Elliott not worried about Tyree, says Fields ‘took a step’

By Jerry Ratcliffe

If there was one disappointing aspect of Virginia’s dominant win over Richmond in last Saturday night’s opening game, it had to be that the most explosive player on the Cavaliers’ roster never got his hands on the football.

Even before Chris Tyree stepped foot on UVA’s campus, his reputation preceded him. A running back-turned-receiver at fabled Notre Dame, Tyree was coming home (he’s a Richmond native) for his final year of college football.

Tony Elliott added more intrigue when he pointed out during training camp that Tyree was the fastest player he had ever been around. UVA teammates were in awe of Tyree’s world-class speed and his ability to “take it to the house” anytime the ball was in his hands.

But, the ball has to be in his hands first, right?

Didn’t happen Saturday night. Tyree, which most figured would get 10 to 12 touches minimum, was targeted three times on pass plays and he dropped ‘em. As a kickoff return specialist, Richmond, either out of fear or respect (or both), elected to kick away from him and put the ball in the other return man, Xavier Brown’s, hands.

While the fans wanted to see what all the buzz was about, they’ll have to wait for this weekend’s game at Wake Forest. After beating Richmond, UVA quarterback Anthony Colandrea said that “We’ve got to find ways to give Chris Tyree more touches … he’s the fastest guy I’ve ever seen.”

Certainly the gameplan will have more plays designed around Tyree this week in Winston-Salem. Meanwhile, Elliott said he’s not worried about his potential game-breaker and offered up an explanation of why he thought the speedster had one of those nights.

“I’m just going to chock it up to, man, he’s back home in Virginia, wanting to do so well, pressing a little bit, right?” Elliott said. “And if you look at the balls he didn’t come down with, he takes his eyes off of it because he’s ready to run. He wants to go make a big play.”

Elliott said he’s not going to make a big deal out of the matter, that Tyree knows what he has to do to correct, simply finish the catch before taking off and running.

“Doesn’t change anything in terms of how he fits our offense and nothing to tweak in terms of trying to get him the ball,” the coach said. “I anticipate that you’ll see Chris bounce back, but I’ll chock it up he was so amped up, wanting to make a play, especially being back home in Virginia, and tried to take off running too soon and didn’t finish the catch.”

That wasn’t the case with the remainder of Virginia’s receiving corps, which showed out big time in a collective 297-yard night that resulted in two of the Cavaliers’ four touchdowns.

Colandrea completed 17 of 23 pass attempts, at least three of those dropped, no interceptions and was just three yards short of a 300-yard night. Nine players caught passes, none more spectacular than wide receiver Malachi Fields, who towers over opposing defensive backs.

Fields, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior, caught five passes (was targeted six times) for his first 100-yard receiving night of his career. He had 47 yards after catches.

One of Fields’ catches was an eye-popping, 41-yard diving grab that was highlight-reel quality.

“I’ll say I haven’t seen a play like the one Malachi made, that diving play, since (Clemson’s) Mike Williams did it his freshman year against NC State,” Elliott said. “Unbelievable, full-extension play. It’s wet. No gloves. That was a big-time play to be able to come down with that ball.”

Virginia coaches have been prodding Fields to push himself to another level this season, to become more aggressive and to use his size against smaller defenders.

“I thought Malachi took a step, and what made me say that is we threw a couple of just spot screens to him and he’s got two defenders,” Elliott explained. “He makes them both miss and comes out running. That’s something we’ve been challenging him to do.

“Man, just play your size and be such a dominant guy with the ball in your hands, and it was good to see Trell (Harris) make a play, too. Overall, I think that the guys are building that confidence, and the chemistry is starting to develop with the quarterback.”

Harris had two catches for 38 yards, one a 35-yard TD reception to put Virginia ahead 7-0 on the first Cavaliers possession.

A pair of running backs also figured into the passing game, Kobe Pace catching two passes for 57 yards, including a 52-yard on a screen pass. Jack Griese also hauled in a 53-yard pass, mostly a catch-and-run play, for a score.

Virginia’s receivers did much more than just haul in passes though. They blocked downfield, one of the aspects of their jobs that is key, but largely goes unnoticed.

“What I liked is how they blocked on the perimeter,” Elliott said. “So everyone’s going to follow the ball, especially when it’s in the air. But I like to see their commitment to the football team by how they block the run game, and on a lot of the explosive plays we had in the run game were the result of receivers blocking on the perimeter.”

Injury Update

Ellliott said during Tuesday’s press conference that starting left offensive tackle McKale Boley is still day-to-day with an ankle problem. Senior Jack Witmer started in his place against UofR.

Meanwhile, the coach said that “bandit” Bryce Carter, who backs up Chico Bennett at the position, is back to practice and is listed behind Bennett on the depth chart.