Reducing sacks is another key priority of Cavs

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Now that Virginia has cleared up one problem area, others await.

The Cavaliers didn't have a turnover in Saturday's 16-3 win at North Carolina. U.Va. (1-3, 1-0 ACC) did give up four sacks, however, and ranks last in the country in sacks allowed for the second straight week. Jameel Sewell has been sacked 16 times in the last three games, 17 times overall.

Even during a seven-loss 2008 season Virginia quarterbacks were sacked only 16 times.

Coach Al Groh was asked if Sewell needs to be better at getting rid of the ball

"That's something he's very conscious of and has been working on," Groh said.

Groh described Sewell after the U.Va.-UNC game as "a passionate, gutty" player. Sewell missed one series after a blow to the head. Of Sewell's 70 rushing attempts, 27 have resulted in losses.

A cautionary note

The news on the sack front may not get better this weekend. Indiana (3-2) comes to Scott Stadium for a

3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday with one of the nation's top pass rushers from 2008: 6-foot-3, 259-pound senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew.

Kirlew had 19-1/2 tackles for loss and 10-1/2 sacks last season and is on a similar pace (9-1/2 tackles for loss, 3-1/2 sacks) this year. The Hoosiers' other starting defensive end, Greg Middleton, has three sacks.

Hall can't do it all

Groh indicated that there are no plans for senior Vic Hall to resume punt-return duties.

"I wouldn't rule it out," said Groh, who is using cornerback Chase Minnifield to return kickoffs and punts, "but there comes a point where we have to say, 'How many things can we ask this player to do?' "

Hall started at slot receiver Saturday, took turns at both safety spots, held for an early kick and also played quarterback for one play.

In the second quarter, Hall took a backward pass from Sewell on a first-and-10 from the Carolina 34, then threw the ball across the field to Sewell for an apparent 22-yard gain before the play was nullified by penalty.

Quick kicks

Virginia's 254 yards of offense Saturday was its second-lowest total in four games and dropped the Cavaliers from 111th to 117th out of 120 teams. U.Va. has scored one touchdown in regulation against UNC in two years and won both games.... Virginia will retire the No. 5 of three-time former All-ACC defensive back Anthony Poindexter.... Indiana is only the second Big Ten team to visit U.Va., joining Penn State, a 20-14 loser in 2001. The Hoosiers, who will host to the Cavaliers in 2011, have never played in the state of Virginia.

- The Roanoke Times