Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Virginia

NC STATE (2-5, 0-3) vs. No. 21/18 VIRGINIA (7-1, 4-0)

DATE: Saturday, October 27, 2007

TIME: Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,500)

RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network.  Airtime: 3:30 p.m. (EDT)

TELEVISION: ESPNU

OPPONENT Talk about coming out of nowhere! Mikell Simpson, who played only one snap the previous week against UConn had a career night Saturday in Virginia’s 18-17 victory over Maryland at Byrd Stadium.

The redshirt sophomore tailback not only scored the game-winning touchdown on a controversial 1-yard dive into the end zone with 16-seconds remaining, but rushed 16 times for 119 yards and caught 13 passes for another 152.

The performance earned Simpson ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors and powered Virginia to its seventh straight win. Not bad for a guy who was a forgotten man in the Cavaliers’ offense as a wide receiver.

Until UVa’s trip to Maryland, Simpson had only two carries and four receptions in seven games, but opportunity knocked when the injury bug bit two running backs. The Cavs’ leading rusher Cedric Peerman was sidelined three weeks ago with a foot injury and Andrew Pearman had health issues early in the week.

So, Simpson started practicing at running back on Monday, his first snaps at the position since preseason camp. Originally the plan was for Simpson to provide depth for Keith Payne, the only healthy tailback of note left in the stable. He gave the Cavaliers a lot more than that.

Simpson’s 271 yards total offense was the sixth-best in the history of Wahoo football. More importantly, he had 14 touches on the Cavaliers’ nail-biting, 16-play, 90-yard march for the clinching touchdowna drive that featured a pair of instant replays.

The first review-- a ruling on a ball spot for a reception by Simpson-- kept the drive alive. The second came on Simpson’s dive into the end zone which sealed the victory.

Maryland stopped Virginia’s attempt at a two-point play, but back-to-back penalties on Maryland’s kickoff return and its final play secured another close, come-from-behind win for the Wahoos.

Until the end of the game, UVa’s only lead came on its opening drive when Chris Gould kicked a 36-yard field goal.

Trailing 14-3 after short touchdown runs by Maryland’s Keon Lattamore and Lance Ball, Simpson broke free up the middle for a 44-yard touchdown burst--the longest run of his careerto make it a 14-10 game. It stayed that way until 8:53 left in the third quarter when the Terps kicked a field goal to go up 17-10.

The Cavaliers have not scored a third quarter touchdown all season, but managed to make it a 17-12 game when defensive end Chris Long sacked Turner in the end zone in the final seconds of the third quarter.

For the game, Virginia recorded 439 yards of total offense, its highest output of the season. Maryland, which was held to 103 yards passing, finished with 233 yards on 53 plays and had its two-game winning streak snapped.

After 23-3 opening game loss at Wyoming, UVa has won 7 straight games with six of the seven decided by a total of only 22 points. The lone blowout was a 44-14 victory over Pittsburgh.

One of the reasons for Virginia’s good start is its big offensive line. All five starters return, led by junior guard, Branden Albert, one of the best blockers in the ACC. The line averages 6-5, 301 pounds. That’s important for a team that runs 55 percent of the time and has suffered injuries at running back and wide receiver.

Quarterback Jameel Sewell continues to improve after learning on the job in 2006. The extremely mobile redshirt sophomore (6-3, 226) has completed 59 percent of his passes for 151 yards a game. He’s thrown for 7 touchdowns with 5 interceptions and has also run for a TD.

Sewell’s recent numbers have confirmed his improvement. In the last 3 games, he’s averaged 205 yards passing. Against Maryland he was 22-of-35 for 243 yards, a season high. Plus, he’s 14-15 passing for 167 yards in the Cavaliers come-from-behind, game-winning drives the last 3 weeks.

The improvement is the passing game has helped Virginia run better. Over the last 3 games, the Cavaliers have averaged 163 rushing yards, 24 yards better than their current season average.

Unless Cedric Peerman returns from injury, it’s safe to say Simpson will get the bulk of the rushing attempts against NC State with Payne and Andrew Peerman also in the mix.

Sewell’s favorite target is Tom Santi, one of the best tight ends in the ACC. He was the Cavs leading receiver until his ankle injury at Maryland and may not be able to play against the Wolfpack. The other tight ends are also very active in the offense, but don’t have Santi’s speed and ability to stretch the defense. Jon Stupar (6-3, 252, Sr.) and John Phillips (6-6, 255, Jr.) have combined for 34 catches and 3 touchdowns this year.

Virginia throws to the tight ends a lot because its wide receiver corps has been decimated by injuries.

Kevin Ogletree, who led the Cavaliers in ’06 with 52 catches, blew out his knee in spring practice and has seen no game action since. Whether he will return this season is unknown. Another threat, Maurice Covington, missed four games with a broken foot. The situation became so desperate that defensive back Chris Gorham was switched to wide receiver. He’s caught a pass in each of the six games he’s played.

