Adept pass-rushing defensive linemen typically garner more attention from fans than their run-stopping counterparts. It's in the excitement of wrapping up the quarterback on a big sack that can so visibly change the momentum of a game in just one play.
But slowing the opponent's ground game run after run can often frustrate their offensive game plan. In Al Groh's 3-4 defensive system, the effectiveness of the front three linemen can easily be overlooked when those linemen are not making the tackles themselves. Instead, their job is to engage the opponent and drive him into the backfield.
"That's the essence of what the front three guys have to provide to us -- they have to provide power," Groh said. "And they did a good job of that [Saturday]."
Virginia is in the fortunate position of boasting three players in their third year of starting: seniors Chris Canty and Andrew Hoffman and junior Brennan Schmidt. Though only Canty maintains above-average name recognition from fans, all three have registered praise from each other and Groh.
"All three of them demonstrated that they progressed well," Groh said. "They're not just a year older; they're better players."
Canty lauded praise on Hoffman, the group's nose tackle, for his performance against Temple Saturday, but it wasn't for any specific headline-grabbing tackle.
"If you look at the tape, their center was in the backfield the majority of the time," Canty said of Hoffman. "That was pretty amazing. He was making all of the inside zone plays go to the outside where the outside backers and the middle linebackers were able to make the tackle."
Canty's praise of fellow end Schmidt was very similar.
"He did a really good job of keeping the tackles and the guards off of the linebackers," Canty said.
A major reason Virginia's linebacking corps gets so much attention and has such lofty statistics is that the front three are so effective in occupying offensive linemen, thus allowing the backers to roam free and make plays. Though Canty continues to make a phenomenal number of tackles for a lineman -- he has led the ACC in tackles at his position the past two seasons -- it's a result of his pro-caliber athleticism that allows him to go beyond the team's defensive scheme.
"Chris in particular was very effective," Groh said. "He was very physical, very athletic for a 6-foot-7-inch guy. You saw him range to the outside for a number of plays."
Canty made one particularly notable individual effort late in the first quarter Saturday, racing to the flat to disrupt a wide receiver screen to Temple's Phil Goodman and to tackle him for a two-yard loss.
Spectacular plays such as that one have earned Canty recognition in wider circles. He has been named a second-team All-ACC honoree each of the past two seasons, but Hoffman and Schmidt continue to perform in near-anonymity. Clogging the line of scrimmage and creating space for the linebackers just isn't as glamorous as tallying sacks and tackles.
Still, Virginia's pass rush against Temple was dominant, limiting the Owls to just 260 yards of total offense and recording five quarterback sacks. Even more than the sack total was the constant pressure on Walter Washington, who completed just 11 of his 23 passes and was persistently forced out of the pocket. With that level of production, defensive coordinators have certainly taken note, and fans are sure to follow suit.
"Definitely, [the pass rush has] been an emphasis for us this year," Canty said. "Coach Groh thinks we have the best front four rushing the passer in the country. I think I have to agree with him after the performance we had [Saturday]."
Canty, Hoffman, Schmidt and pass-rushing linebacker Darryl Blackstock are as formidable a unit as any in the country. On Saturday, Hoffman finally earned the first statistical evidence of his contributions to the pass rush, notching the first half-sack of his career when he and Marquis Weeks jointly brought Washington to the turf early in the second quarter.
"I was really psyched [for Hoffman]," Schmidt said. "He probably should have gotten one last year against Duke, but they credited it to me. I felt bad about that one."
A statkeeper's error kept Hoffman out of the sack standings an extra year, but his teammates knew nothing like that would slow him down.
"He's got great ability, but what stands out for me is his heart," Schmidt said.
Heart is something none of these three players lack and, if they can consistently match their production from Saturday, they won't lack attention any more either.
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