London post-mortem
While filling out my All-ACC ballot and experiencing some not-so-infrequent computer issues, I missed a Mike London conference call this afternoon, but I’ve listened to the playback twice.
Nothing particularly earth-shattering came out of it but I was interested in London’s comments on a running game that produced a season-low 30 yards in a 17-14 loss Saturday at Virginia Tech.
“I think if you asked [offensive coordinator] Bill [Lazor] and the offensive staff, going into the preseason it looked like one of the strengths of the team would be the offensive line as far as being able to run the ball,” London said. “That didn’t come to fruition the way we thought.”
Ironically, the Cavaliers also rushed for 30 yards against the Hokies in 2011, when Tech won in Charlottesville 38-0. But that UVa team had four games in which it rushed for 200 yards or more and averaged 162.1 yards per game on the ground.
This year, the Cavaliers rushed for more than 200 yards only once, in a 33-6 victory at North Carolina State. They averaged 128.5 yards per game on the ground.
UVa rushed for 30 yards as a team against Tech, 32 yards against Penn State and 48 against Wake Forest.
Hopes for a punishing running game were based on the return of two running backs who had rushed for more than 1,600 yards last year, Perry Jones and Kevin Parks, as well as three starting offensive linemen.
One tackle, senior Oday Aboushi, was a second-team All-ACC pick in 2011. The other tackle, 6-foot-6, 335-pound junior Morgan Moses, was entering his third season as a starter.
Junior Luke Bowanko was moved from guard to center, but going into the ninth game of the season, Miami coach Al Golden said Bowanko was the best center he had seen all season.
So, what was the problem?
One thing you can say was that graduated guard Austin Pasztor was probably better than even his first-team All-ACC selection in 2011 would have suggested. And the combination of 2011 honorable-mention center Anthony Mihota and Bowanko was better than the combination of Bowanko and any of 3-4 guards who received ample playing time this year.
On today’s conference call, London cited UVa’s inability to convert third downs (3 for 14 overall, 0 for 5 in the second half) as a big problem.
Maybe so, but I tend to agree with Lazor, who said Saturday that third downs wouldn’t have been a big problem if the Cavaliers had been a little more successful on first and second down.
I’ve felt for some time that the Cavaliers have become too predictable on first downs, running the ball on 21 of 25 first downs against North Carolina, with only one of the runs going for more than 9 yards.
UVa wasn’t quite as predictable in its playcalling Saturday but FIRST DOWNS were clearly a problem.
Virginia had a total of 11 yards on its first eight first-and-10 plays at Tech and, if you deduct a holding penalty, the net gain was 1 yard.
The Cavaliers passed for more than 3,000 yards as a team — the first time in school history that UVa has had 3,000 passing yards in three straight seasons. That just makes we wonder if the Cavaliers wouldn’t be more successful if they tried to set up the run with the pass and not vice versa.
London said on the conference call that five players had X-rays Sunday: defensive tackle Chris Brathwaite (knee), defensive end Brent Urban (knee), safety Brandon Phelps (knee), quarterback Phillip Sims (hand) and wide receiver Tim Smith (ankle).
When asked about possible changes to the staff, London responded, “We’;re going to evaluate everything. That’s my responsibility — to look at the program in its entirety.”
Nobody asked about clock-management decisions at the end of Saturday’s game but I will seek London’s comment on that in coming days.
November 25, 2012 - 8:06 PM
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Doug,
Were you watching the same game I was? In your column you said that the 3rd down play where Thomas ran it to the middle of the field ended with 51 seconds left. Eh, you can’t go from 51 seconds to 4 seconds on 1 play can you? The play clock resets at 40 seconds as soon as the play is over.
Poor time management but against the wind with 40 seconds left, doubtful UVA gets into FG position to tie.
Bottom line was Simms was very ineffective yesterday. Jarrett should have had an INT. Tough luck for UVA but maybe next year….
UVA’S FAITHFUL IS SICK OF LOSING!!……..
Administrators: “Please, stop being cheap and spend the bucks it takes to get a REAL national-caliber coach”!!!
London and staff should be fired!!!!
Enough is Enough!!
