So, yeah. I guess it was about time I write something about this utter collapse of the football season -- and one would think Mike London's career.
Listen, the first half of our schedule was tougher than that of most teams. Still, we had two guaranteed wins against Richmond and Kent State. We had another should-win in a night-game against Pittsburgh. And then we got lucky and beat Louisville.
And we made it through at 4-2. Great. But what did that tell us? Not much, unfortunately.
Just like the beginning of last season, the defense was swarming to the ball carrier and forcing turnovers. It was truly a difference-making unit.
But then what happened? We started facing more diverse offenses in the ACC schedule. Outside of BYU (who still had Taysom Hill at the time), every team we played used a pro-style, three receiver offense. That plays to our strengths -- we get Canady in the slot, Mike Moore over with Dean at DT, and then two pretty damn good bookends in Harold and Valles coming after the QB.
And then the ACC schedule hit. We faced the hurry up offense of Duke, the lightning-bolt scoring abilities of UNC, and then the dreaded triple option -- which although it runs basically five plays, our defense consistently looks dazed and confused.
As for the offense, it was never really that good. Sure, we had some receivers come up with jump balls (Gooch, in particular) and then a decent emergence from Severin, but are any of these guys difference makers? There's no outstanding ball-skills, no blazing speed, and now not even really size or leadership with Gooch out.
While doing their best, the o-line just isn't talented enough to deal with constant injuries and open up holes for the backs.
Oh yeah, and regardless of which QB plays, we're basically guaranteed to watch two bad interceptions, at the very least.
So here's my take: it all comes back to the coaching.
Why don't we have talent at o-line or receiver? Poor recruiting.
Why do we see the same type of interceptions every season (anyone else notice how Lambert's pick by the D-lineman against UNC was a mirror image of Rocco's vs. Penn State)? Poor fundamentals, which comes back to poor coaching.
Why is the defense all of a sudden surrendering 30ish points per game? They're not ready or deep enough for these diverse offenses. Poor coaching and poor player development.
I just can't stand the thought of thinking back to the Groh days in the early 2000s anymore. When I say that was the last time we were respectable, that's embarrassing. I'm not proud of that. I mean, the last time we had a consistent winning-tradition, Marques Hagans was still the quarterback.
I don't think there are too many people who still have hope that Mike London can salvage this season.
I'd get it if maybe we were playing close to teams that we're better than us, and we were just short. We had something to build on from week to week.
But that's not how it's been. As we've all grown well too accustomed to, it's quite the opposite. We either outplay the opponent yet still find a way to lose, or we come out with no heart, no focus, and no passion (cough, cough, Georgia Tech).
I don't know how to fix these problems. Is it something the bye-week will solve? I doubt it, especially considering we're 0-3 after our last bye.
Maybe the defense can get their act back together, but while the point totals have been higher, it's not like their play has been terrible. Let's face it -- a couple of UNC's touchdowns were just perfectly executed plays or perfectly timed throws. Hell, the deep UNC touchdown in-front of the student section was one of the pretties throws I've ever seen.
But it comes back to the offense, and in particular, their half-time adjustments (or lack thereof). Unless you're scoring points like Oregon, it's pretty much impossible to win without second-half touchdowns, especially when the other team has made and is executing their adjustments. You can even go back to Louisville and Pitt and see terrible second-half offensive execution.
I don't want to sit here and beat a dead horse -- we know what our problems are. So does the coaching staff. Problem is: they can't fix them.
Coaches are there to improve the players and their execution. Simply put, that hasn't happened.
What the future holds: I don't know. But here's what I do know: if we want a successful, winning program, changes must be made, and they start at the top.
I'm not going to get into possible candidates because I couldn't tell you (although http://wahooze.blogspot.com/ might be able to). But we need big changes -- I'm talking culture changes, not just coaching.
We need a team that gets fans excited so players aren't running out of the tunnel against a ranked team to see the stadium half empty. We need excitement back in Charlottesville.
Just like basketball a few years back, we have the resources to make that happen. So it all comes down to the athletics office making the right decision. Presumably -- to bring in the right new staff.
If they can't make that happen, get ready for another five-years of losing. It's the Virginia way.
*NOTE: To date, just for the record, I've been a perfect 9-0 thus far on my preseason win-loss predictions. But I also have us beating Miami and Va. Tech to get bowl eligible. It wouldn't surprise me if we still beat Tech, despite the curse or why ever the hell we can't beat that damn school, but I did not anticipate Miami being as good as they are. Duke Johnson's speed kills, and I just don't see us containing him (at least to the point where our offense can keep pace).
I'll put us at 5-7 to finish the season, with losses to FSU and Miami, and then a win against Tech.
As always, Go Hoos. And basketball is only days away.
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