5 Questions For Wahoos As Bronco Starts 3rd Fall Training Camp

Bronco Mendenhall kicks off his third fall training camp Friday night, hoping to build off last year’s momentum that unexpectedly delivered a bowl trip.

The Cavaliers return eight starters on both sides of the ball, in addition to several players who gained valuable playing experience last season when pressed into service due to injuries to starters.

Ideally, Mendenhall would like to go bowling again this season and avoid a second half of the season slump that barely allowed his Wahoos to become bowl eligible. The back end of the schedule isn’t quite as loaded as it was last season when UVa lost five of its final six regular season games to finish 6-6 before losing to Navy in the Military Bowl.

After a 5-1 start, Virginia lost to Boston College, at Pittsburgh, beat Georgia Tech in Charlottesville, then lost at Louisville, at Miami, and against Virginia Tech.

The last six games of this season appears more managable: at Duke, UNC, Pitt, and Liberty, all in Charlottesville, then at Georgia Tech, and at Virginia Tech.

Still, with experience returning, there are question marks that Mendenhall and his staff are hoping to discover answers for in the August camp.

(1) What about the offensive line? Throughout the first two years of Mendenhall’s era at UVa, the Cavaliers have struggled to mount an inside running game. When he inherited the program, the cupboard was depleted of quality offensive linemen, who struggled to run block.

Virginia became known as chiefly a one-dimensional offense that couldn’t move the ball on the ground, which put enormous pressure on quarterback Kurt Benkurt (now in the Atlanta Falcons camp). The Cavaliers return two starters on the line in center Dillon Reinkensmeyer and guard Jake Fieler.

Chris Glaser (tackle), along with guards Ben Knutson and R.J. Proctor, all played extensively last season, which should help, along with the addition of Rutgers transfer tackle Marcus Applefield.

While this could be an improved unit overall, depth is a concern. Freshmen and sophomores are the backups at every spot along the line.

However, what could help negate any weaknesses of the offensive line is the new scheme of Robert Anae, the offensive coordinator, who took the brunt of criticism for the offense’s lack of numbers last season. With a mobile, dual-threat quarterback in Bryce Perkins, and speed with Olamide Zaccheaus and Joe Reed, Anae has added some option plays to his offense, which should prevent opposing safeties and linebackers from jamming the tackle box. In turn, that could open up running lanes for Jordan Ellis between the tackles and make the Cavaliers more difficult to defend.

(2) What about Perkins? Is he as good as advertised?

Only time will tell, but he certainly has made a strong impression on his teammates and coaching staff. Perkins, who originally signed with Arizona State, suffered a broken neck and was told he would never play football again.

Perkins was determined to beat the odds, rehabbed and recovered. He transferred to Arizona Western Community College and led his team to the National Junior College Championship game.

Perkins is fast and has drawn praise for his decision making on whether to throw the ball or run. He can also throw on the run. He had nice completion percentages in juco ball, but skeptics wonder if he can duplicate those numbers in Power 5 football.

(3) How will Virginia replace defensive stars Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding?

Jordan Mack, a two-year letterman and a starter at inside linebacker, will be expected to pick up the tackle production of Kiser (now in Rams camp), who was one of the ACC’s most reliable tacklers the past three years. Mack is no slouch. He recorded 114 total tackles last season, including seven tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.

Blanding, UVa’s star free safety (currently in Redskins camp) for the past four seasons, leaves another hole in the defense. However, the Cavaliers appear to have answers. Corner Juan Thornhill, a freakish athlete, could move to the spot or Mendenhall may use sophomore Joey Blount at the free safety position. Blount was impressive in the spring and over the summer in seven-on-seven drills.

(4) Will Virginia be more of a scoring threat on field goals?

There were times last season when Mendenhall elected to go for it on fourth down from certain spots on the field because the Cavaliers were beyond the range of place-kicker A.J. Mejia’s leg.

While Mejia set a UVa freshman record for most points kicking (61), and made 8 of 12 field goal attempts, his longest was 38 yards. He was 0-for-4 from 40 yards and beyond.

If Mejia’s range hasn’t picked up, the Cavaliers may take a look at incoming freshman Hunter Pearson from Seneca, S.C. Pearson has a strong leg and had a long kick of 49 yards.

(5) Will the Defensive Line be effective?

Mendenhall loves the 3-4 defensive scheme with a nose tackle and two defensive ends. However, that is only his base defense.

Depending on situations, UVa lines up with a four-man, even a five-man front on occasions.

Still, the missing part of the defensive front is Andrew Brown (in NFL training camp), who became a force his last season and a half with the Wahoos.

Mandy Alonso, a sophomore, returns as starter at the opposite defensive end position, while Richard Burney, a converted tight end late last season, could end up playing the other anchor end.

Eli Hanback, a junior, returns at nose tackle where he held his own last season in a key position on the unit.

Virginia gained two graduate transfers during the offseason in former Ohio State defensive end Dylan Thompson and Cassius Peat, who played last season at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, where he was ranked the No. 4 defensive end in the junior college ranks. Peat began his career at Michigan State in 2015.