Bob,
There were 50 seconds on the clock when the play started, according to the play-by-play.
I’m guessing by the time they ran the play and the bodies were untangled that there were about 35 seconds left.
So, they probably could have called a penalty with anywhere from 42-45 seconds left.
They also could have called a timeout after the second-down play but didn’t.
I was trying to figure out UVa’s strategy and it occurred to me that UVa wanted to put Virginia Tech in a fourth-down situation, where if it had Bobbled the snap, etc., it wouldn’t have had the luxury of another down.
If somebody had advanced that theory, maybe I could have believed it. But, Mike London had no answers after the game. That’s really what made it look bad.
I would say the odds of Journell missing on fourth down were greater than the odds of Virginia getting the ball with a minute left and driving downfield into FG range.
If they really wanted to go to overtime, they would have run the ball once or twice on the next-to-last drive. I’m not sure Tech would have stopped the clock and probably would have settled for overtime.
Jay,
I don’t think there is any chance of London getting fired one year after being named ACC coach of the year in 2011.
I will say that I thought Virginia needed to talk to Al Golden, then at Temple, before wrapping up the hiring process.
I also thought that Derek Dooley should have gotten a look, so what do I know?
DD
Doug -
While you’re questioning the coach – ask him what in the hell they were trying to prove at the end of the first half.
One sweep wide (out-of-bounds) that stioppped the clock), then a dive into the line where the RB gets CLOBBERED in the backfield.
The only possible things that can happen on those 2 dumb-ass plays are BAD (fumble,injury,penalty,etc…)
Why not take a friggin’ knee and go to the house??????
10-4
Chester
Doug………
Wouldn’t you agree that London won last year and compiled a respectable 8-4 record with “Al Groh’s” leftovers, who were fourth and fifth year seniors??
Also, the overall coaching philosophy, glaring errors in play calling, player development and mismanaging of games has taken its toll.
Now, granted he should be given another year to see if these coaching errors can be corrected, BUT, if we are returning to this very same forum next year with an identical 4-8 record or worse, can we agree then??
Next year, this “Quarterback Carousel” has to stop also – London needs to pick ONE main guy and go with it……Left to me, I would look at Matt Johns, Grayson Lambert or, hell, even David Watford!!………I don’t think “Mr Interception” Michael Rocco is the man – there was a reason why he was a “TWO-STAR” quarterback coming out of high school – (They don’t give “ONE” star ratings!)………
Sims, may have a shot, if he can learn the playbook and work to get all players on the same page……..
Here’s looking to NEXT YEAR – again!!
Al G. is now available – Please give him another shot – GO HOKIES!
I like Perry Jones and Kevin Parks, but Virginia needs a BIG back for third and short situations. Maybe Richardson, maybe someone else, but just being fast doesn’t work against a defense that’s also fast…but big and well-coached.
Doug,
I re-watched the game last night on ESPN3 from start to finish because I missed the game. I was very interested in the mismanagement of game clock by London. I am going to form a hypnothesis and say that London, based on Tech giving up game-winning touchdowns this season in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter, was banking on Rocco’s ability to move the football. The first two plays were a bit conservative, runs, and then a play action pass to Hightower which was picked off by Exum. I’m sure if UVa fans took a look at the video, they could make the argument there was either an interference or defensive holding by Exum when he made the interception, I couldn’t really tell.
What was really baffling with how much times there were left on the clock, Tech was obiviously in milking-the-clock-mode with conservative runs to set up Journell’s FG attempts, which obiviously won the game. Does it mean that after Rocco threw the interception, London lost confidence in his quarterback to try and engineer a drive? Was he banking on his defense to force quick 3 and outs to hopefully force an overtime?
There’s a lot of questions about what he was thinking. Judging from his reaction on the sideline, it seem his body language suggested he was second- and third-guessing himself as the clock ticked down to 4 seconds.
It was truly bizarre. I think the mistake London made was gambling for a fourth down fake field goal attempt instead of putting pressure on Thomas and the offense to generate drives by kicking the FG attempt.
It was honestly, the ugliest game I have watched, far worse than the Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech Labor Day match up. It was almost like both teams didn’t really want to lose to other, so they tried to trip each other up in hope one came on top.
