Story Links
Sept. 30, 2003
By Cathy Bongiovi Stewart
They’re bigger, stronger, more intense. They work as bodyguards. They serve, unite, and protect. They are the players of the Virginia offensive line.
Thanks to the expertise of strength and conditioning coach Evan Marcus, who joined the UVa staff during the off-season, the Cavaliers’ O-Line has gained 629 pounds of muscle since last season. And the difference is obvious.
“I worked hard in the off-season,” said 6-6 junior guard Elton Brown, who weighs in at 333 pounds. “I have muscles now. I’m better and more prepared.”
Center Zac Yarbrough agrees that the weight training has helped. “We’re bigger and stronger as a unit,” said the 6-4, 275-lb. junior. “We were a little light and inexperienced last year. The hard work in the off-season has paid off for us.”
With its added strength, the protective unit has something it wants to prove.
“We just want to dominate the running game,” said All-American sophomore D’Brickashaw Ferguson. “We want to be the team that the other teams can’t handle.”
But not all of UVa’s strength has come from the weight room. Offensive coordinator Ron Prince, who worked solely with the O-Line last fall, has brought the players together in a way that can’t be taught with a playbook.
“Our unity is our strength,” Ferguson, a 6-5, 265-lb. tackle continued. “We play with each other for a whole season. We know each others’ strengths and weaknesses. We’re stronger because of that.”
“Over the last year, we’ve become more accustomed to playing together, ” Yarbrough added. “Our friendships off the field have a lot to do with it. We get along really well.”
“The unity and the bond between everyone on the offensive line is our strongpoint, ” Brown said. “We’re all like brothers.”
Added into the brotherhood this season are three highly touted first-year players-Ian-Yates Cunningham, Ron Darden, Gordie Sammis-all of whom have seen playing time.
“Our strength comes from the kind of chemistry and trust we all have,” said Darden, a redshirt 6-4, 309-lb. guard. “We believe that no matter who the person is beside us, he will get the job done.”
“As a unit, we want to be able to control the game. It all starts up front with us,” Cunningham, a 6-6, 309-lb. guard said. “It doesn’t matter what we do individually. We only want to win. It gives all of our backs a chance to score and gives our quarterback the chance to throw.”
With the unfortunate injury to ACC Player of the Year and Heisman hopeful Matt Schaub in the Duke game, every member of the offensive line is more alert to the importance of his individual job.
“We all have to step it up more,” Yarbrough said. “We have confidence in whoever’s back there to lead us. We have to come out and compete no matter who’s at quarterback.”
One thing is for sure; the Virginia offensive line is united in its goal of winning. However, they’re taking it one step at a time.
“Right now the team goal is to win on every play,” Darden shared. “If you’re blocking somebody, you want to win that block. We’re striving to win on every single play.”
“I just want to be a part of the team and help us win,” Cunningham said. “I want to be a better offensive lineman, so I can help my team.”
“I strive for us to be better,” Yarbrough said. “Being in the center of the line, I think we just try to get better every week with more offensive yards and more points, whatever we can do to help the team win. We want to be the best offensive line in the ACC. If we can do that, it will put us in a great position to win the ACC championship.”
“We just try to be a good, solid offensive line,” Brown concluded. “People will look at UVa and say ‘that’s a good offensive line’.”