UVA opponents have had their pick of ways to move the ball through the first three games of the 2015 season. Run the ball, and you gain 5.1 yards per carry. Pass, you gain 7.5 yards, and complete 63.5 percent of your attempts.
The Virginia D has forced zero – yes, zero – turnovers.
There are any number of reasons why the Cavs are 1-2, but the defense, lack thereof, is at the top of the list.
“No doubt, we need to tackle much better. Arm tackling, side tackling, we need to face people up, tackle them, knock them back, not throw them forward. Those are some of the things,” Virginia coach Mike London told reporters on Monday.
To hear London tell it, the issue is guys on the defense trying to do too much.
“If you’re supposed to stay outside and gap set the edge, then that’s what you’re supposed to do. Don’t feel like you have to make a play, you slip inside. What happens is they take advantage of that,” London said.
“It’s us executing our defense, doing the things that they’re coached to do. If we do those type of things, you give yourself a chance to fill the tunnels to make plays, to set the edge, to make the ball turn back to the inside,” London said.
“A large part of today’s practice, and as we move forward, will be on those things. If we have to simple the defense down, we’ll simple it down, whatever it is in order to give us an opportunity to play better.”
Simple it down, and it’s clear that the big issue is lack of pressure from the front seven, both against the run and against the pass.
UCLA was able to throw at will with no pressure on true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen. Notre Dame was able to attack the A gap with runs from quarterback Malik Zaire and tailback C.J. Prosise that averaged nine yards per carry.
William and Mary was able to do a little bit of both, with running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor gaining 104 yards on 22 rushes and quarterback Steve Cluley going 23-for-36 passing for 226 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
A key heading into Friday night’s game with Boise State will be getting pressure on the quarterback.
“Quarterback hits – that’s fine. The accumulated amount of hits can take its toll,” London said.
“The ability to get to the quarterback is not what we’ve done at this point. And that guy, that pass-rushing guy, we have to define who that guy is, ’cause right now it’s an inside linebacker.”
– Story by Chris Graham
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