Special teams failures haunt the Cavaliers

By Doug Doughty

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Virginia football coach Al Groh spoke for more than 30 minutes Monday before anybody mentioned special teams, usually one of the first topics of conversation when the Cavaliers are preparing to meet Virginia Tech.

The Hokies haven't been abusing teams this year with "Beamer Ball" - the opportunistic style of play linked with head coach Frank Beamer - but U.Va. certainly is vulnerable.

Groh hired former Kansas State coach Ron Prince this past winter as his special-teams coordinator because "this particular team needed some push in that area," Groh said. "It hasn't changed the lights on the scoreboard the way that we had hoped."

Almost every momentum-changing special-teams play has been offset by a snafu by one of the units.

Saturday, Chase Minnifield set up U.Va.'s first touchdown at Clemson with a 34-yard kickoff return. He fumbled on two later kickoff returns, one resulting in the Cavaliers taking possession at their 8-yard line.

"It's been frustrating for everybody on the team," Groh said. "We certainly expected more. There's been an awful lot of energy and effort put into it - more than ever.

"When you say, 'Not everything's going to be perfect,' you're exactly right. But, we expect better than, say, what we had the other day. We had two mishandled kickoffs. That part of it's not that difficult."

One week earlier, a block in the back nullified a 62-yard Vic Hall punt return for a touchdown.

Almost a Cavalier

Clemson wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Ford, who had a career-high 195 all-purpose yards in the Tigers' 34-21 victory over Virginia, said he once had U.Va. at the top of his list.

"Pretty much," said Ford, who spent the fall of 2005 at Fork Union Military Academy. "They were definitely under heavy consideration. It was a tough decision between them and Clemson."

Ford, originally from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., committed to Clemson after his visit in December 2005.

Battling sack fatigue

U.Va. quarterback Jameel Sewell has been sacked 37 times this season despite missing one full game due to injury and requiring relief in others. Sewell, who was sacked eight times in an early loss to Texas Christian, was sacked six times in the fourth quarter Saturday and seven times overall.

"I've got a few bruises," said Sewell, who handled most of the quarterbacking for a team that yielded 33 sacks in 2008. "I've got to help myself by trying to get the ball out quicker."

Groh staying focused

At almost every media opportunity, Groh has been asked about his job status. He has two years remaining on his contract but three losing seasons in four years could mean that Saturday's game with the Hokies will be his last.

He said the thought has not crossed his mind.

"Um, no," he said Sunday. "I just try to be the same person that I talk to the team about being, that we get all our focus on the one game we have. I think that's part of the reason why we've always been able to have a lot of energy.