Put up or shut up

This is the first of what will always be a rare occurrence on this blog - a baseball post. I simply don't know enough about the sport to feel that I can actually add something to the conversation.

It's kind of like my knowledge of the Spanish language - I can communicate just fine with someone who can barely speak it, like me. But once I try to speak to someone who is fluent in Spanish, I just feel like an idiot. For this reason, you'll probably never find an in-depth preview or recap on this site. I have nothing against the sport; I just grew up with lacrosse, which took baseball's place in the spring. Thankfully, UVa has a pretty good lacrosse program too.

Regardless, this post is simple. I am kind of piggy-backing off of a post on Wahooze from a week ago, but I feel it hit the nail right on the head. It's time to put up or shut up for Virginia baseball.

Don't get me wrong, 44-13 is a fabulous record. And 29-3 at Davenport is even better. And it was just about a month ago that we were No. 1 in all four major polls. But none of this means anything without a trip to Omaha.

Maybe things would be a little different if we had fared well in the ACC tournament (and by fared well, I mean won). But going 1-2 simply isn't good enough for the talent on this squad.

After reading an article by Doug Doughty at the Roanoke Times, I wonder if this squad simply just got too confident before the ACC tournament. We certainly could not go in thinking it would be easy, but perhaps we thought it would be easier than it should be. This is purely speculation, but by having so many prospects that will be drafted next week, it seems obvious that the tournament wasn't the only thing on a lot of players' minds.

Perhaps such a loss will serve as a wake-up call for us. We know we're not invincible. And thankfully we are still a national seed (No. 3) and will host a regional, with the first game being against Bucknell (30-19-1) on Friday. It kind of reminds me of the basketball team's loss to Maryland to end the regular season. Maryland was not a terrible team, but they were a team we should have beat. Still riding high off the Syracuse win, we just weren't mentally ready for that challenge. But you know how the story ended. We didn't lose another game until the heartbreaker against Michigan State in the Sweet 16.

The difference between these two teams, though, is that the basketball team still brought back the hardware - an ACC regular season and ACC tournament championship. To make it even sweeter, we can add 2014 to the Sweet 16 banner in JPJ.

The baseball team, however, has brought back squat. Regular seasons simply mean nothing without some resemblance of a trophy. Take the 2012 Broncos in their first year with Peyton Manning. People forget how good that team was. Their season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens. People remember the Ravens-49ers Super Bowl because it was the championship. But no one remembers that Broncos team.

Without a trip to Omaha, I would say that this season was a disappointment. Not necessarily because of the team's on field performance, but because there will be nothing to remember this run by. People will just remember 2014 as one of the years that O'Connor fielded a good team. We want more than that. And this team deserves more than that.

My go to man for quotes is Vince Lombardi. Perhaps my favorite quote of his was, "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"

Virginia, it's time to put up or shut up. Cement your legacy. Take us to Omaha.

Sizing up UVa's 2014 NFL draft picks

With most NFL teams beginning their OTAs on Tuesday, I thought this might be a good time to assess our new Wahoo alumni in the NFL. For the 31st consecutive season - dating back to 1984 - a Cavalier was selected in the NFL draft. Following last year's draft where only Oday Aboushi was selected, three Virginia athletes were selected this year - Morgan Moses to the Redskins in the third round, Brent Urban to the Ravens in the fourth round, and Luke Bowanko to the Jaguars in the sixth round. In addition, Jake Snyder was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

Morgan Moses

Moses came to Virginia as a highly touted tackle, and at least according to NFL scouts, he lived up to expectations. He received lots of hype in the pre-draft process, with draft gurus such as Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay pegging him as a first round pick. Moses even attended Radio City Music Hall for the draft.

Sadly, he fell. Not to the second round, but to the third round. To me, this felt about right in terms of talent. I don't think he has the quickness to play left tackle - by far the most important position on the line - in the NFL. Viewed almost exclusively as a right tackle, his stock was bound to fall. I honestly saw him as more of a guard before his senior season, but his athleticism at left tackle this year convinced me - and NFL teams - that tackle was his more natural position.

In Washington, he was slotted immediately at right tackle - to no one's surprise. He will compete with veteran Tyler Polumbus for the starting job. Despite his pre-draft hype, according to ESPN Redskins beat writer John Keim, don't expect Moses to win that battle - at least not immediately. He will need to learn the zone blocking scheme in Washington. That takes time. Also, I always questioned his quickness at UVa. Once he got his hands on you, you weren't going anywhere. But speed rushers were always a challenge. If he can keep his weight at around 315 pounds (which he was at the combine, down from his 335-350 pound days at Virginia), he should be able to make the adjustment and surplant Polumbus in 2015.

