So Saturday’s homecoming showdown against Louisville options considerably of a playoff ambiance contemplating not solely are the Cavaliers (2-3, 0-2 ACC) in search of to end their slide but additionally the truth that victories down the stretch determine to be much more demanding than dealing with a wounded adversary who’s winless within the ACC this yr.
The Cardinals (2-3, 0-3) enter with uncertainty surrounding the standing of beginning quarterback Malik Cunningham, who’s being monitored this week for concussion-like signs, in keeping with Coach Scott Satterfield. Cunningham was injured throughout final weekend’s 34-33 loss to Boston College, giving technique to backup Brock Domann, and is listed as day-to-day.
“I really think this is a big game for us, just to get our momentum going into the bye week,” mentioned Cavaliers cornerback Anthony Johnson, who transferred to Virginia after starting his profession with Louisville. “That’d be really big, and then we’re in Scott Stadium. We’ve got to make sure we defend our home.”
The Cavaliers are internet hosting a Power Five faculty for the primary time this season on the heels of a 38-17 defeat last weekend at Duke in a sport they fell behind by 21-0 early within the second quarter and by no means recovered.
The same blueprint plagued Virginia one sport prior when it trailed Syracuse at halftime, 16-0, on the JMA Wireless Dome earlier than rallying to take a 20-19 lead late within the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers failed to finish the comeback when a pricey penalty contributed to Syracuse kicking a subject purpose with 1:14 to play for a 22-20 triumph.
Self-inflicted errors proved pricey in each video games. Virginia dedicated 12 penalties for 105 yards against the Orange and 6 for 87 yards against the Blue Devils, who restricted the Cavaliers to 295 yards of complete offense, together with simply 93 dashing.
“We’ll get a good indicator of where we are, kind of going into the bye week and get some identity for ourselves,” mentioned Virginia tight end Grant Misch, a local of Sterling who performed highschool soccer at Potomac Falls. “It’s a good middle point, a good ACC stretch coming up, a good way to find ourselves.”
Exactly who this iteration of Virginia is stays unclear, at the least offensively given the statistical regression of quarterback Brennan Armstrong. The dual-threat southpaw elected to return again for a fifth yr to fortify his NFL draft inventory, however Armstrong’s manufacturing has tailed off dramatically from the record-setting numbers he posted over the earlier two seasons.
The Cavaliers’ profession and single-season chief in complete offense ranks tenth out of 14 quarterbacks within the convention this yr in passing yards per sport (210.0). Last season Armstrong led the ACC in that class (404.5), ending as the one quarterback to common greater than 400 passing yards per sport.
Perhaps most alarming is Armstrong’s dip in completion share, which this season stands at 52.0. He ended 2021 with a completion share of 65.2, good for fourth within the ACC.
Also troubling have been Armstrong’s 5 interceptions, representing half of his complete for all of final season.
“I think everyone just doing the little things on their job, whether it’s not running the route precisely enough or dropping the ball or the timing with the quarterback,” Misch mentioned when requested for a proof of Armstrong’s statistical decline. “That’s what we’re trying to work more on every day is precision and just getting that timing and chemistry with BA.”
A leaky and inexperienced offensive line, in the meantime, has compelled Armstrong to launch the ball earlier than he had been accustomed to in earlier years whereas he continues to develop a command of the ideas Elliott and first-year offensive coordinator Des Kitchings have put in.
In addition, the dashing assault has supplied solely modest help. The Cavaliers are ninth within the convention at 154.4 yards per sport and common 94.7 against Power Five opponents this season.
“I’m not looking at the schedule,” Elliott mentioned. “Right now I’m trying to figure out schematically what we need to do as a staff to be successful against Louisville. What do I do in conjunction with the staff to help find the right motivation for these guys to be detail oriented, focus on the little things, not listen to the voices on the outside.
“Focus on what they can control. They can control their attitude they come to work [with] every day, the quality of the work they put in, then how prepared they show up on Saturday to play.”