Some Signs of Life, but Still No W

It wasn't unwatchable this week (well, unless you don't get College Sports TV, one of the only networks to be offered in less households than ESPN U Don't Get It).  For those of you who could watch, you were treated to non-stop cliches from Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's younger brother Akbar, who was "analyzing" the game for CSTV.  O where, o where have you gone, Mac McDonald.

Some thoughts on the game: 

• Al Groh attempted to take control of his own fate this week, ditching parts of the spread while reinstalling more traditional pro sets.  The result was 268 first half yards, an offense that outgained USM for the game, and 25 first downs, six more than the Hoos had in their first two games combined. 
• But Virginia did appear to return to more spread-like playcalling in the 2nd half, particularly in the way they ran the football, to their detriment.  Notably, Cavalier RBs had 13 carries to Sewell's nine in the first half.  Relying more on RB runs also set up play action, including a 69-yard TD bomb to Tim Smith in the first half.  But after a handful of Sewell draws led to a late touchdown in the first half, the Hoos seemed to fall in love with the QB run, to the tune of 14 second half carries for Sewell against only seven RB carries.  It was effective at times (Sewell did finish with 79 rushing yards), but the proof is in the pudding - 27 first-half points to 7 in the second.     
• Hootie aptly noted last week that the Hoos' offensive problems start in the trenches.  The o-line was better against USM, which Hootie attributed to ditching the wider splits usually associated with the spread. 
• The D-line was not.  When Damion Fletcher decided to serve notice that he was the best player on the field, the Cavs' D did little to stop him.  The senior back, who will play on Sundays, finished with 26 carries for 132 yards, but it was his counterpart in the wildcat formation, Tory Harrison, who broke the Cavs' back with a 57-yard touchdown run that proved to be the decisive score.
• The Hoos were helped by some sloppy play by the Golden Eagles early in the game.  A pair of fumbles in their own end, which were more given away than forced, led to a pair of UVA FGs. Unfortunately, the final result would probably have been different if Virginia finished those drives off turnovers with TDs instead of stalling inside the USM 20 and settling for FGs.    
• Welcome back to relevance Jared Green.  Darrell's son had 5 catches for 30 yards.  Four of those catches resulted in first downs.  
• Chris Cook missed the contest with a groin injury. And in what is becoming a familar refrain, Mikell Simpson also missed the game with an injury, this time with a bruised shin.
• Finally, the last two times Virginia had gone 0-2 to start a season, the Cavs won their third game en route to a bowl game berth.  In Groh's second season in 2002, the Cavs lost their first two to Colorado State and Florida State, but rebounded to finish 9-5.  The last time before that Virginia lost its first two was 1987, when George Welsh led the Hoos to an 8-4 mark after dropping a pair to Georgia and Maryland.  Now that the Cavs have broken that trend, its probably time to settle in for a long season ... and ask when basketball season starts.