When the No. 16 Cavaliers travel to Philadelphia tomorrow to face the Temple Owls in the season opener, Virginia's offensive game plan will be a simple one: run the football.
Boasting an experienced offensive line that returns six starters from a year ago and a gifted trio of running backs, it comes as no surprise that Temple will see a lot of Wali Lundy, Alvin Pearman and Michael Johnson.
"We going to pound the rock, of course," Pearman said. "We've been focusing on the running game this camp so far and we're going to do so."
Virginia's pro-style offense will confront Temple's atypical defense, a 4-2-5 setup. The Cavaliers' power game plan should match up well with an Owl defense that features an extra safety instead of the normal three linebackers in a standard 4-3 defensive front. Temple's defense allowed an average of 32.8 points and 429.8 yards per game last season.
One of Temple's bright spots on the defensive side of the ball is the Owls' weak side linebacker, Rian "Goo" Wallace, a returning second team All-Big East player. The 6-foot-4-inch, 245 pound junior ranked sixth in the nation in total tackles and 11th in tackles for a loss last year.
Temple is coming off of a 1-11 season in which its only victory was a 44-36 triumph over Middle Tennessee. However, four of the team's losses were to nationally ranked teams and three were in overtime, including one at the hands of then-No. 12 Virginia Tech, 24-23.
The loss to the Hokies marked the emergence of Temple's current starting quarterback, Walter Washington. The junior rushed for 151 yards against Virginia Tech and averaged 315 total yards of offense in his last three games, all versus nationally ranked opponents.
"We've got to pay special attention to him," Groh said. "This is almost like back in the days of the old single-wing tailback -- a tailback had the ball on every play and it was an exception when he didn't. That's pretty much the case here. I'd say he's pretty close to being the principal runner as well as obviously the only thrower."
Washington will meet a tough Cavalier front seven. Virginia possesses the top-ranked linebacking unit according to The Sporting News and all three Cavalier defensive linemen -- Brennan Schmidt, Andrew Hoffman and Chris Canty -- are entering their third year as starters.
"The thing that worries me the most is that they play smart defense," Washington said. "They have some great linebackers. They're big, strong, and fast -- the typical linebacker that goes to the NFL."
While much of Virginia's defensive scheme will be focused on containing Washington, the Cavalier defenders say they will approach this game like any other.
"Nobody has ever scared me," junior linebacker Darryl Blackstock said. "We've seen all types of quarterbacks, of all different styles, speed, agility and ability. [Washington] isn't any different. Everybody's juiced up about this quarterback. Calm down, let us play."
Tomorrow's noon kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field will be the first meeting between Virginia and Temple. The Owls have a 17-game losing streak against nationally ranked opponents.
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