Marc Verica is the poster child for a new era at Virginia.
After coming from nowhere to be the starting quarterback two years ago, and then being all but discarded last year, the affable senior is back at the controls.
“You couldn’t ask for a better man, a better leader, a harder worker,” defensive coordinator Jim Reid said of Verica, who along with cornerback Ras-I Dowling guided the team through a summer program. “It’s, I believe, the beginning of just a great story for Marc.”
Which would be good for new Cavaliers coach Mike London.
The Cavaliers are coming off a season in which they ranked 118th out of 120 teams in total offense, 112th in rushing and 105th in passing. The offensive anemia also stressed what should have been a serviceable defense, resulting in Virginia’s worst season since a 2-9 mark in 1982 – and Al Groh’s ouster after nine years as coach.
sarily be measured in wins and losses.
“Any part of the season where we’re showing that we’re very competitive, we’re playing with the temperment of the head coach and coordinators, I’ll consider that as a plus,” he said. “At the end of the year, we’ll talk about if we’ve made enough strides or gains to consider the season a plus.”
They have six starters back on each side of the ball – but are largely unproven in the backfield and at receiver.
On defense, Reid is engineering the switch from Groh’s 3-4 alignment to a 4-3, and shifting players around to allow them to take better advantage of their speed.
In summer drills, Verica said, he found many teammates eager to make the most of a fresh start, and to help prove naysayers that expect another poor season from the Cavaliers wrong.
“We want to be under the radar. We want people to underestimate us,” he said.
First on the agenda: Finding an offensive scheme that can be productive.
“I know the numbers,” said offensive coordinator Bill Lazor who, like Reid, left a job as an NFL assistant to join London’s staff. “They’re in the back of my head somewhere. And I know it’s not going to be easy. I was told that when I came, and I didn’t expect it to be.”
So far, his schemes are getting high marks from the players.
that puts players in position to make the most of their abilities.
It also is predicated on being able to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball, not only showing toughness by pushing defenders back for yards, but easing Verica’s burden.
Verica, a senior, is the only quarterback on the team that has ever thrown a pass in a college game, and while he’s had good moments, his 17 appearances have been marked by inconsistency. He’s one of only two quarterbacks in school history – Matt Schaub is the other – to have six consecutive 200-yard passing games, and he led the ACC with a .638 completion percentage in 2008. However, he’s thrown 17 interceptions and just eight touchdown passes.
Besides finding skill players, they also need to replace two starters on the line.
On defense, Dowling is among the best cornerbacks in the nation, and strong safety Rodney McLeod also earned high praise from Reid for his work during the spring, and as a leader.
The strongest unit figures to be the line, led by tackles Matt Conrath and Nick Jenkins, and joined this season by converted linebacker Cam Johnson, a quick, pass-rushing end.
Reid’s focus on aggression plays right into the way Jenkins wants to play.
ebackers to make most of the tackles.
“We’ve got a lot of guys,” Jenkins said, “with chips on our shoulders from last season.”
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