Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Virginia

NC STATE (3-4, 2-2) at VIRGINIA (3-5, 2-2)

DATE: Saturday, October 28, 2006

TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EDT) at Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA (61,500)

RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network.  Airtime: 11:00 a.m. (EDT)

TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)

OPPONENT Jameel Sewell is getting better and so are the Virginia Cavaliers. In a 28-26 loss to Maryland on October 14^th, Sewell had a breakout game. He was 13-of-21 passing for a career-high 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another score and finished with a career-best 92 yards on 10 attempts.

Last Thursday night, on his 19^th birthday and before a national television audience, the redshirt freshman was just as impressive in guiding Virginia to a 23-0 victory over North Carolina. In only his fifth start as a college quarterback, Sewell ran nine times for 40 yards and one touchdown. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 166 yards and wasn’t intercepted.

Better quarterback play has meant better numbers for a Virginia offensive unit that was really struggling on that side of the ball as recently as three weeks ago. In the Maryland loss, the Cavs totaled a season-high 424 yards. They gained 370 against the Tar Heels (0-4, 1-6). The offensive spark triggered some inspired defense as the Wahoos held Carolina to 182 yards and forced three turnovers.

Sophomore cornerback Chris Cook was a factor in two of the take-a-ways. Cook forced a fumble that defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald recovered in the first quarter and he intercepted a pass deep in Carolina territory in the fourth period.

Cook's interception set up a short drive that ended when Jason Snelling ran 5 yards for a touchdown to put Virginia up 23-0. Snelling, a senior tailback, finished with a career-high 131 yards on 19 carries. The Cavaliers outrushed the Heels 194-to-98.

Against the ACC’s worst defense, the Wahoos led only 9-0 at the half. Virginia amassed 192 yards and 10 first downs before the break, but was forced to settle for Chris Gould field goals of 31, 43 and 43-yards. Dropped passes, a problem area for the Cavaliers, hurt them again in the first half.

Virginia got into a better rhythm in the second half. On the Wahoos first possession of the third quarter, Sewell threw to tight end Tom Santi for a 30-yard gain. That sparked a scoring drive that ended with Sewell's 18-yard option run for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead.

There is little doubt that the Cavaliers are playing their best football of the season and Sewell is the biggest reason why. After starting the season with senior Christian Olsen and then junior Kevin McCabe at quarterback, Head Coach Al Groh finally settled on Swell as his signal-caller against Georgia Tech on September 21^st.

Sewell’s performance that night on national television was not impressive. Virginia finished with only 166 total yards and the Cavs were soundly whipped 24-7. However, Groh’s patience with Sewell is now paying off. The athletic left-hander is emerging as one of the ACC’s top dual threat quarterbacks and his numbers bear that out.

In his last two games, Sewell has accounted for 541 total offensive yards and four touchdowns. That’s a big shot in the arm for a Virginia team that averages only 273 yards and 18.8 points a game.

Where Sewell has improved the most is in the passing game. He’s thrown for an average of 210 yards in the last two weeks, 95 yards more than his season average. Ogletree (6-2, 189) has emerged as Sewell’s top target. The sophomore is No. 2 in the ACC in receptions per game (4.5). He leads the Cavs in catches (36), yards (425), and TDs (4). Seniors Deyon Williams and Fontel Mines (6-4, 220, Sr.) are also a big play threats at wideout. Mines has 21 catches, 2 for touchdowns.

The Cavaliers frequently use the tight ends in the passing game. Tom Santi (6-5, 250, Jr.) and redshirt junior Jonathan Stupar (6-3, 254) have combined for 24 catches. Both average about 10 yards per reception.

The improvement is the passing game has helped Virginia run better. Over the last four games, the Cavaliers have averaged 159 rushing yards compared to only 51 in their opening four games of the season.  Snelling has rushed for a combined 407 yards and 3 touchdowns during that span.

The Wolfpack defense will be facing another big offensive line on Saturday. Virginia’s starters average 302 across the front and three players are 6-6 or taller. The most experienced of the group is left guard Brandon Albert (6-7, 315, So.), a second-year starter who was a freshman All-American last season.

Pass protection issues have haunted the Cavs this season. They’ve surrendered 20 sacks. Only Duke has allowed more sacks among ACC teams (28).

Virginia’s defense is allowing 284 yards and a stingy 18.8 points a game (13.0 in ACC games). It’s even better as the field shrinks. In ACC games, the Cavaliers lead the league in Red Zone defense. Opponents score only 60 percent of the time when they penetrate the Virginia 20-yard line.

Like NC State, the Cavaliers have had some issues stopping the run. Virginia is allowing 122 rushing yards a game. The Wolfpack is giving up 145 yards a game on the ground.

Up front, the Cavaliers 3-4 defense is anchored by junior end Chris Long (6-4, 284). The second-year starter and son for former NFL great Howie Long is an All-ACC caliber player. He’s hard to block and averages nearly one tackle for loss a game. Redshirt freshman end, Jeffrey Fitzgerald (6-3, 279), leads the team in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (11). Fitzgerald has the potential to be a future star.

Inside linebacker, Jon Copper (6-0, 232, So.), a special teams player a year ago, is the Wahoos leading tackler (59). Two second year starters, Clint Sintim and Jermaine Dais are the team’s most experienced linebackers and roam outside.

Virginia’s pass defense is ranked No.3 in the ACC (162 ypg.) and has allowed only 6 touchdowns. Third-year starter, Marcus Hamilton (5-11, 198), is one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC. The senior led the ACC with 6 interceptions in 2005 and already has 4 this season. Cook, the other corner, is also having a good year and is the leading tackler in the secondary (44).

Gould handles both punting and placekicking. He’s made 11-of- 16 field goal attempts, but only 4-of-9 from beyond 40-yards. As a punter, the junior is ninth in the ACC with an average of 39.6 and has placed nearly half his punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. 

Junior Ryan Weigand replaced Chris Gould as Virginia's punter against North Carolina. Weigand, who didn't play last season after transferring from a California junior college, averaged 37.7 yards on three first-half punts. Cedric Peerman, a back-up runningback, is a steady kick returner (23.0).

NOTES: The Wolfpack has not won in Charlottesville since 1994, a span of four games...State committed three turnovers in last week’s loss at Maryland after coughing up the ball just twice in the previous three games...Toney Baker’s 95 yard rushing performance against Maryland moved him to ninth in the ACC in rushing in league games (58.5)...Wolfpack kicker, John Deraney, missed the first extra point kick of his college career at Maryland. He is 78-of-79... State linebacker, Pat Lowry, is averaging 8.3 tackles a game and is No.4 in the ACC in stops...State’s offensive line gave up four sacks last week at Maryland. In the previous six games it allowed only 7 sacks...Quarterback Daniel Evans will start his fifth college game against Virginia. He’s seventh in the ACC in passing yards per game (179) in league games and is 2-2 as a starter...In the last two weeks, the Wolfpack is 6-of-6 scoring in the Red Zone with 5 touchdowns...State has not scored on its opening drive of the game this season...The Pack has scored only 12 first quarter points in ’06...Wolfpack opponents have scored on their opening drive in 4 of the last 5 games. NC State’s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...The Pack is 6-4 in overtime games...Against league opponents, State and Virginia are 1-2 in Red Zone offense.  Cavaliers are No. 1 in Red Zone defense in ACC games while the Pack is No. 12.

INJURIES--NC State:LB James Martin-Out, wrist surgery; OL Leroy Harris-Probable, ankle sprain; DE Littleton Wright-Questionable, ankle sprain. VirginiaNone reported.

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North Carolina State University Athletics

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