Georgia Tech will host Virginia for another match-up between the Coastal division foes. The Yellow Jackets were able to win in Charlottesville last season for the first time since 1990. The Cavaliers went on to finish 3-9 and head coach Al Groh was fired. Groh is now the defensive coordinator for Georgia Tech.
So I started to think about this game. New season, new head coach, new philosophy, new environment. I realized I don't know a whole lot about Mike London and this year's version of the Virginia Cavaliers. So I got in touch with Virginia blogger, Lambeth Field, and asked him a few questions about Mike London and the Cavs.
1. Mike London has only been the head coach of Virginia for a short period of time but what has he done so far to change the landscape of Virginia football?
-LF: Wow, how long is your article? I will try to sum it up by looking at the broader points. To preface this point, we have had a very nice beginning of the season. Instead of losing to 1-AA teams, we are beating them like 1-A teams should, which right off hand, is an improvement. The team is still rebuilding (the FSU game is evident) but still a lot of positives.
First off, we washed our hands of the 3-4 defense and went back to the 4-3, which has improved our run defense. Secondly, we have gone back to the pro-style offense we used to run, balancing the run and pass and utilizing the tight end again. The coaching philosophy has done a 180. Instead of it being Al Groh running everything from calling play, to going on recruiting trips, and running the day to day, London has brought in coaches he trusts. So where Al would micromanage, Mike allows his other coaches to do what they need to do as well.
Lastly, a lot of teams talk about "swagger," but I look at it more as allowing the coaches and players to have more fun. There used to be a gag order on all players and assistant coaches. Gone. New uniforms, with different color combinations voted on by players. The "Blue out" (VMI) and "White Out" (FSU) is new and never would have happened over the past decade. All of the above have really changed the culture and attitude of the program.
2. Al Groh's 3-4 defense is a little more complex than your normal 4-3. Talk about the transition the Virginia defense has made going to a simpler 4-3 scheme.
-LF: Well, it's all about the players for the schemes. When you have been recruiting for one, you have immediate holes you have to fill once you switch. Going from 4-3 to 3-4, you need more linebackers and less linemen, as I'm sure you are going through. For us, it's the opposite. We had a slew of linebackers, but only 12 linemen. So what London did was use a technique from his Richmond days, by switching some SS to OLB and OLB to DE. They are a little undersized but very quick and get to the ball and quarterback.
3. The Georgia Tech defense has had a difficult time stopping teams with a balanced attack offensively. Who are the playmakers for the Cavaliers on offense that could give the Tech defense some fits?
-LF: Let me preface these comments in what Groh mentioned in his presser today, saying that our coaching staff and players know how he runs his defense, because they have seen if for about a decade.
With that said, balance is the key for Saturday. We use two running backs with our quicker, outside runner in Perry Jones and our inside bruiser, Keith Payne. The two primary receivers are Kris Burd and Dontrelle Inman. They are capable of the big play but are more comfortable in sound routes going for about 10-120 yards. But the biggest addition this year is the inclusion of the tight end in the passing game. Joe Torchia and Colter Phillips are decent blockers but better pass catchers.
4. Virginia has done a pretty good job containing the Georgia Tech offense the last couple of years with a victory in Atlanta two seasons ago and keeping the game close until late in 2009. How do you see the Virginia defense matching up with Paul Johnson's spread option offense this Saturday?
-LF: The emphasis this week in practice (as every time we play GT) has been on run blocking assignments in the triple/spread option. Our new defensive coordinator, Jim Reid, was the head coach at VMI before he went to the Dolphins, so he is used to seeing the triple option every day in practice.
His keys are making sure the B-back is picked up right away by the DT's and MLB. Secondly, the linebacker on the strong side slides down to the line to pick up the A-back. Lastly, it's all about making the tackles from there. Mentally, we have to understand that GT will be gaining yards on 1st and 2nd down. If it is 3rd and 2, the advantage is in your court. But if it's 3rd and 6, there is a better shot to get off the field.
5. Obviously, things did not end in the Al Groh era. How are Virginia fans feeling about the match-up with their old head coach?
-LF: I have been going back and forth on this point for several months. Groh is and always will be a UVA grad and that gave him a longer leash in Charlottesville, especially with the big alumni donors. But while the "money" of the school was happy, the casual sports fans started to turn on him over the years, to the point of animosity.
While it's not completely fair, it is not without merit. I think that those people have had this game circled on their calendars since February. But with the culture change that Mike London has brought, he is about moving on and leaving the past in the past. If it wasn't for the media bringing the point up every five minutes, people would. At the end of the day, this game and next year's game will be a big deal and then will fizzle out after that, provided that London can show incremental improvement.
On the game, I still don't know how this one will play out. If Virginia plays like they did in the first half of FSU, it will be over quick. But if they can sustain some drives and keep the GT offense off the field, it could be a closer game. But that is easier said than done.
