Groh plans to shake up lineup

Media General News Service
Published: September 14, 2008

When the University of Virginia football team takes the field again, Sept. 27 at Duke, its starting lineup may well differ from the one that bombed Saturday night at Connecticut.

Al Groh, no presidential candidate he, stopped short of promising changes. But in 2001, his first season as UVa’s coach, Groh benched two starting offensive linemen after a 24-0 loss to N.C. State, and last night he stated the criteria he’ll use in doling out playing time in the coming weeks.

“It doesn’t make any difference what you did last year or what you might do in the future or what Rivals list you were on or what watch list you might be on, for whatever circumstance,” Groh said. “It’s all about who’s playing well now and who gives us the best chance to operate in the next game.”

The list of Cavaliers playing well now is a short one. Kicker Yannick Reyering and punter Jimmy Howell — neither of whom was on the team in 2007 — would have to be included, along with offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, wide receiver Kevin Ogletree and a few others. But Virginia is 1-2 and has been outscored 97-17 by teams from the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision.

Among the 119 teams in the FBS, UVa ranks 118th in total offense, 113th in scoring offense, 97th in scoring defense and 93rd in total defense.

Football is a game, at its heart, of blocking and tackling. The Wahoos have struggled in both areas. Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson, two of the ACC’s premier tailbacks last season, combined for 27 yards on eight carries in UVa’s 45-10 loss to UConn on Saturday night. Huskies tailback Donald Brown, meanwhile, rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

“I know it’s the easiest thing to say, ‘Learn from your mistakes,’ but we’ve got some fundamentals and things we’ve got to get back to the drawing board in doing,” Ogletree said. “Because once we get to the ACC, this can’t happen.”

By the time sophomore Marc Verica took his first snap as UVa’s starting quarterback, UConn led 7-0. It was 28-0 when he came out for his fourth series.

Until Wednesday, the Cavaliers’ starter was sophomore Peter Lalich. But Verica got an unexpected midweek promotion when Groh and UVa officials decided to hold Lalich out of the UConn game. Verica completed 22 of 30 passes for 158 yards, with one interception, before Scott Deke replaced him late in the third quarter.

Lalich practiced with the team Sunday, Groh said, but his status for the Duke game isn’t clear. Lalich, who’s been on probation since July for an alcohol-related charge, has a Sept. 26 court hearing in Charlottesville. The outcome figures to have a bearing on whether Lalich plays against the Blue Devils (2-1).

The Cavaliers’ bye week “will allow us to give quite a few turns to each one of the quarterbacks in the buildup to (the Duke game),” Groh said. “We should be somewhat prepared for a number of different contingencies.”

Against UConn, outside linebacker Cameron Johnson became the third true freshman to play for Virginia this season, joining Howell and offensive guard Austin Pasztor. Johnson made two tackles.

“He did a nice job with things,” Groh said. “That’s why we did it. It’s got to start some place. He’s one of the players we have on the list to try to give a lot of turns to in the next couple of weeks.”