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Virginia football is focusing on the future

Mendenhall era brings new energy, attention to detail

<p>Junior linebacker Micah Kiser, who is switching from a 4-3&nbsp;middle linebacker to 3-4 middle linebacker, is assuming leadership as the defense&nbsp;switches schemes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Junior linebacker Micah Kiser, who is switching from a 4-3 middle linebacker to 3-4 middle linebacker, is assuming leadership as the defense switches schemes.  

The scene at the McCue Center Thursday morning was nothing short of energetic although there was a peculiar combination of coaches yelling, whistles blowing, players shouting encouragement and, in the background, reggae music. There was an acute sense of focus among chaos — which is something a team gaining a new coaching staff after a tumultuous last few seasons needs.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall has already ensured this year’s team will get a fresh start. In fact, he stripped the practice jerseys and helmets of any numbers or Virginia logos. The coach and his staff have emphasized “will before skill,” and many players are already seeing improvement because of it.

“They emphasize that no spot is safe,” sophomore linebacker Eric Gallon said. “They don’t really care about anything that happened last year. They know the players whose names they heard, and they are aware of that. They keep an eye out for those players. But then again, they are going to definitely emphasize will before skill.”

Mendenhall and his staff have made changes across the board, and they demand perfection in every sense — whether in practice drills or in team lifestyles. The players themselves are beginning to notice the difference.

“The tempo runs, the nutrition plans, really buying into this entire process, hydrating the way you need to be, going to sleep when you need to go to sleep — it all matters,” senior center Jackson Matteo said. “Last year at this time, I didn’t feel anything like this. I couldn’t have done this practice today. Now to see that not only are we getting through it but we are excelling, we are doing more than is asked of us, once again, it’s very special to be a part of.”

While the Cavaliers have a renewed work ethic and sense of purpose, many questions about what sort of team will step on the field this fall still remain.

“That’s right where we are now, is determining which player has earned which role, and how much time we will then invest in them,” Mendenhall said. “I would say we are starting to have an idea of that after ten practices. That’s really the next five or four, how many we have left, our focus will be on who plays what role as we scheme and strategize.”

One of those main questions concerns senior quarterback Matt Johns, who started all 12 games for Virginia in 2015. Johns threw 20 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions a year ago, resulting in mixed reactions about the Chalfont, Pa. native. This offseason, quarterbacks coach Jason Beck — who has worked with Mendenhall for the last three years — has helped mentor Johns. But in the spirit of Mendenhall’s approach, nothing is certain. Fellow senior Connor Brewer — who transferred from Arizona last year and served as Johns’ backup — has a fair shot at the position as well.

“I think Matt [Johns] was comfortable with his position last year,” Gallon said. “Brewer has been showing up and pushing Matt, and with a different offense, Matt has to get used to a different scheme. Brewer is from the West Coast, so it’s something he’s a little used to.”

The offensive line will have to adjust to its third coach in three seasons. Garett Tujague — who has been with Mendenhall since 2013 — is taking on the job of straightening up the line. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae — who worked with Mendenhall at BYU for nine seasons — feels confident about the cooperation on offense.

“The better the other 10 guys on offense are clicking, the better the quarterbacks look,” Anae said. “Coach Beck works with those guys really well and I trust what he does.”

One certainty is that the defense is getting a complete overhaul in 2016. The Cavaliers finished last season ranked No. 79 total defense. With the help of assistant head coach and defensive line coach Ruffin McNeill, the young defense will be transformed under Mendenhall’s preferred 3-4 scheme.

McNeill — who came to Virginia after a six-season stint as East Carolina’s head coach — has a mission to improve individual players, such as junior defensive end Andrew Brown.

“I love him, and I also think that he can be one of the best players in the ACC, one of the top players in the country,” McNeill said. “There is a level and a mentality that he’s got to get to. When coach [Mendenhall] brought me here, he said to take Andrew to a place he couldn’t go to by himself. I look forward to that journey with him.”

Brown — the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year — will be a likely starter for the defense, along with junior safety Quin Blanding. The safety earned All-ACC honors last season, and will likely once again be a star player for the Cavaliers. Blanding is expected to fit into the new defensive scheme nicely.

Yet another component of the defense who has been improving rapidly is sophomore safety-turned-cornerback Juan Thornhill. Junior Micah Kiser — who is again expected to make a big impact at middle linebacker — had much to say about his defensive counterparts.

“Juan Thornhill makes plays every day,” Kiser said. “He’s probably one of the most athletic kids on the team, with great ball skills. They moved him to corner, and he’s been doing a really good job there. [Senior nose tackle] Donte [Wilkins] finally got his position now. Quinn is always a rock back there. We have good pieces. We just need to play well together.”

Yet another key defensive piece Kiser mentioned is Wilkins. The Woodbridge, Va. native is expected to play a leadership role in the defense and take on the nose tackle position in the 3-4 scheme after playing defensive tackle in former coach Mike London’s 4-3 alignment.

“He can really be a special player in the nose,” McNeill said. “We can do some things with him movement-wise and space-wise. Donte has been evolving from day one.”

One of the key focuses with this year’s Virginia team is undoubtedly player development, and the Cavaliers are well underway in changing the Virginia football culture this spring.

“I think we’re aware that for whatever reason this program has been close seven out of the last eight years but hasn’t won,” Mendenhall said. “I love detail. I love discipline. I love accountability. I love development. More than anything I love seeing people try hard. I love to develop people through football. That’s what we’re working on.”

The Virginia football team has a lot to focus on in the offseason before Sept. 3 comes around, and the Cavaliers take the field against Richmond. But among the chaos, one thing remains constant.

“We’ve talked to them about ways to win,” McNeill said. “Is it an expectation? Yes. But we also tell them how to do it. One of the ways is discipline and being smart, and understanding that whatever you do costs the team. And it’s team first, last, and always.”

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