After losing 24-7 to a solid Georgia Tech team last Thursday, the Cavaliers head down to Durham, N.C. tomorrow to play a win less Duke football team in what would normally be seen as an easy victory. However, this time, the normally stronger Cavaliers are struggling just like their Blue Devil counterparts, who are coming off a bye-week.
While Virginia does have the edge in wins with a record of 1-3, Virginia coach Al Groh sees Duke as an equal match-up this time around.
"There are a lot of similarities between the two teams," Groh said. "I think it's a pretty even match-up and given that Duke has had a lot more time to rest and prepare, as well as the fact that they're at home is probably an advantage for them."
Despite the fact that both teams are struggling, both teams are solid in run defense. However, their pass defenses have been sub-par.
"Both teams have done relatively well on defense against the run," Groh said. "Both teams have probably given up more long passes than they would like to have given up, which has negated some of the good work against the run that both teams have been able to do."
Statistically, the Blue Devils rank sixth in the ACC in rush defense, giving up 88 yards per game on the ground. Virginia ranks ninth, giving up 129.8 yards a game. As for pass defense, the Cavaliers have the edge over the Blue Devils. Virginia ranks fifth, at 174.5 yards per game, and Duke ranks 11th, at 223.7 yards per game.
The offensive woes of the Cavaliers have been well-documented. They haven't scored above 13 points so far this season and rank dead last in the conference for total offense. Duke actually ranks just above the Cavaliers in that category but has had an even harder time than the Cavaliers when it comes to producing points, getting shut out twice this season, once by Virginia Tech and once by I-AA Richmond at home.
For the Cavaliers, this game is a must-win in the midst of a season that features no future opponent as weak as the Blue Devils. This sense of urgency is felt throughout the team.
"You have to play every game like it's the Super Bowl when you're 1-3," junior defensive end Chris Long said.
A win Saturday could also boost the confidences of some of the players.
"When you're 1-3, you want to win as bad as ever," Long said. "This is a game that is necessary to win because a lot of guys would benefit not just from a win but also from a sound performance in execution and doing the things that we know we can do."
The players still don't consider this a rebuilding year and believe that it is up to them to turn the season around.
"As a player, you never accept a rebuilding year," Long said. "Most teams have the tools to compete for their conference championship. It's really just about execution. It's on us at this point. In the end, if this is to be turned around, it's a players' thing to do. The players have to take it upon themselves to make the plays."
The quarterback controversy earlier this season seems to have now fizzled out. Redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell will once again get the start under center after starting against Georgia Tech and starting in the second half against Western Michigan. After a shaky first half against the Yellow Jackets, Sewell wasn't benched by the coaching staff and he performed better in the second half, engineering a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.
"I just feel that my confidence level has gone up knowing that I was able to somewhat bounce back from a bad first half of play against Georgia Tech," Sewell said.
Virginia takes the field at noon tomorrow in Durham and the game will be televised on Lincoln-Raycom television.
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