When the 2009 season came to a close, the dignity of the Virginia football team laid in ruins. Nearly every component of the squad fell short in meeting its preseason goals, a culmination of failures resulting in an abysmal 3-9 campaign. Everyone, that is, but the team's pass defense. The Cavaliers' defensive backfield surrendered just 10 passing touchdowns during 2009 and finished the year ranked fourth in the ACC and 21st in the nation.
Yet when the 2010 season began, some key personnel losses appeared to drag even the pass defense into the depths of despair. Former star cornerback Chris Cook moved onto the pros, junior safety Rodney McLeod went down with a knee injury and senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling - touted as a potential first round draft choice next year - fell victim to a hamstring injury. It quickly became evident that somebody needed to rise to the occasion.
Say hello to Chase Minnifield. The junior cornerback has emerged as one of Virginia's biggest bright spots, leading a thriving secondary that picked up right where it left off last year. Minnifield's 16 tackles rank second on the team, and his three interceptions are tied for the most in the ACC.
"I tell you what, this kid does a lot of stuff for us," special teams and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter said. "He punt-returns. He plays almost every snap on defense. He's a tough guy. He's mentally sharp. It's been awhile since I've been around a kid like him."
Entering the season with just three career starts, Minnifield was more accustomed to special teams than defense. He ended the 2008 season with a team-high 21 kickoff returns and finished the 2009 season with a team-high 20 punt returns for 88 yards and 22 kickoff returns for 513 yards. Kickoff duties were assumed by senior tailback Raynard Horne at the season's outset, but Minnifield's punt return duties remained. His flubbed fair catch during the first quarter of Saturday's game against VMI led to sophomore tailback Perry Jones taking Minnifield's role for the remainder of the contest, but coach Mike London recently confirmed that Minnifield will re-assume that position against Florida State.
In addition to his responsibilities as a punt returner, Minnifield has been a reliable fixture in the secondary. His three interceptions in just three games - including a dazzling 65-yard interception return against Richmond during the season-opener - nearly amount to the four picks he accumulated during his first two seasons. Along with sophomore corner Devin Wallace, he also leads the team with two pass breakups.
Beyond elevating his own play, he also has been instrumental in pushing his teammates to play like champions.
"I'm focused on being more of a leader of the team and in the secondary and on being more of a vocal leader," Minnifield said. "I haven't been a really vocal guy from my first years here. But I realized with Ras-I going down and Rodney going down, somebody had to step up and be a vocal leader. That's kind of the role I've been taking these last few weeks."
The son of four-time Pro Bowl defensive back and former Cleveland Browns star Frank Minnifield, Chase has been conditioned to success on the gridiron from an early age. Beginning when his son was seven years old, Frank got people to film Chase's opponents and teach him how to analyze the tape so that he could adequately prepare for games. Even now, Chase sends his dad film via his cell phone, and Frank critiques him via Skype.
"I think Chase has done an outstanding job of just preparing himself week in and week out," London said. "Obviously being the son of an NFL great, that helps a lot from a technical standpoint of what to watch and just different things about how to play the position. But you'll see Chase watching tape. You'll see him studying the game. And that's something I'm quite sure he gets from his dad Frank. But he wants to be the best. He wants to go against the best."
Minnifield has dedicated himself to studying film more than ever this year, often being the first guy to enter the tape room and the last to leave. Thus far the hard work has paid off - all of his interceptions, he said, have been largely the result of knowing his opponents' tendencies. Yet Minnifield never claims full credit for his success.
"All the glory goes to God for these plays," Minnifield said. "I can't make them by myself."
Minnifield has helped anchor a defense that ranks first in the ACC in scoring defense, second in total defense and third in pass defense so far this season. Next up is the Cavaliers' first conference opponent of the year, Florida State. The Seminoles - led by senior quarterback Christian Ponder - rank first in the ACC in total offense and sixth in passing offense. But with Dowling and McLeod returning to Minnifield's side, the Virginia secondary looks to be more than ready.
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