense didn't help the cause with a spotty season and not enough points, scoring 20 or fewer eight times. Losing left tackle Oday Aboushi is a problem for a line that struggled in pass protection, but the front five's biggest job will be to improve the ground game. More from Khalek Shepherd and the punt return game would be nice.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Quarterback. Mike London has done an amazing job of updating the talent level with a few top 30 recruiting classes, and this one has the potential to be almost as good as last year's haul. The offensive tackle prospects are excellent, safety Tim Harris is going to be a player, and running back Taquan Mizzell will be a factor, but the focus will be on the quarterbacks with Cowin Cutler and Brandan Marshall two big passers who look the part. They won't be needed for a while, but they'll be in a great fight for a starting job in a few years.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 22. That Class Was Heavy On ... The last few classes have revolved around the offense, and the defensive front seven is getting the strongest talent this year, but the Cavaliers are looking to keep bringing in good targets. Last year, head coach Mike London came up with a strength-in-numbers class of receivers, and he’s doing it again with at least five prospects coming in. While the passing game needs more attention, London likes the running game and he’s getting a good one in Kye Morgan. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 26. That Class Was Heavy On ... Wide receivers. Head coach Mike London brought in a really, really nice overall class highlighted by a terrific get in corner Demetrious Nicholson and a big-time Signing Day coup in corner Dominique Terrell. The defensive line got plenty of bodies with seven linemen brought in, and three nice offensive tackles will help the line. The key to the class was the haul of receivers with six prospects brought in including Brandon Phelps, Darius Jennings, and Clifton Richardson, three fast, talented targets who might get a long look for instant playing time.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 68. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. Virginia is still a factory for top-shelf offensive linemen with Morgan Moses a massive tackle who signed last year but sat out a year, and Conner Davis an interesting prospect, but new head coach Mike London was more in needs of upgrading the offense. Four quarterbacks were signed led by Mike Rocco and Michael Strauss, but there weren't any wide receiver prospects brought in.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 49. That Class Was Heavy On ... offensive tackles. After losing Branden Albert and Eugene Monroe to the NFL in successive seasons, the Cavaliers have bolstered their offensive line with a whopping six tackles standing 6-5 or taller. Like the last three great Virginia linemen, including D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the school traveled north to get Oday Aboushi, a 305-pounder with considerable upside and nasty demeanor. Landing four-star mountain Morgan Moses was the upset of this group.