Cavalier football fans need another quarterback concern like they need a hole in the head.
Sophomore Jameel Sewell, who took over the position last season in the third game of the year against Western Michigan, is recovering from off-season wrist surgery that has left the team with questions rather then security.
“I think anytime a quarterback’s passing arm has been surgically repaired, until he’s throwing his fastball again there’s always a question,” said Virginia Head Coach Al Groh.
 Sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell’s off-season wrist surgery is possibly a cause for concern. |
Heading into the annual spring mini-camp, Groh stressed two primary targets of issues including quarterback and kicker, where production was clearly down in the 2006 season.
“I think we still have some of the same question marks. We still have questions. Does it get answered by performance?” said Groh, on the day prior to opening of spring practice. “When we kick the ball is it going through the uprights? Because of a different set of circumstances, we still have question marks at quarterback.”
Sound familiar?
“They were the two biggest questions entering spring practice last year, they were the two biggest questions entering camp, and they remained that way in the early part of the season and in some cases during the course of the season,” added Groh of not only the quarterback position but a kicking game that will feature Noah Greenbaum, Chris Gould and newcomer Chris Hinkebein (who will arrive in August). Virginia desperately needs consistency. “A lot of different areas of the team should be much improved,” said Groh. “They are much improved from where they were on this day last year. Those are the two positions that you can be a lot improved at those other positions but the guy who kicks it and throws it has a lot to do with what the outcome is.”
This past week Virginia lost last year’s leading wide receiver Kevin Ogletree with a torn anterior cruciate ligament during practice. Ogletree logged 52 receptions, 582 yards, and four touchdowns last season.
Alongside concern in the spring comes optimism for the fall. “I think I got a real positive vibe,” said senior defensive end and preseason All-American candidate Chris Long. “I feel like we got a real great group of guys. I feel like we’re showing flashes of being a real powerful, big-time team. We just need to tighten it down in some areas and I think that’s what spring ball is for.”
Across from Long on the offensive line stands 315 lbs. of optimism in the form of guard Branden Albert, who is not only ready to anchor a unit, that improved as last season went on, but ready to embrace the step-up role on the team.
“(I’m) trying to be a leader this year and hopefully trying to be in one of those big leadership roles and help this team out,” said Albert. “I think by my play, alone, I became a leader. Now I’m being vocal and showing by example that I can be a leader and that’s my focus now.”
The focus of this team is simple and far from being hidden.
“Win the Atlantic Coast Conference,” said Groh of this team, who chants “ACC champs” when they break their huddle at the end of practice. “If you’re in a conference for any other reason then that, you’re in the conference for the wrong reason.”
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