U.Va.'s struggling special teams draw Groh's ire

CHARLOTTESVILLE

There was a time in Virginia's football season when special teams were little more than an afterthought.

Now that the offense and defense have stabilized, however, the Cavaliers' kicking game is getting a second look.

The tipping point came Saturday, when Virginia took a 28-6 halftime lead against East Carolina. Coach Al Groh figured there was one way the Pirates could get back in the game: a long return of the second-half kickoff.

Sure enough, ECU's Dwayne Harris responded with a 59-yard return and the Pirates cut their deficit to 28-13 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

Virginia got a late touchdown to put the Pirates away 35-20, but none of the special teams escaped Groh's wrath.

"This isn't a free year's subscription to be on these teams," Groh said. "You've got to start making some (plays) if you want to be on these teams. It got quite a bit of attention (Sunday) evening, but it gets quite a bit of attention every Sunday evening.

"We've really got to shake something loose with that. These games are going to be too close over the second half of the season to be trying to win with two units. We've got to get all three units involved."

Vic Hall, who returned seven punts for a total of 21 yards in U.Va.'s first five games, had returns of 15, 16 and nine yards against ECU, but a missed block prevented an even longer gain, Groh said. Virginia's best kick return of the day was nullified by what has become a weekly hold or block in the back.

"We have to improve with the kicking of the ball in all phases," Groh said. "We've got to kick the ball better than we have for six games. We've got to punt the ball better than we have for six games and we have to do a better job with placements."

Two of punter Jimmy Howell's punts were downed inside East Carolina's 20, but one of those was a 24-yarder that was fair caught at the 19 and the other a 23-yarder downed at the 14. Howell's longest punt of the day, a 49-yarder, flew into the end zone.

"We're getting little bang for our buck in terms of the amount of time that's been invested," Groh said. "All of those units are definitely on call and the individuals who comprise those units are on call. "

Cedric Peerman, who has rushed for 383 yards in his past two games, returned 40 kickoffs in his first two seasons and said he would be willing to reprise that role. Groh said he isn't concerned about overworking Peerman so much as a knee injury that could be aggravated in post-return pileups.

Breaking through

John-Kevin Dolce does not appear on the Cavaliers' two-deep, but he has made a successful move from inside linebacker to defensive end, where he is getting 20 or more snaps a game in obvious pass-rushing situations.

Dolce, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound sophomore from Bayshore, N.Y., was redshirted in 2006 and did not play last season. He was involved in two sacks against Richmond and had a solo sack against ECU.

"He's kind of a hybrid player," Groh said. "He's got quickness and he's got real natural strength, explosive strength, which compensates for not having as much bulk. The things that occur in pass rush play a little bit more into his game."

- The Roanoke Times