Cavaliers Journal: September 5, 2010 - September 11, 2010
Dowling, McLeod start game on bench
Through three defensive series, neither senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling, nor junior strong safety Rodney McLeod has taken the field. Both players missed last week's season-opening win over 1-AA Richmond. McLeod, who is dealing with a left knee injury, was not...
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Steve Yanda
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September 11, 2010; 10:48 PM ET |
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Live from the L.A. Coliseum, it's almost time for Virginia-USC
In its first game ever in the state of California, the Virginia football program will take on No. 16 Southern California in a little less than three hours. The only other time the Cavaliers played a game on the West...
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Steve Yanda
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September 11, 2010; 7:39 PM ET |
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Virginia will see different USC defense Saturday
When Virginia takes the field against No. 16 Southern California on Saturday night, the Cavaliers expect to see a different version of the Trojans defense than they saw on film from USC's season-opening win at Hawaii. The Warriors operate out...
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Steve Yanda
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September 10, 2010; 11:29 AM ET |
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Colter Phillips and his family coping with father's death
Virginia tight end Colter Phillips are still dealing with the death of William D. "Bill" Phillips, who perished in the Alaska plane crash that also claimed the life of former senator Ted Stevens. Read the story, which ran on A1...
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Matt Bonesteel
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September 10, 2010; 9:06 AM ET |
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Poll: How will Virginia fare at No. 16 Southern California
NCAA sanctions might prohibit Virginia's opponent on Saturday -- No. 16 Southern California -- from being eligible for postseason play this season, but that doesn't make the Trojans any less daunting to face. Between a high-octane offense that features quarterback...
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Steve Yanda
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September 10, 2010; 7:45 AM ET |
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Center-quarterback exchange a point of emphasis for Cavaliers
Viewers of Monday night’s matchup between Boise State and Virginia Tech were provided a reminder of just how difficult seemingly simple tasks – such as securely snapping the ball to the quarterback – can be. On the game’s second play...
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Steve Yanda
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September 9, 2010; 12:17 PM ET |
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Tip sheets help Virginia players prepare for travel to West Coast
Today, the Virginia football coaching staff and 67 players will board a west-bound flight that will take them roughly 2,500 miles to Los Angeles. When the Cavaliers land they will be three hours behind East Coast time, and their body...
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Steve Yanda
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September 9, 2010; 10:08 AM ET |
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Lazor's presence beneficial to Verica's development thus far
Early in the second quarter Saturday night against Richmond, Virginia faced a third and one at the Spiders 33-yard line. In recent years, the ensuing play call likely would have been a handoff to the left or right. But when...
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Steve Yanda
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September 9, 2010; 7:51 AM ET |
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Impressions on new Virginia uniforms: What did you think?
When Virginia took the field Saturday night at Scott Stadium, the Cavaliers were sporting their new orange jerseys with blue pants. The reaction in the press box was mixed. Some reporters thought they looked decent; others thought they were hideous....
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Steve Yanda
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September 8, 2010; 2:16 PM ET |
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Mike London looks for Cavaliers to create more pressure against Trojans
Take away Richmond’s 70-yard touchdown run* in the first quarter against Virginia on Saturday night, and the Cavaliers held the Spiders to 74 yards rushing. Granted, Richmond was forced to pass more in the second half because it was trailing,...
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Steve Yanda
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September 8, 2010; 1:33 PM ET |
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Mike London clarifies Rodney McLeod's status
During a Tuesday press conference, Virginia Coach Mike London was asked about the health of junior strong safety Rodney McLeod, whose injured left knee prevented him from playing in the Cavaliers' season-opening win Saturday over Richmond. As was reported here,...
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Steve Yanda
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September 8, 2010; 11:47 AM ET |
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Mike London impressed with Southern California's team speed
Virginia Coach Mike London spent a good amount of time during his Tuesday press conference talking about what he's seen on film thus far of his team's next opponent, No. 16 Southern California. The quick summary: The Trojans are big,...