Brent Urban

Despite his production at UVa - especially during his senior season - Urban played out of position for the majority of his career. The Canadian was recruited under Groh to be a 3-4 defensive end. After his firing, Urban played London's first year as a 4-3 end. It was not until his second year with London that he was moved inside, where he flourished. At 6-7 and 295 pounds, he is the perfect mold for a 3-4 defensive end. In a 4-3 system, he simply is too tall to play inside and too slow to play outside in a NFL system.

He comes to the Ravens where he will return to a 3-4 end. In fact, he will likley back up former UVa star Chris Canty. According to ESPN, Urban might spell the end for the elder Wahoo. Canty is 31, and underperformed last season, registering just 2 sacks. I would argue that - if healthy, which might be Urban's biggest weakness - Urban could match that performance his rookie season. The Ravens will likely give Canty at least one more year, but if Urban shows he can produce, Canty will be out for a much cheaper second year player in Urban for 2015.

Urban is great against the run, although he could be a better pass rusher. In a 3-4 defense, though, that's not exactly a necessary trait. Yes, he should pressure the QB. But his primary job as a five-technique will be to occupy blockers while the faster, more athletic outside linebackers provide the primary heat off the edge. This plays to Urban's strengths. His long arms that enabled him to lead the nation in batted passes among lineman - despite missing four games - are another added bonus. When I look at Urban, I see a future starter, possibly as soon as next season.

Luke Bowanko

Bowanko played every position on the interior o-line at Virginia. His sophomore year he played right guard. Junior year he played center. Senior year he started at left guard before moving back to center four games in. This versatility is a big reason why he was drafted.

It's tough to evaluate interior offensive lineman, at least for me. Unless they are getting beat every down, they kind of get lost in the play. Not that they're not important - because they are - but it's simply much easier to see a receiver that drops balls, or a quarterback that misses open throws, or a tackle that gets beat off the snap. You get the point. So for me, I can't really give him a huge endorsement, but I can't really criticize him either.

The Jaguars will insert him right away into the center battle, where their starter from last season has left the team. He will also provide depth at guard. ESPN says he lacks quickness and strength, and is likely headed towards the practice squad. I think this is an accurate assesment - especially after watching Aaron Donald destroy us against Pitt. However, I think he is more athletic than people give him credit for. In the right system - perhaps one with zone concepts - he could be effective.

I'm not going to act like I know what will happen in Jacksonville, because let's be honest, no one in that organization has shown any resemblance of competence in the past decade. However, I struggle to see Bowanko catch on as a long-term starter. I never thought of him as a stud at UVa and was caught off guard to hear his name called in the draft. That being said, he could develop into a starter in a few years. Interior offensive lineman are among the most easily replaceable positions. Whatever happens, though, will take several years to unfold.

Jake Snyder

At 6-4 and 270 pounds, it is tough to find a position for Snyder in the NFL. He could be a weakside 4-3 defensive end, but I don't think he is quick enough for such a role. For a strong side defensive end, he is a little small at 270 pounds. He would need to add at least 10 pounds I would think.

At Virginia, he was a three year starter - always at the strong side position. This basically means he lines up in front of the right tackle, and is used primarily as a run-stuffer instead of a pass rusher. For example, he played opposite Cam Johnson his first year as a starter and then Eli Harold the next two. Johnson and Harold were there to get sacks. That's not to say Snyder never pressured the QB, because he did. He finished with 5 sacks in his career. But his 17.5 tackles for loss in the run game will be more what he is remembered for.

To be completely honest, I just do not see Snyder in the NFL. Stranger things have happened, but he is one of nine defensive ends competing for probably four or five roster spots. A strong training camp and preseason can work wonders, but I feel - at best - he's hoping for a spot on the practice squad.

As a side note with Snyder, I do want to recognize his accomplishments in the classroom. Snyder was consistently on the honor rolls and the ACC All-Academic Teams. I saw him multiple times outside of the classroom last year talking to professors on the way to class. Not to be stereotypical, but that's not  the normal football player. He graduated with a degree in environmental science and a masters in educational psychology. Based purely on academic honor rolls, he graduated with at least a 3.2 GPA. I wanted to congratulate Mr. Snyder on both his on and off the field achievements at the University. He was truly a student-athlete.

So out of this draft class, I see two definite long- term starters, and one potential starter down the road. Considering this team won 2 games last year, that's not half bad. To spin it another way though, this just goes to show the inabilities of London and his staff. We have NFL talent on our team, yet we couldn't win one single conference game last season. I guess this gives away my stance on the coaching staff, but I will get into that more later. For now, it's just time to wish these rookies the best of luck as they attempt to fulfill their lifelong dreams of playing in the NFL.

