Story Links
Oct. 29, 2003
By Sean Lauer
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Name the two best quarterbacks in the ACC…. If you’re a UVA fan, the answer is obviously Matt Schaub. Coming in second place, most people would say Philip Rivers. But who has the better arm? Who completes more passes? These are questions that aren’t as easily answered. However, for these two star players, this can only be taken as a compliment.
When asked how similar Schaub and Rivers are, Head Coach Al Groh said, “Very much so. I had a brief conversation with [an NFL] scout who I know well, and I was answering some of his questions about Matt [Schaub]. The comparison of the two of them [Rivers and Schaub] came up in the conversation, and I told him I thought that they were both really pretty much the same player, especially when you look at them. “
Coming into this weekend’s match-up, Schaub is number one in the nation in completion percentage at 71%, while Rivers follows closely in second at 70.8%. Both players are averaging around seven or eight yards per pass. Neither quarterback tries very often to move the ball with his legs.
According to Groh, both players even throw the ball the same way.
“People are going to say that the delivery is a little bit different from each player, but when the ball is in the air, for both players, the ball is out in a hurry. They make all the throws, they throw from one hashmark to the sideline, they throw in-cuts, and they throw quickly against the blitz.”
Defensive preparations for the game on Saturday are made easier when you don’t have to look any further than your own quarterback for quarterback style.
“I’d say that both teams for four years now have seen the kind of ball in the air that they’re going to see a lot on Saturday,” explains Groh. “It won’t be any revelation to them that the ball can get there with the accuracy and the timing and the velocity that it does. I think both teams will be accustomed to seeing that. It’ll work both ways obviously.”
The similarities don’t end with playing style. Schaub stands at six feet, five inches tall, as does Rivers. Schaub weighs 240 pounds, Rivers weighs 236 pounds. Hair color? You guessed it, same. You get the point.
However, don’t expect the game on Saturday to play out as it does on paper. With two equal quarterbacks, something’s got to give. The key to winning will most likely be the teams’ running games. N.C. State is dead last in the ACC in rushing yards, while Virginia is fourth, averaging 142.5 yards per game.
Groh agrees that fans shouldn’t expect to see a shootout.
“If both of these quarterbacks come out of this game having completed 70 percent of their passes, then it’s going to be a long game. I’m sure each team is going to try and get each team’s completion percentage down. “
Although N.C. State leads the ACC in passing yards with 332.3 yards per game, Virginia counters with a strong pass defense. Almondo Curry, Jermaine Hardy, and Jamaine Winborne are in the top ten interception leaders in the ACC. Virginia’s defensive line also has 19 sacks through eight games so far this season, led by Darryl Blackstock with five. Adding to the drama is the fact that Rivers has never thrown a touchdown pass against Virginia, but has thrown three interceptions. Conversely, N.C. State has never intercepted Schaub.
Virginia and N.C. State stand tied for second place in the ACC at 3-2, alongside Clemson and Georgia Tech. The race is heating up and this Saturday’s game should be a tightly fought contest, especially with such similar quarterbacks.
Saturday’s game will be televised regionally by ABC. Jerry Punch calls the play-by-play, while Mike Mayock provides the color commentary. All Virginia games are broadcast on the Virginia Sports Network, originating at WINA/WWWV in Charlottesville. Mac McDonald calls the play-by-play. He is joined in the broadcast booth by former Cavalier great Frank Quayle, the 1968 ACC Player of the Year. Jed Williams reports from the sidelines.
Fans can also follow the action through Gametracker and internet audio found at virginiasports.com.