In the Red Zone, the Cavs score 89 percent of the time and have 16 touchdowns in 28 attempts. Overall, UVa averages 327 yards and 22 points per contest.

In addition to a power running game, the backbone of the UVa team is a strong defense that returns 10 starters from ’06 and a solid kicking game.

A big key to the Cavaliers’ success has been its run defense. Since giving up 199 yards on the ground in the season-opening loss at Wyoming, the Wahoos are allowing an average of only 101ypg. and 3.0 yards per carry.

Virginia’s 3-4 defense is tough to run against (113.2 ypg.) because it’s talented and experienced. The anchor up front is senior end Chris Long (6-4, 280). The third-year starter and son for former NFL great Howie Long is a candidate for several national awards, including Defensive Player of the Year. Long leads the ACC in sacks (10) and ranks third in tackles for loss. He’s also broken up seven passes and recorded one interception.

Long and his teammate, redshirt sophomore end Jeff Fitzgerald (6-3, 280), have combined for 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season. Fitzgerald leads the team with 2 interceptions.

Inside linebacker, Jon Copper (6-0, 232, Jr.), a special teams player two years ago, is the Wahoos leading tackler (8.3 per game). Two third-year starters, Clint Sintim and Jermaine Dais are the team’s most experienced linebackers and roam outside.

The secondary returns three veterans, led by third-year starter Nate Lyles at strong safety and free safety Byron Glaspy, a second-year starter. Glaspy, an uninvited walk-on who tried out for the team as an engineering student in ’05, is the Wahoo’s No. 3 tackler.

Virginia’s defense ranks is fourth in the ACC, allowing only 314 yards and 18.4 points. The defense gets even better as the field shrinks. The Cavaliers are No.3 in the league in Red Zone defense. Opponents have scored only 11 touchdowns in 22 attempts.

Gould handles the placekicking. He’s made 11-of-14 field goal attempts and he’s 3-of-3 from beyond 40-yards. He has also punted 13 times for a 36 yard average with 9 punts landing inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Ryan Weigand, a junior college transfer who saw extensive action in ’06, handles most of the punting chores. The senior is having a sensational year and leads the ACC with a 46.4 yard average.   

Vic Hall is one of the top punt returners in the ACC (11.2), while Andrew Peerman is steady returning kickoffs (19.8). The Cavaliers have not allowed a punt or kick return for a touchdown this season. They have had two kicks blocked.

NOTES: Virginia is ranked No. 15 in the latest BCS standings...Saturday’s game will be the first in Raleigh between State and Virginia since 2003 when the Wolfpack won 51-37...The Wolfpack has won 3 of the last four games against UVa at Carter-Finley Stadium, but has lost 13 of the last 19 meetings in the series...Current Virginia offensive coordinator, Mike Groh played quarterback for the Cavaliers from 1991-95 when State coach Tom O’Brien was offensive coordinator there...State remains last in the ACC in turnover margin (-17), but broke-even in the turnover battle last week at East Carolina (2-2)...Darrell Blackman is fourth in the ACC in all-purpose yards, averaging 137 a game, but has only 74 total all-purpose yards in the last two games...Jamelle Eugene has rushed for 164 yards in his last two games and will get his third career start against UVa...Offensive tackle Julian Williams became the eighth Wolfpack starter this season to suffer an injury that will cause him to miss a game when sprained his knee on October 16th...Six Wolfpack starters have undergone knee surgery this season......State has attempted more passes (273) than any team in the ACC except Boston College (308) this season...The Pack is 11^th in the ACC in rushing (91.9) and last in the league against the run (204.4). However, State held ECU to only 72 yards rushing last week...Virginia has yet to score in a touchdown in the third quarter and has only 5 third quarter points all season. State has scored 28 points in the third quarter...Linebacker Ernest Jones leads the Pack in tackles, averaging 10 stops a game...Javon Walker, in his second start at safety, led the Pack with 12 stops at ECU... NC State has scored in 146 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in ACC history...The Wolfpack’s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...State is 6-4 in overtime games... The Pack has broken up 46 passes this season, but has only 3 interceptions...John Dunlap’s eight catches against ECU marked a career high...NC State’s third down defense has been solid, holding opponents to 34 percent efficiency.

INJURIES--NC State: WR John Dunlap (ankle)-questionable; OT Julian Williams (knee) out; LB Lerue Rumph (ankle)-questionable; TB Andre Brown (fractured foot)-out: LS Corey Tedder (broken hand) out for season; RB Toney Baker (knee)--out for season; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. Virginia: TE Tom Santi (ankle)-questionable; FB Rashawn Jackson (hamstring)-questionable; TB Cedrick Peerman (foot)-questionable; WR Kevin Ogletree (knee)-unknown; CB Chris Cook- listed as starter on depth chart.

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