Key for UVA today is reestablishing it's running game at Cal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

After bolting out of the gate offensively, posting unheard-of numbers in Virginia football history, among the nation’s top 10 or 15 in scoring, total offense and rushing, the Cavaliers have been bogged down the last couple of games.

What’s up?

UVA eked out a 22-20 win over Washington State, then edged North Carolina, 17-16, in overtime. Later today, the Wahoos will face a top-50 defense at California (3:45 p.m., ESPN2).

What will it take for No. 15 Virginia (7-1, 4-0 ACC) to return to the offensive juggernaut it was during the first half of the season against the Golden Bears (5-3, 2-2)?

Des Kitchings’ rush offense is ranked No. 37 in the nation, averaging 185.5 yards per game, a significant drop from earlier when they hovered around the top 10. Last week at Carolina, the Cavaliers rushed for a mere 59 yards.

“It’s not our standard, right?” Kitchings said when asked about how to get the running game back to normal. “That’s what we’ve got to get going because the offense is really productive when we can run the football.”

A strong running attack opens things up for the passing game, particularly the play-action passes that freeze defenders.

Part of the problem the past couple of weeks was the loss of Xavier Brown, who is the most explosive of Virginia’s running backs with his speed to get outside the edge and make things happen. At the same time, wide receiver Cam Ross was out for a bit, a player who is a threat to take it to the house at any given moment. Then, quarterback Chandler Morris is playing with a bum non-throwing-arm shoulder, somewhat limiting how much risk Kitchings wants to take in allowing him to run.

Not only that, but center Brady Wilson was out for a few games, left tackle McKale Boley was nicked up for a bit. One of the tight ends, Dakota Twitty, a good run blocker, was injured a couple of games ago and hasn’t come back.

Add all those issues together, combine that with the fact there’s now plenty of film on Virginia’s offense out there for opposing defensive coordinators to analyze, making it a challenge for the Cavaliers to put up the same kind of numbers they did early on.

Of late, defenses have structured schemes in an attempt to take away UVA’s ability to run the ball outside, forcing things between the tackles. Virginia has seen more man-to-man coverage, which means smaller passing windows for Morris and tighter coverage in order for receivers to gain separation from defenders.

Virginia will likely see more man coverage going forward, especially today at Cal, which boasts two of the best cornerbacks the Cavaliers will see this season.

UVA’s O-line, which had given up only five sacks in seven games, surrendered six sacks at Carolina. Some of it was Bill Belichick’s defensive scheme. Some of it was simply Virginia’s offensive linemen losing one-on-one battles.

“Carolina had been more of a kind of a ready, tempo type defensive front, and they played us a little bit more vertical penetrating, and it took some time to get adjusted to that,” Kitchings said.

We’re not really sure Virginia ever totally adjusted, just another reason the offense wasn’t clicking.

While Wilson was back and healthy for the first time in weeks, he was a little rusty, and it showed.

Perhaps the biggest key to today’s game is Virginia getting its running game going again.

The Bears give up 342.8 yards per game overall, but are No. 80 nationally in rush defense, giving up 152 yards on the ground per game (15 TDs). But get this: in an overtime loss in Blacksburg last week, Virginia Tech ran the ball 57 times for 357 yards on the ground against Cal.

The Hokies only put the ball in the air 18 times.

Giving up more than 350 yards rushing is abysmal, something Cal has certainly addressed this week. But, Kitchings and Coach Tony Elliott have to figure that Virginia’s running attack could get healthy again today in Berkeley.

While UVA lost Brown, Noah Vaughn, who has been described as the team’s most complete back, has returned to action along with starter J’Mari Taylor and backup Harrison Waylee, all capable of stacking up numbers.

The O-line is confident that it can regain its rhythm, and the passing game should be back intact with Ross in the lineup to go along with Jahmal Edrine, who has come on strong in recent games, and with deep threat Trell Harris, in addition to tight ends Sage Ennis and John Rogers.

Elliott said this week that he was emphasizing techniques and the little things that are the difference in a 3-yard run as opposed to a 6-yard run. Virginia had too many third-and-longs in Chapel Hill, and part of that was the running backs lack of focus.

Plus, the O-Line wasn’t nearly as effective as it had been. In fact, Elliott said he thought that for the first time this season, Virginia lost the battle on the line of scrimmage at Carolina.

Gameweek Links:

UVA QB Chandler: Toughness is his calling card

‘Jerry & Jerry:’ What’s up with Virginia’s offense?

Xavier Brown to miss rest of season with ACL, but Cam Ross is back

UVA’s trip to Cal full of logistical issues, but researched to reduce problems

‘The Jerry & Joe Show:’ Can Virginia improve to 8-1 in California?

This Week’s ACC Schedule

Friday
North Carolina 27, Syracuse 10

Saturday
Miami at SMU, Noon (ESPN)
Duke at Clemson, Noon (ACCN)
Louisville at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m. (The CW)
Notre Dame at Boston College, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Pitt at Stanford, 3:30 p.m. (ACCN)
Virginia at California, 3:45 p.m. (ESPN2)
Georgia Tech at NC State, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Wake Forest at Florida State, 7:30 p.m. (ACCN)