During Al Groh’s nine seasons in Charlottesville, Virginia ran a very unusual college defensive scheme. Gone is Groh and the Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick/Bill Cowher NFL style 3-4 defense. In is Mike London and defensive coach Jim Reid’s more conventional 4-3 front.
In the 4-3 stack alignment, the Virginia defense will be able to rely more on the instinctive nature of football players, and less on complex, read-and-react schemes which are much more suitable for NFL players that have all day to study the game. College linebackers, the quarterback of the defense, also have to go to class at UVA. The more you have to think about where you are supposed to be out there as a young football player, well, the more mistakes you are very likely to make on the field, and the more out of position you will will often end up.
Virginia’s new defense is championed by Jim Reid, who sometimes sounds like he’s actually faking his Boston accent because it’s so damn authentic. Reid, by all accounts is a “players first” type of coach that trusts his players to be in the right place at the right time both on and off the field. In his 36th year of coaching, Reid has been a head coach three times, most recently at VMI in Lexington, and loves the game as much as anyone on the planet. He’s the kind of guy I’d enjoy sitting down with a bottle of Maker’s Mark and talking football on my back porch till the sun comes up.
Also coaching the defense will be Virginia’s legendary safety Anthony Poindexter, who will coach the safeties and special teams. Vincent Brown, who played for the New England Patriots for eight years, will coach the linebackers. Jeff Hanson, who has on the the best coaching scowls I have ever seen, will handle the defensive line, as well as also coordinating the recruiting. Chip West, a native of the ever-important Tidewater region, will coach the cornerbacks.
As I mentioned earlier, the linebackers are the quarterback of the defense. The heart and soul of any good defense does not start here, that’s the defensive front, but linebackers have to play almost every position on the defense at some point in the game. They rush the passer, defend the run, battle much faster wideouts, defend 6-6 tight ends over the middle and in the flat, and must play stopper against the run. The LB’s especially in the 4-3 defense, since there are only 3 of them out there at one time, must fully understand every coverage on the defense. More often than not, they are the captain of a defense, and relay the call in the huddle from their coach to their teammates. Linebackers must be outstanding open field tacklers, as well as being able to be violent pass rushers up front, as well as sometimes from the edge. See former Tar Heel Lawrence Taylor in his career in the NFL, or Ray Lewis in his first 10 to understand how much a great linebacker can help a team win.
Gone from last season’s three-win season linebacker spot is 6-4, 260 pound Cam Johnson, a beast who has moved to defensive end. Johnson should be much more suited for the end spot as he pretty much outgrew the LB position. Second year LaRoy Reynolds has moved from safety to linebacker, a position he excelled in for Maury HS in Norfolk.
One of the most surprising players this offseason has been Aaron Taliaferro, the 6-2 225 pound player out of Gloucester HS. Taliaferro received a Rock Weir Award (fullback Fell-Danzer won the other) as one of the most improved players on the team this offseason. The light has turned on for Aaron, and he could see valuable minutes on he field this year for the first time in his career here in Charlottesville.
Also changing positions was the teams leading tackler Steve Greer. Greer has moved from inside backer to the outside, and he reminds me of the gritty, gutty Ohio version of former Virginia linebacker Jon Copper. Smart, hard working, a huge student of video, and with a eye on making the play, 6-2 230 pound Greer has battled injuries while at UVA. If he can stay healthy, he just might become one of the stars of Reid’s defense.
New Jersey native and sophomore Ausar Walcott is another guy battling to see the field at linebacker. Last season, he only played sparingly on special teams. But this year, the athletic Walcott should be battle Jared Detrick for playing time. Detrick, who is very talented, but often injured, looks to be a guy that fits London’s system quite well. A senior, Detrick has only been on the field for about 150 plays in his time in Charlottesville hopes he can put the injury bug behind him.
Sophomore and Charlotte native Tucker Windle earned his first start of his career against the dreaded Hokies as he made five tackles, and he should make the rotation. Tucker’s dad played for UVA in the mid 70’s. Bill Schautz, who blocked a punt last season against the Miami Hurricanes, will battle for time on the gridiron as well.
True freshman Henry Coley could see action if Virginia suffers multiple, serious injuries at LB, but most likely will redshirt. I’m psyched to see the athletic Coley hit the field after hearing such good things from my friends in Virginia Beach who watched him play in high school at Bayside.
I think this group could be one of the strengths of the team if they stay healthy, and if the defensive front is better than advertised. Detrick, and Green must come back from their injuries at 100%, and Reynolds needs to be quicker to the ball. But I’m certain of one thing: coaches Vincent Brown and Jim Reid are going to get more from less with this group of young men. These guys can flat out coach! Go Hoos, beat those damn Hokies.