Elliott hoping more weapons emerge to give UVA’s offense more punch

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Last season as Virginia struggled to put points on the board en route to a 3-9 campaign, the offensive coaching staff kept hoping that a third receiver would emerge to take some of the pressure off Malik Washington and Malachi Fields.

Never happened. The tight ends didn’t deliver, two running backs actually finished third and fourth on the team in receptions while Washington continued to beat the odds and opposing defensive coverage. Imagine the additional numbers Washington might have reached if the Cavaliers had managed to spread the field with more threats.

Tony Elliott and Des Kitchings believe their offense can be much more potent with three receiving threats, in addition to capable tight ends. UVA fans are hoping to see that when the Wahoos take the field later this month.

Observers believe Fields is ready for a breakout year, while Notre Dame transfer Chris Tyree is expected to put up big numbers. North Carolina transfer Andre Greene Jr. is poised to make a difference, while two other wideouts that showed flashes last season — sophomore Suderian Harrison and junior JR Wilson — could be strong contributors, along with talented true freshman Kam Courtney.

Harrison, Tyree and Courtney are working in the slot receiver spot.

So, if a third and even a fourth or fifth receiver emerges and the tight ends make a jump in productivity, how could that change Virginia’s offense?

“Now, you become the aggressor,” Elliott said after Monday’s practice. “Because the defense is going to have to make a decision on what they’re going to take away. When you have three receivers that can balance the field and a tight end that can go from side to side to create matchup advantages, now [the defense] has to make a decision.

“Are we going to bracket a guy, and if you bracket a guy, then you create a single coverage. If you’re bracketing a guy and creating single coverage, [the defense] is lighter in the box versus the run. When you have the depth to be able to spread out and create matchup disadvantages, then now you put the pressure on the defense because they’re going to have to reveal if they’re going to load up to stop the run. If they do, then guess what? We’re going to have one-on-one coverage.”

If the defense goes the other way to prevent the deep ball and “die a slow death,” Elliott explained, then Virginia will run the ball because now it has an advantage and can dictate to the defense. If the tight ends can be versatile enough to go from being a pass-receiving threat to a sixth blocker on the line of scrimmage, that creates angles and numbers, which gives the offense the ability to do whatever it wants.

Last season, UVA didn’t have that kind of depth and was too one-dimensional, which allowed defenses to dictate rather than the other way around, double-covering the best receiver.

“You don’t have many options after that,” Elliott said.

He’s hoping that won’t be the case this season, his third as leader of the program.

In 2023, Washington hauled in 110 receptions for 1,426 yards and 9 touchdowns, while being almost unstoppable. Fields had 58 catches for 811 yards and 5 scores. The next closest receiver was JR Wilson, fifth on the team in receptions with 10 for 98 yards and Harrison with 9 catches for 94 yards.

The tight ends group from last year was ineffective, with the top two tight ends catching a combined 12 passes for 154 yards.

Camp Notes

INJURY REPORT — Wilson didn’t practice Monday, wasn’t dressed and sported a brace on one leg. Meanwhile, Tyree and left offensive tackle McKale Boley wore yellow jerseys (no contact) and were wearing boots.

“Over the weekend, it was hard to get them CTS, MRI’s and all that kind of stuff done, so today they got a bunch of their imaging done, to make sure it’s nothing too serious,” Elliott said. “We have a couple of guys that we’re hopeful that won’t be [out] too long, but we won’t know until Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy Christ (fifth year) and Houston Curry (third year) were rotating in Boley’s spot. Also, Ethan Sipe (fifth year) was working at right guard and some at the center position.

ELLIOTT ENCOURAGED — The coach said he’s pleased that the team is pushing hard, practicing with good tempo, giving great effort.

“You can see a lot of the carry-over from the spring in terms of retention, and I’m pleased with the level of competition,” Elliott said. “Man, they’re competing every single day. They’re getting better at learning how to practice.”

UVA just started practicing with shoulder pads, so the team hasn’t been able to tackle yet. Elliott said he’s impressed with the camaraderie around the new Hardie Football Center, where players are hanging around the building all day long, bonding.

“The guys are in there doing extra on their own in between our scheduled meetings,” Elliott said. “Just some of those intangible things and then a few tangible things on the field that I’m most pleased about.”