2010 Record: 4-8 (1-7), Tied 5th ACC Coastal2010 Bowl Game: None
2010 Schedule/Results
Richmond, W 34-13
@ USC, L 17-14
VMI, W 48-7
Florida State, L 34-14
@ Georgia Tech, L 33-21
North Carolina, L 44-10
Eastern Michigan, W 48-21
MIami, W 24-19
@ Duke, L 48-55
Maryland, L 23-42
@ Boston College, L 17-13
@ Virginia Tech, L 37-7
OFFENSE
404.8 yards per game
Marc Verica was the starting QB for the Cavs, and he had tremendous promise, and as far as yard production was concerned, he was quite good. He just couldn't find the consistencey to separate himself as a great passer. Verica passed for 2799 yards, but he was even on his TD to pick ratio with 14 of each on the season. That was never going to push the rebuilding Cavs to the next level. Verica has moved on, and so there will be an open competition in spring which will include Ross Matheny, Michael Rocco, and possibly incoming David Watford. There are several Athletes that could also join the fray as option type players.
Keith Payne and Perry Jones split the carries in 2010, and it worked out ok, but neither ever became great. Payne ran for 749 yards and Jones for 646 yards on the season. Payne was the option in the red zone, as he rushed for 14 TDs compared to just 1 for Jones. As a matter of fact, nobody other than Payne ran for more than one score on the season. That's not good. Jones will be on his own in 2011, as only Torrey Mack has the experience to fill the gap left by Payne. Darrius Jennings may be an option, as will be Clifton Richardson and Dominique Terrell.
The combo of Dontrelle Inman and Kris Burd was as good as any receiving combo in America. INman grabbed 51 catches for 815 yards and Burd had 58 grabs for 799 yards. They combined for 8 TDs on the season. The Duo is broken up now, as Inman has moved on. Matt Snyder (30 for 393) will get first dibbs at replacing Inman. Jared Green and Ray Keys will also find their way into the mix with the other Athletes coming in with the recruiting class. Colter Phillips will return as the starting TE, after a relatively productive season. His top backups all return as well.
The line should be deep in 2011, as 4 starters will return with only OG BJ Cabbell will be departing. There is plenty of depth tp replace him, as Luke Bowanko, Morgan Moses, and Aaron Von Kuiken all return from the depth chart. IN all, 13 players return from the 3 deep in 2011.
DEFENSE
396.1 yards per game allowed
If there was a major criticism of the Wahoo defense, it was that they couldn't stop a girl scout on a cookie sale drive from running on them. UVA gave up 203.7 yards per game on the ground, which leads one to believe that the front seven flat out sucked in 2010.
There was some promise on the line in Cam Johnson, who led the team with 14 TFLs on the season, but nobody else hit double figures there. Zane Parr had 8 on the year, and that led him to throw his name in there for the NFL draft. Bad mistake. Matt Conrath and Matt Jenkins both were underwhelming on the season, but showed flashes at times that they could be better. If it had not been for the departure of Parr, every starting D lineman would be back in 2011. John Kevin Joyce also departs, but he was a non-factor. Nobody got anywhere near double digit sack totals on the line, or the team for that matter.
The LB corps was pretty dead as well in 2010. Nobody on the team had more than 66 tackles, the number belonging to LaRoy Reynolds. Steve Greer and Ausar Wolcott were two and three respectively, but Walcott has been suspended indefinately for an off-campus fight in which he was one of three players charged with assault. Darnell Carter will be the only LB on the depth chart that leaves.
Chase Minniefield led the team with 6 picks on the season, and will return to man his corner spot in 2011. Ras-I Dowling was completely minimized for the entire season, and he was expected to bring big things this season. Rodney McLeod brought 54 tackles from his safety spot, but was innefective against the pass. Devin Wallace was listed as a reserve, but he had 6 passes defended on the season. The Cavs will lose 3 players off of the secondary two deep. Expect incoming freshmen Demetrius Nicholson and Brandon Phelps to press for instant impact minutes.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Robert Randolph ended up being the solid option at PK as he connected on 10 of 14 FGs on the season, as Chris Hinkebein was a disaster having missed 3 of his 4 attempts. Both will return in 2011, with Randolph having the clear path to the job.
Jimmy Howell was as solid as UVA could hope for in their punter. Howell averaged 42.16 yards per punt on the season, and he too will be back in 2011 to give Coach Mike London an area that he can feel good about.
Raynard Horne was the primary kick returner in 2010, and averaged 24.91 yards per return, and he managed to break one free for a score. He is moving on now, and so the job will be fought over between Perry Jones and Torrey Mack.
Chase Minniefield will also return as the primary punt return guy, but I am guessing that he will be pushed by one of the young guns that London is bringing in.
FINAL NOTES
Mike London's first season at UVA as Head Coach could have gone better, and what makes it even worse is that 2 of his 4 wins came against FCS in state schools Richmond and VMI. The schedule will have to toughen up, and London needs to find some playmakers on both sides of the ball, specifically at QB. I don't see the Cavs getting better any time soon.
2011 NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
9/3 William & Mary, 9/10 @ Indiana, 9/24 Southern Mississippi, 10/1 Idaho
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