Part 11 of the 12 part 2014 Miami Hurricane Opponent Video Series - @UVa 11/22

2014 Virginia Cavaliers Football Preview

In Part 11 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series, I’m going to talk a little about the Virginia Cavaliers, our opponent on Nov 22^nd up in Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA.   

Lets first look at their Talent:

Well, I’ll start by saying that there are many questions at the quarterback position for starters, among other vital spots. They have back seven starters on offense, which believe it or not, will be better for them in comparison to last year stat wise. They have back TB Kevin Parks, who was their team leader in Offense,  rushing for 1,031 yards and 11 touchdowns, and earning second-team All-ACC honors in 2013. They do have some depth at QB coming back Junior David Watford (6-2, 205) and sophomore Greyson Lambert (6-5, 225). Think about this, in Watford’s first season as a starter, he completed just over 57 percent of his passes in 2013, for 2,202 yards and eight TDs. On the other hand, Lambert didn’t play that much, but he had a very  strong spring and is now in the driver’s seat for the starting job.
The WR core is led by Senior Darius Jennings (5-11, 175), who led the team in receiving  catching 38 passes, for 340 yards and three TDs in 2013. They also have Parks back. He had 38 receptions, for 329 yards, and one TD out of the backfield.

On the OL, they get back three starters, which includes both guards Connor Davis (6-5, 300) and Jay Whitmire (6-6, 310), however look for Whitmire to move to LT this season. Also back is sophomore Eric Smith (6-5, 295), who got eight starts at right tackle as a freshman.

Defensively, they have back with nine starters. That defense is led by All-American safety Anthony Harris (6-1, 190). He’s one of the best Safeties in the country. In 2013, he had 80 tackles and was tied for the national lead in interceptions with eight. Joining him are fellow seniors Brandon Phelps (44 tackles) and Demetrious Nicholson. who missed half of last year due to injury. They have experience back there.

The line backing corps returns their two top tacklers from a year ago in seniors Henry Coley (91 tackles, 9.0 TFL, one sack) and Daquan Romero (89 tackles, 6.5 TFL).

On the D-Line, the mainstay there is junior DE Eli Harold. As a sophomore last year, the 6-4, 235-pounder had 15 TFLs and 8.5 sacks, both numbers led the team.

On Special Teams, They have Alec Vozenilek back to take care of the kicking duties. Last season took care of both the Kicking and Punting duties. His punts averaged 41.2 yards per attempt on school-record 85 punts and on Kicking, he was 12-of-15 on FG’s, with a long of 40 yards. He was forced to do both because Ian Frye was hurt. With the 6-6, Frye back, it’ll take the pressure off of Vozenilek.

Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:

Let’s make no mistake, Mike London is on the hot seat going into this season. Two straight losing seasons doesn’t help either. He can only go up from there. This guy won a National Championship at Richmond on the FCS level, but it hasn’t translated into much success in Charlottesville. The guy is a very good recruiter, but expect another long season in Charlottesville for London and his crew.

Now, to their 2014 Schedule:

They went 2-10 last year and the schedule in 2014 for the Cavaliers will be brutal from the start, so here’s how I see the schedule play out in 2014:

In their opener, 8/30 vs. UCLA: L

Ouch, this one is one of the tamer teams on their schedule. Many people think the Bruins would win the Pac-12 title in 2014.  And the Cavs will be a huge underdog in this one and correctly so. This one will not be close at all as Brett Hundley should put up monster numbers in this one. UCLA big over the Cavs in this one.