Basketball assistants here to stay

Well, as you may have head by now, Whitey Reid of the Daily Progress is reporting that UVa basketball assistants Ritchie McKay, Jason Williford, and Ron Sanchez have all received contract extensions that will keep them in Charlottesville for the next few years. Check out the article here.

McKay is the associate head coach. He was extended for five years until the 2018-2019 season. He was the head coach at Liberty prior to joining UVa in 2009. Williford and Sanchez's new deals both run through 2017-2018.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having McKay not only return, but return for several years. He is an integral part of the staff and is Bennett's right hand man. Just check out this article from March in the Washington Post. There was speculation that he might move on from Charlottesville and look for a head coaching position. I'm sure some were available. But why leave a program that still seems to be rising? This fact - and probably the money (over $300,000 per year) - kept him in Charlottesville.

Now, I do not want my overwhelming endorsement of McKay to be seen as a lack of confidence in Tony Bennett. I think in 5 or so years, Bennett's name will compete nationally with Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski for the best coaches in the ACC. His pack-line and ability to get the most out of often times inferior talent is spectacular. I mean, we dominated Syracuse and beat Duke - and I didn't see any McDonalds All-Americans on our roster. Bennett would probably continue his success without McKay.

That being said, why risk messing up this program? McKay is clearly an integral part, and continuity is key. Look at the New England Patriots. With Tom Brady at the helm, I would argue they wouldn't miss much without Bill Belichick. But it would be ridiculous to just let Belichick walk. Continuity wins championships.

These guys have worked together now for several years, and I only expect continued success. Here's to hoping Tony Bennett's extension isn't too far behind.

Lacrosse Season in Review

For the third straight year, our season ended in disappointment by our standards - no final four appearance. Don't get me wrong, this season could have been a lot worse. A 10-6 record is very respectable, especially considering our strength of schedule. We beat Loyola, Syracuse, North Carolina, and Johns Hopkins. That alone should give us a little pride.

But my biggest regret from the 2014 season was our ineffectiveness in conference play. For Virginia, 1-4 just isn't good enough. Not for a 5-time national champion. Not for a 17-time ACC champion. Not for a team that boasted six All-Americans. It just didn't feel right for a Cavalier men's lacrosse team not to be competing in the ACC tournament. It's not like we were being blown out (with the exception of Notre Dame, which lost in the national championship today). The talent - for the most part - was there. But it was inconsistencies that plagued this team. Freshman goaltender Matt Barrett had his obvious ups and downs. The defense would look great at moments, and then give up a 9-goal run to Loyola or an 8-goal run to Johns Hopkins. The offense would put up points, but shot accuracy wasn't always there (see our 15 goals on 53! shots vs. Duke).

Ultimately, I think we fell victim to our own lofty expectations. This team simply was not going to make a deep playoff run. Not with a freshman in goal and such inconsistencies on both ends of the field. Coach Starsia said after the Duke game that the team was close, but a full, complete game was simply never put together. Here is some analysis of unit performances.

Attack

For the most part, the attack was the strength of this team. Mark Cockerton led the way with 63 points including 47 goals. James Pannell had 39 goals. And Owen Van Arsdale led the team with 27 assists. Our starting three provided the team's top-three point scorers.

Cockerton will obviously be missed, though Pannell and Van Arsdale should combine with Ryan Lukacovic for another strong unit next season.

In my opinion, what was missing was a truly dynamic scorer - a player that could truly take over games. I'm definitely getting greedy here. After all, only a few of those exist per season. Think Duke's Jordan Wolf and the Thompson brothers at Albany. But after having attack lines that included Matt Ward, Ben Rubeor, Steele Stanwick, and Chris Bocklet among others, I would like to see another heroic scorer join the orange and blue clad squad.

Cockerton added a different, Canadian-like dimension, and Pannell is a similar scorer to Bocklet. But Van Arsdale will need to take the next step to truly elevate this group. His assists are great, but he simply needs to be a more consistent scorer for the unit to ascend from good to elite.

Midfield

Let's start with defensive midfield, where despite big names such as Blake Riley and Chris LaPierre, the unit still had its struggles. Like I said above, this was not due to lack of talent, but inconsistency. Both Riley and LaPierre will be sorely missed next season (remember the 2013 team without LaPierre?). Both added a certain toughness to the team - especially on ground balls (where LaPierre had 50). Here's to hoping Starsia has molded others to take their place.

On the offensive side, I thought we lacked two things: 1) a true dodger and 2) depth. The great Virginia teams had a middie that could create his own offense. Think Colin Briggs here. This team had some shooters in Emery and Tucker, but they were never seen as threats to dodge. Without this element, I will always question the strength of the unit. Greg Coholohan and Zed Williams might bring this dimension next season though.

