Havoc is missing from Virginia’s defense heading into Thursday night game at Miami

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Havoc is how Nick Howell described his defensive attack in recent years, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks with pressure, sacks and forcing mistakes.

That has been missing the last two weeks in lopsided losses to ACC opponents North Carolina and Wake Forest, and Howell is somewhat bewildered that his defense hasn’t been able to stop much of anything during that span.

Asked after Tuesday’s practice what he is trying to do to generate havoc back into the picture as Virginia prepares for a Thursday night game at Miami, Howell put it simply:

“I’m not sitting here thinking about generating havoc plays,” UVA’s defensive coordinator said. “We’re thinking about stopping [Miami’s] plays, trying to stop their runs, stop their passes.”

The Cavaliers haven’t stopped either in back-to-back losses and desperately need to get back on track at Hard Rock Stadium, where they have lost low-scoring battles with the Hurricanes for the past two years.

UVA’s run defense has been particularly puzzling because the Cavaliers had been solid against opposing running attacks the past two seasons.

What’s the key to stopping the run that his defense isn’t getting?

“Stay in your gap,” Howell answered. “It’s really not hard. Get in your gap and stay in your gap.”

Are the defensive players over-thinking?

“It’s a combination of a lot of things,” Howell said. “We’re just making sure we’re practicing the right way, that we’re coaching the right way, and that our guys are understanding the right way.”

He doesn’t blame any particular position group, the defensive line, the linebackers or the secondary.

“We have not done our jobs well at multiple spots,” Howell said. “It’s collectively as a defense.”

According to Pro Football Focus, which specializes in college and pro football analytics, Virginia’s defense has generated 12.8 pressures in its first four games, 1.8 sacks.

That’s quite a contrast from both 2020 and 2019. In fact, that’s about half the sacks and around 60-percent of the pressures from those two seasons. In addition, UVA’s first four opponents this season are averaging 201.3 yards rushing per game, and an eye-popping 5.2 yards per rush.

Last year, those numbers were 138.5 (3.7), and in 2019 when the Cavaliers won the ACC’s Coastal Division for the first time, played in the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl, the numbers were 138.1 (3.9).

By the way, UVA’s secondary ranks 13th out of 14 ACC teams.

While Bronco Mendenhall said he saw improvement on the defensive side of the ball between UNC and Wake, Howell wasn’t satisfied, nor was the head coach.

Mendenhall said the lack of havoc stems from not only the defense but also by the lack of offensive success.

“We have lots of room to improve, particularly in critical moments,” Mendenhall said. “On third down, on fourth down. We’re not affecting [the opposing quarterback] and quite frankly not making the plays that we need to.”

Linebacker Elliott Brown commented Monday that he believes Mendenhall has become more hands-on as the team’s sense of urgency increases.

“Yes, I’m seeing him in [defensive] meetings a lot more,” Brown said. “We’ve heard him a lot more.”

Mendenhall cancelled his normal weekly press conference on Monday due to personal matters, and also did not appear on his coach’s radio show on Tuesday night, but did speak briefly with media that attended Tuesday morning’s practice session.

Asked if his role has changed, he said, “Not necessarily.” Mendenhall used to serve as head coach and defensive coordinator while at BYU and his first few years at UVA, but has since taken on more of a role like a CEO, overseeing every facet of the operation.

“There is some modeling,” the coach said. “I’ve been with three of my defensive coaches for 15 or 16 years, so there are some cultural things that we had to be reminded of. Quite frankly, with a veteran team coming back and limited depth, if I were to say anything, I gave a lot of credit to guys coming back that knew our standard and the fact, in and of itself, if I would have missed, I missed on that experience winning the day.

“I’m finding out that there’s vocality and some of the cultural things in terms of effort and how hard we’re playing have to be addressed in practice. That’s where I’ve been circulating, and most of my coaching has been with the coaches, and they take it to the field. My focus shifts as I see where our team is.”

Mendenhall’s and Howell’s defense have prepared this week to face Miami starting quarterback D’Eriq King, who is one of multiple Hurricane starters questionable for Thursday’s game. King is recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of last Saturday’s route of Central Connecticut State.

(For more breakdown on UVA at Miami, check out our podcast with Chris Graham and Jerry Ratcliffe, also on this website).