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March 23, 2007
VIDEO: Groh Wired for Sound – 1st Day of Practice
UVa Spring Football Central
Season Ticket Information
Note: Saturday’s practice (11:45 a.m.) and Sunday’s session (2:45 p.m.) are open to the public.
Charlottesville, VA – What a difference a year makes.
With Virginia preparing to hold its third and fourth spring practices this weekend, observers have already noted how different the Cavaliers look this spring from a year ago. With only a handful of seniors on last year’s roster who saw significant playing time, the team features 35 returning letterwinners including eight starters on offense and nine on defense.
One of those veteran areas is the Virginia offensive line.
The unit was totally retooled last year and featured four new starters, including three seeing the first extended playing time of their career. Not surprisingly, they had some rough moments, but those times provided excellent learning opportunities. Lines aren’t built in a year, instead over time, and this unit is no exception.
“I think the most important thing is the experience of these linemen and the confidence they gained last year,” Virginia coach Al Groh said Friday during a teleconference with area media. “Besides the quarterback position, that’s probably one of the most significant positions for a player to gain confidence because of the physical fight up there. We had essentially four or three and a half first-time starters up there. Their individual confidence and confidence in themselves, through the last four or five games, they had pretty good results. Not spectacular, but certainly much improved. So that’s where it all starts.”
Junior left guard Branden Albert is the “old man” of the group. Inserted into the starting line-up upon his arrival, Albert earned honorable mention All-ACC honors last year. A former basketball standout before his size became an issue (6-7, 315), he has excellent footwork and is quick and agile enough to cause trouble when getting out on the edge.
To Albert’s left is tackle Eugene Monroe. The top line recruit in the nation coming out of high school two years ago, Monroe started the first three games last season and struggled a bit before being replaced by Zak Stair. He returned to the starting line-up for the final two games and did much better. His continued development will go a long way toward solidifying the play of the line this year.
Senior Jordy Lipsey was steady in his first year as the starter at center. In his fifth year in the system, he is very familiar with the offensive scheme and grew progressively throughout the fall. He is very underrated snapper who does an excellent job working out of the shotgun and preventing pressure up the middle.
Senior Ian-Yates Cunningham was healthy all season last year and was a rock at right guard. Along with Lipsey, he serves as the line’s Ironman and rarely comes out of a game. An intelligent player who is currently enrolled in graduate school, he can play either guard spot or center, an ability prized by Groh.
Sophomore Will Barker put on more than 30 pounds during his redshirt year and clearly benefited from the added size. An aggressive, physical player at right tackle, he started all 12 games last year and earned freshman All-American honors last season.
Stair, a junior, made seven starts at left tackle last fall in place of Monroe. He began the season behind Barker at right tackle and his ability to play on both ends of the line is an asset. He is the only other lineman on the roster with any game experience.
While there are plenty of veterans on the top end of the depth chart, Groh admits getting some playing time for the younger players is critical to the long-term success of the line.
“Many years not all five starters would be back so there would be empty slots as a result of that and guys moving up,” Groh said. “I’d say we have a pretty decent number to be comfortable with on the first day of spring practice.”
The Cavaliers are petitioning for Gordie Sammis, a 6-4, 290-pound guard, to receive an extra year of eligibility. That would give the unit one more player has has game experience under his belt. Sammis appeared in one game his senior season, a lopsided 51-0 victory against Akron. He played just a few plays, but they counted toward a season of eligibility. Groh said the intent was not to play Sammis that season, but he checked into the game late in the blowout when the coaches were clearing the bench.
“Frankly, we kind of lost track of him and before we knew it he was in the game but that counts as a year,” Groh admitted Friday. “We have petitioned on his behalf to see if he can get that year back.”
Sammis will practice this spring while awaiting word from the NCAA on his status for next season.
As for new faces to emerge, sophomore Patrick Slebonick did not play in any games last year, but should have a chance to change his status this year. B.J. Cabbell is a promising youngster who redshirted last year as a freshman. Joining him among the guard corps is freshman walk-on Isaac Cain. Jack Shields worked as a tight end during a redshirt year last year, but will be tried at center this year.
As Virginia looks to find a replacement for Jason Snelling at tailback and Fontel Mines and Deyon Williams at wide receiver, it appears the returning veterans on the offensive line will be the building blocks for the team’s future.