Tomorrow's game against Richmond presents more questions to the Virginia football team than the Riddler left for Batman.
How will the Cavaliers respond to the loss of running back Antwoine Womack? How will they rebound from the opening loss? What problems will Richmond's tricky offensive and defensive schemes cause?
The most glaring concern for Virginia (0-1) will be replacing the injured Womack. Stepping in for Womack will be junior Arlen Harris, who rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries against Wisconsin. Coincidentally, it was Womack who replaced an injured Harris early last season.
"Any time you lose a player like that it's a significant difference," sophomore quarterback Matt Schaub said. "He's a great player and does a lot for us, but we have other guys that can do the job and run just as well."
Harris won't be the only new starter on offense. Coach Al Groh decided to start sophomore Bryson Spinner at quarterback this week. After two impressive scoring drives against Wisconsin, Spinner will be replacing Schaub as the signal-caller.
On the other side of the ball, Virginia's defense will have to deal with a Richmond offense based on the option running game and trickery.
"I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what the offense is so I can see the intricacy of how much time was involved and the intricacy of the design in putting it all together and how it all fits," Groh said.
Because Richmond's offensive game plan does not resemble any other scheme the Cavaliers will face, the Virginia defense will have to make a quick study of the complicated Spiders attack.
"They kill any continuity that we might have had with our systems," Groh said. "It's like starting all over. I think we're just going to have to come up with a game plan scheme which I don't like doing because it breaks the continuity and the development of the team."
Instead of a chance to improve upon the schemes in place, the Cavaliers will just have to make the best of the situation.
If nothing else, the game will show Groh and his staff how the Cavaliers rebound from a disappointing loss to open the season. Last year, Virginia lost its opener, 38-35, to Brigham Young and bounced back with a 34-6 defeat of the Spiders the following week.
"We're just going to have to concentrate on Richmond this week and get ready for that game," Schaub said. "We need to work through some of the things we did wrong and keep doing the things we did right."
Even though Richmond has only scored two touchdowns against Virginia in the last 55 years, Groh would prefer another game in which the Cavaliers could improve on their own scheme.
"Actually, I'd rather play Wisconsin again this week," he said.
Unfortunately for Groh, it's not the same bat time or same bat station.
Read More
Virginia baseball boasts the best catcher in the country — a Division III transfer
By Xander Tilock | 5 hours agoFerence has replaced Teel admirably, and will look to lift Virginia back to the College World Series.
Lacrosse defenseman Cole Kastner announces transfer to Stanford basketball
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayKastner is reviving a hoops career that has lain dormant since he graduated high school.
Virginia gets second Notre Dame rematch in a dynamic ACC Tournament bout Friday
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayThe Cavaliers will get a shot at redemption against a vaunted ACC foe, in a game with serious postseason seeding implications.
