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Coaching a Team so That It Consistently Takes Steps to Win

I have a daughter at UVA. Each year with London's recruiting classes, I told her the football team was going to get better. Those classes (five stars, four stars) are on the team now and have seasoning but UVA doesn't win. (Note: recruiting is now declining because of lack of winning and uncertainty about London----one four star in 2015 and none for 2016). And we lose in a consistent manner. Winning teams take the steps that allow for wins; losing teams do the things that allow them to lose. We consistently lose, but how?

Three things come to mind: lack of consistency on defense, poor red zone offense and lack of mental focus.

Lack of Consistency on Defense: UVA's vaunted secondary coming into 2015 consistently plays "matador" (wave at them as they go by) defense, with the number of big plays by opposition limited only by the number of tries. We have speed, but we get beat. When we need the big stop, someone is out of position or we arm tackle. UVA is 81st out of 127 in total defense, giving up 413 yards per game. Our aggressive style is fun to watch and can provide big plays----but too often those big plays are for our opponents. Look at the talent, and look at the results.....we have better talent than the end results indicate.....why?
Poor Red Zone Offense: UVA actually ranks 10th in red zone efficiency, as we do get points. But one could argue that the Miami, Pittsburgh and UNC losses were caused by scoring field goals instead of touchdowns. Number one Navy has 27 touchdowns and 9 field goals, or a 3/1 ratio. UVA has 12 touchdowns and 9 field goals, or a 1.33 ratio. The defense isn't good enough to make three points stand up. Even in the Georgia Tech win, we had the ball on the one yard line five times and couldn't score, with two field goals the result. Until we can finish drives (a multi year theme), we put more pressure on other facets of the game.
Lack of Mental Focus: In the Miami game, we had a false start before we had our first snap (how do you do that???). At Georgia Tech, our first drive stalled with two false start penalties, one delay of game and one time out because we didn't know the formation. All of us can remember our worst "UVAism" horror story (UNC last year 12 men on the field after a time out (!) is mine, but there are many more). George Welsh teams did not beat themselves (okay in 1990 against Georgia Tech there is the famous UVA offensive touchdown called back because we only had 10 men on the field) and he was let go after going 6-6. We now have a coach where we are tied for 96th in number of penalties per game and where we have to win out to get to 6-6 (any bets?). We are better than we play, but we are not good enough to play without consistent focus and win.

I am a UVA fan. I used to travel to see the team, but it's hard to travel to a guaranteed loss (look at the last three years!). I was at the 32,000 (it looked worse) Georgia Tech game and talked to several friends with tickets who did not go. The lack of expectations and enthusiasm for the program is sad and can't continue.

The only good news is that with a coach who brings discipline to the team, the talent level is such that I think we can surprise some teams next year. We really do have that much talent. Hopefully Mr. Littlepage will realize that people won't take time out to support a team whose only consistency over the last five years has been it's lack of consistency.

  • Poll
Share your opinion!!!

What if we win out and go to a bowl game?

  • Keep Mike London with no extension past next season

    Votes: 11 32.4%
  • Still Fire London

    Votes: 23 67.6%
  • Give him an extension, It will help recruiting

    Votes: 0 0.0%

Ok, I think everyone knows I am in the let's get a new coach NOW, NOW, NOW!!! camp. How about you? I have seen a few who feel that we not only can, but will, win the rest of our games. Some say no mid season firing and we can be searching as the season plays out. So how do you dothis with this possibility?

Midseason vs end of season firings

We've had much discussions here recently whether firing a coach midseason gets you a jump on hiring your next coach. There are nine, I think at last count, FBS programs already looking for a coach. I say these nine programs already have a jump on us, and will beat us to the best coaches. Some here have argued it's better to fire at the end of the year. They argue it can all be done just as well back channel while your coach is still here.

Well, I was listening yesterday to an interview with none other than the man UVA is getting ready to bestow full honors to at halftime of our last game. Old Frank was asked why he announced he was resigning now rather than the end of the season. He stated he wanted VT to be able to get a jump on hiring their next coach and this will help them get the best candidate. Old Frank knows his football.

A few thoughts from Miami

As a Hoo living in Miami, it is always fun with the Hoos come to town, although last time the Hoos came to Miami, Watford through a pick 6 on the first play.

The following are my observations.

1. Miami is loaded with talent. Do not base your opinion of Miami on the Clemson game. For the most part they have been hammering teams, but they have the UVa habit of letting teams back in the game (Duke, Nebraska) and playing just well-enough to lose against very good teams (FSU). Our secondary is going to have their hands full with Miami's receivers.

2. Miami is confident - which is good for UVa. Miami has a bad habit of playing down to the level of their opponents, and do not be surprised if they come out flat after their big win at Duke.

3. UVa cannot screw up early. I really thought Miami was ripe to be beaten two years ago, but we played so bad that Miami could not give the game to us. If we stay solid, Miami will fold.

4. Miami will gives us a run for our money on who makes the most bone headed plays and coaching decisions.

Bottom line, UVA should beat Miami if we do not make mistakes and turn the ball over, but since we know there is about zero chance that will happen, I predict a Miami win.

Coaching Tidbit

Pep Hamilton, whose name has been mentioned as a possible candiidate for our job was fired today by the Colts. I don't think I have seen his name mentioned as much this year as last. His name was mentioned on local sports radio here in Richmond today during a discussion regarding who Tech will hire. (The guest said he wouldn't be a serious candidate and that was before the firing).

UVA gathers ACC WSOC awards.

Swanson was named Coach of the Year. Doniak was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Sonnett was voted Defensive Player of the Year, and both were named to the first team All-ACC team. Shaffer was elected to the second team, and Ratcliffe was on the third team. Brandon and Peterson were named to the freshman All-ACC team.

Virginia vs Miami Preview

Check out this weeks podcast as Ty and I preview the Miami game. We talk about the upcoming match-ups, go on rants about how Miami is today while still being considered "The U" and more.

Virginia Huddle: http://www.huddlecasts.com/#!virginia-huddle/cq1p

Also, I had the chance to go 1-on-1 with former Miami center Kelvin Harris who played on some of best Miami teams but I had to give it to him (link can be found on the same page). Let me know what you think!

Abramson and Nick Johns

I actually feel with a better coaching staff in place next year. Those two kids have the talent to be pretty good players if a new staff doesn't get crazy in wanting their guy in the fold years 1 and 2


Johns has the talent if we really wanted to start over to beat out Matt Johns if new staff wanted to go younger.

Not sure about Cutler or Brewer

Smart money next year for a bowl will be with Matt Johns.. Future might be better served with Nick Johns or maybe Cutler taking the lead next year

Nick has all the tools, just needs to stay out of trouble like another QB we had under Groh

realistic coaching options ???

I have seen a lot of discussion about options for our next football coach. There is no doubt we desperately need a change but with the South Carolina, Miami, and USC jobs already open and the Va Tech job likely to open up (and probably several others) I would be interested in who we have a realistic shot at as the big names and hot commodities are not even likely to return Littlepage's call
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