In Week 2, 9/6 vs. Richmond: W

This is a game the Cavs will have their best shot to win all year. Now, London knows the Spiders, very well, as Richmond is his alma mater and he was the head coach there, winning an FCS title, before coming to Charlottesville to run the Cavs. They couldn’t even beat a terrible N.C. State team last year (the Pack went winless in the ACC), so now the Spiders will get another crack at another terrible ACC team in the Cavs. I think the Cavs win this one, However if they were to lose, that seat of London’s which is hot right now, gets even hotter.
In week 3, 9/13 vs. Louisville: W

Louisville comes calling. This is a big game early for London and his crew, knowing he’s on the hot seat up there I’ll go with the Cavs over the Cardinals in this one, even though the Cardinals had only one loss last season and seem to be on the rise, but that was in the AAC. The ACC is a different beast. Yes, Petrino brings a high-powered offense to Charlottesville, in the end, you have to think the Cavs find a way to win that one and cool London’s seat temporarily.

In week 4, 9/20 at BYU: L

Yes, the Cavs beat BYU at home last year, however, with this one being in Provo, look for the Cougars to pummel the Cavs, and London’s seat warms up again. BYU wins comfortably here.

In week 5, 9/27 vs. Kent State: W

I think the Cavs win this one, but after that, OUCH!

In Week 6, 10/4 vs. Pittsburgh: L

They are home again, this time for Pitt, and once again, I can see London’s seat become even warmer after this loss.

In Week 7 BYE

In Week 8, 10/18 at Duke: L

The Cavs head down to Durham to take on the Blue Devils. If London’s seat isn’t blistering hot at this point, it will be after this one. When you consider the fact that Duke went to the ACC Championship Game last season, and the Cavaliers didn’t win a game in the league, and add to the fact that Duke’s head coach David Cutcliffe is moving things in the upward direction is very telling how far the Cavs have fallen. Duke wins BIG here.

In Week 9, 10/25 vs. North Carolina: L

This will be an easy win for the Tar Heels, when you add the fact that the Cavaliers will be such disarray, and Mike London’s seat on five-alarm fire, there’s no way the Heels lose this one. UNC’s offense, led by QB Marquise Williams should have things rolling at this point in the season. Add that Carolina was one of the hottest teams in the country in the 2^nd half of the season. Look for Carolina to come to Charlottesville and win BIG here.  

In Week 10, 11/1 at Georgia Tech: L

The Jackets are back home to take on a dreadful Cavalier team, whose coach has a hot seat that will be on 5 alarm fire at this point. It won’t cool after this one either. This game will be closer than the experts think. While thedefense will stuff the option offense for a little while, look for Paul Johnson to adjust and start running that triple-option, down the Cavs throats. The Yellow Jackets should find a rhythm in the second half and defend their home turf. This is going to be the easiest win of the season for GT here.

In Week 11, 11/8 at Florida State: L

My god, if it hasn’t gotten any worse for the Cavs, they get to face the monster that is FSU in FSU’s house. Mike London’s seat is blistering at this point, and it only gets hotter after this one. The Cavs are going to get slaughtered here. It would be a huge shock if they stay within 30 points. It’s not going to happen though. Look for Jameis and the rest of the FSU starters to be out of the game by halftime.  Noles BIG in this one.

In Week 12, BYE 


In Week 13, 11/22 vs. Miami (Fla.): L

Way too many weapons for the Cavs to try and stop here. They will have a difficult time, keeping up with the speed of the CANES. Look for a big game out of Duke Johnson in this one. CANES big over Cavs.

In the season finale, 11/28 at Virginia Tech: L

Here we go, yes, it’s a rivalry game in Blacksburg vs the Hokies. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a defensive battle in this one, considering there was only 22 combined points in this game last season. That said, this will be no contest here, and likely Mike London will be canned a few days after this game is over. VT is still king in that state. VT wins handily here to end the Cavs season at a projected 3-9. 

My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:

We just have way too many weapons for the Cavs in this one and with a projected loss to FSU still in our mouths, this is the game to get healthy and well and we will do just that. I believe Duke will have a huge game and we win easily in Charlottesville.

In the 12^th and final part of the 2014 series, I will talk about the Pittsburgh Panthers, our opponent on November 29^th at Sun Life Stadium in the regular season finale.