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Steve Yanda
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September 8, 2010; 10:02 AM ET |
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A more reliable Trey Womack takes on bigger role in Virginia secondary
When first-year Coach Mike London took over the Virginia football program last winter, he met individually with each player on the roster and the message was not always the same. Take fifth-year senior strong safety Trey Womack, for instance. Womack...
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Steve Yanda
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September 8, 2010; 7:58 AM ET |
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Mike London on USC secondary: 'They're young and they're fast'
The Southern California secondary that Virginia quarterback Marc Verica will face Saturday is not as vaunted as others in recent Trojans history. After the 2009 season, USC had to replace all four starters from a defensive backfield that collectively had...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 4:00 PM ET |
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Mike London addresses special teams concerns
For the first three quarters of Saturday night's game against Richmond, the Virginia offense on average started its drives from its own 25 yard-line. Conversely, the Richmond offense on average started its drives through the first three quarters from its...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 2:51 PM ET |
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Rodney McLeod drops down depth chart, will make Southern California trip
Junior strong safety Rodney McLeod will travel with the Virginia football team to Southern California despite continuing to deal with a left knee injury that caused him to sit out Saturday's season-opening win over Richmond. McLeod, typically a starter, was...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 1:42 PM ET |
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Virginia offensive line passes first test, displays sought-after physicality
One of the biggest question marks for the Virginia offense heading into the start of the season was how well its offensive line would hold up. The Cavaliers allowed an ACC-high 41 sacks last season and had to integrate three...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 12:29 PM ET |
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Keith Payne 'nonchalant' after four-touchdown performance
As an exuberant Virginia football team poured into the home locker room at Scott Stadium after defeating Richmond on Saturday, the Cavalier who’d turned in the most noteworthy performance never wavered from his oddly subdued demeanor. “It was quite amazing...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 11:22 AM ET |
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Bill Lazor: Verica 'seemed very much in control' against Spiders
On a second and seven at the Richmond 15 yard-line with about seven minutes left in the third quarter Saturday night, fifth-year senior quarterback Marc Verica completed a pass to junior wideout Kris Burd that would have been good for...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 10:11 AM ET |
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Plenty of first downs to come by for Cavaliers
It took the Virginia offense three games last season to amass the number of first downs the Cavaliers compiled Saturday night against Richmond. Virginia tallied 22 first downs in its 34-13 win over the Spiders. In 2009, the Cavaliers recorded...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 9:07 AM ET |
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Virginia's duo at middle linebacker proved complimentary against Richmond
Virginia junior Aaron Taliaferro got the start at middle linebacker Saturday night against Richmond, though he and sophomore middle linebacker Steve Greer saw considerable playing time throughout the night. Taliaferro was involved in many of Virginia’s nickel packages, while Greer...
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 8:04 AM ET |
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Virginia wideouts Dontrelle Inman, Kris Burd impress in season opener
Prior to Saturday night’s 34-13 win over Richmond, Virginia had not had a player tally 100 or more receiving yards since Oct. 4, 2008. On that day, Kevin Ogletree recorded 100 receiving yards against Maryland in a 31-0 Cavaliers win....
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Steve Yanda
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September 7, 2010; 7:01 AM ET |
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Mike London on health of Dowling, McLeod: 'It remains to be seen'
Virginia Coach Mike London said in a teleconference Sunday night that he was unsure whether senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling or junior strong safety Rodney McLeod -- both of whom are starters -- will be available to play this week when...
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Steve Yanda
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September 5, 2010; 7:21 PM ET |
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Virginia 34, Richmond 13: Three up, three down
For nearly a half-century, no first-year Virginia football coach came away from his debut victorious. Saturday night, Mike London halted that streak. The Cavaliers beat 1-AA Richmond, 34-13, in front of an orange-clad crowd announced as 54,146 strong. There were...
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Steve Yanda
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September 5, 2010; 7:27 AM ET |
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