As for depth, we just did not have it. We had guys we could plug in, but they were never threats to score. I think back to the 2011 season when the Bratton twins were kicked off the team. We had guys step up. In the semifinals against Denver, Briggs was suspended, meaning we had three completely new starting middies from just a month before. And we dominated that game. Without midfield depth, this team won't make a deep run. I'm not saying the second unit has to be filled with all-stars, but it needs guys that can spell that starters and still keep the defense honest. Remember John Haldy? That's depth. I'm not sure if these guys are on the team now, which increases the need for a strong recruiting class.

Defense

The starting three had all the talent in the world. Between McWilliams, Scales, and Danseglio, it's tough to ask for more talent. But again, it was their inconsistencies. Some of these might have been pronounced by Barrett's struggles in the cage, but the bottom line is they didn't perform up to their ability. Often times they were slow on slides or looked confused running through picks. Too often shooters were left open on the crease. McWilliams will be a big loss, but there is still enough talent to have an effective unit, especially if Barrett improves.

Speaking of Barrett, he obviously did not have the best season. However, I do not want to put too much of the blame on him. It takes times for goalies to develop. Facing 90 mph rips from a shooter or two in high school is one thing, but facing those shots from everyone on the field really throws the goalies into the fire. His .467 save percentage definitely could have been better, but remember that even Matt Ghitlteman was no stud his freshman year (.497 save percentage). Ultimately, like the rest of the team, he was inconsistant (sense a theme here?). But I fully expect a much better effort next season.

Specialists

Let's start with faceoffs, where junior Mick Parks won 51% of his attempts. Yes, that's more than half, but remember he also faced far inferior talkent in many games (like going 8-11 against VMI). For the most part, this was not a weak area, but definitely an area that can be improved. I still have nightmares about Parks' 13-33 performance against Duke. Their guy is one of the best in the country, but winning just 40% at the X will lead to a 17 goal performance. The wing play could take a dip next season without LaPierre, which could further hurt Parks' numbers. While I am complaining about this unit, let's remember that even our great, national championship teams never had great faceoff guys. If Parks' can keep his pace - and hopefully improve a little - elevated play in other areas of the field should keep us more competitive.

Now let's get into clears - what have always been a strength of Starsia coached teams. However, this year we finished at 85% - good for 44th in the country. A number of factors contribute to this, especially starting a freshman goalie. Again, the speed of the game is so different at the collegiate level that they don't see the field as quickly as they should. That's not to put all the blame on him because our midfielders certainly didn't have the best season either. LaPierre lived up to his "one-man clear", but no other middie could be counted on to take the ball up field. This is partly due to what I mentioned earlier - we didn't have a middie that can dodge. Emery and Tucker have cannons, but carrying the ball is not their strength. And it normally isn't for the defensive midfielders either. This area will require a total team effort to improve, although I do think Barrett's maturity alone will reap benefits.

Conclusion

What I hope my overarching theme here is that this season was not a complete disappointment, but it certainly left something to be desired. We did improve from the 2013 season, which is a step in the right direction. But as Virginia lacrosse fans, we're not looking for improvement. We're looking for not just conference, but national competitiveness. It looked like we could be that way earlier in the season, especially after jumping to No. 2 in the rankings. Unfortunately, we just never put together a complete game, and that cost us against the Marylands, Dukes, Notre Dames, etc. of the lacrosse world.

As for next season, I see improvement. Probably not enough to be talking final four right now, but who knows. No one expected that 2011 squad to make a run in the NCAA tournament, much less win it all. Barrett's experience should pay dividends, as should a more mature midfield unit. Our biggest need is a true dodger that can consistently beat his man one-on-one and draw double teams. He does not have to dodge like the Bratton twins did, but the ability to just get a step on your defender will open up all sorts of feeding options off the slides. I'm hoping that Zed Williams can be this guy, but only time will tell. Overall, I have confidence that Starsia can get this group together and make a deeper run next season.

Welcome to Wahoo Nation!

Hello everyone and welcome to Wahoo Nation. As a longtime member of the Cavalier faithful, I finally felt inspired enough to share my opinions - that is what this blog is for. I will give my thoughts on all things related to Virginia athletics, although I will admit, I am heavily biased towards football and basketball.

I am a current student at UVa, so I hear a lot of information regarding our athletic programs. Hopefully this will translate into some good posts. My goal is to get up a few posts per week, although I will make no promises. With student life among other things, there might be a few dry spells. But as I have found throughout my life - there is always time for Virginia sports.

On a side note, I admit to not being too proficient with technology. Computers just are not my thing. That's why this blog might not be the most pristine site on Internet. Let's just hope my creativeness and ability improves as I continue this blog.

Well Wahoo Nation, that's all for now. I'll get up a few posts this week with some real UVa sports content. As always, go hoos!