There were 50 seconds when the play ended and the play clock started, but with under 40 seconds to go a Virginia player went to the ground with an injury. This stopped both clocks. Because it was a defensive player, the play clock is reset to 40. If it had been an offensive player the play clock would be reset to 25 seconds in the first 29 minutes of each half, however in the last minute of either half, if an offensive player goes down the team must take a time out or there is an additional 10 second runoff.
Got to give London one more year. If he finishes next year with anything less than a bowl game I don’t see him sticking around.
He has done better than average in recruiting players but I don’t see quality in his coaching staff.
Got to make some changes. Start with taking the points when you can and give your guys a chance to win. Three points and a ten point lead..looks good now.
Doug -
How about some commentary on the abysmal special teams play over the past two years? Too often, this season in particular, special teams mistakes have contributed directly to losses. I love Anthony Poindexter’s enthusiasm, and he has a place in the program. But it’s clearly NOT special teams coach. If London listed to Dex on the call to try a fake FG, as the postgame comments seemed to indicate, it’s just one more example. Priority No. 1 between now and spring practice should be to bring in a proven special teams coach.
Would love to hear Coach London’s comment on clock management as well as why he did not kick the field goal? He is a great recruiter and motivator but he has done a terrible job with in game decisions (ex. Duke, N.C., Wake, etc.). He would do best to bring in coordinator who could make game time decisions and play calling to help make things not sp predictable. I like coach and respect him but at times he appears to be in over his head. Thanks for listening and LET’S GO HOO’s!!!
In Bleaksburg if youn win the toss you should always defer. You don’t want to play against the wind in the second half.
I like Mike London and respect his as a father, coach and as an upstanding man of character……He was a great FCS (Division I AA) coach and Richmond and won a national championship.
However, I don’t think he was, is, or ever will be ready for big-time Division I (FBS) “Big Money” football!!!…..His coaching staff also leaves a lot to be desired………I love Anthony Poindexter and respect him as being one of the best to ever don the “Blue & Orange” as an All-American, HOWEVER, the special teams has consistently ranked at the bottom of the ACC, since he has been coach………..??
If London is given another year to correct things, it should start with wholesale staff changes – from special teams coach to strength and conditioning coach – the ‘Hoos have simply been pushed around up front for the past few years – especially, on the offensive line…..Other teams, like Va Tech, have proved to be stronger and faster.
Something needs to change in “Hooville…..If London doesn’t produce next year and sticks with the same coaching staff, then it is time for AD Craig Littlepage and UVA president Teresa Sullivan needs to fire London and start over………..
If Gene Chizik can be fired at Auburn two years removed from a national championship, then London certainly is up for discussion……..This is the arena of Big Time College Football that we play in now – harsh maybe, but, that is the reality.
Puzzling play calling and “in-game” decisions seems to be a liabilty of London’s also……..
I agree with “TOM” above, in that London does appear to “in over his head”…..
Nice person, but, again, “in over his head”
CMoody,
Yeah, I do recall the UVA guy going down on the ground (after he had already lined up for the play) and most fans questioning the extent of his “injury” given he walked off the field under his own power.
Probably a signal from the bench to go down while London made up his mind about whether to call a timeout.
The truth is there wasn’t that much difference between last season and this for UVA except they won more close games last year. I think there was always some question about whether success at FBS Richmond equated to sucess in a BCS conference school. And quite some question as to whether London inherited that success he enjoyed at Richmond in terms of the caliber of players already on the team when JL took over.
One thing is for sure though, and that is that JL reopened the state of Virginia for recruiting because Al had closed it completely.
At this point, being a Hokie fan, I don’t mind if UVA retains London at all. Sooner or later, maybe even next year, UVA is going to get one on us and every Hokies realizes it.
Hopefully 5 star recruit Mizzel will be the kick and punt returner next year with his great speed and moves I’ve heard he has. That should improve special teams a lot. I have seen all I need to see of Rocco the past two years. If London sticks with him then that will cost him his job because he has the talent at all the other positions but QB. Its time for Lambert and bring Worfford in to mix things up a little.
The offensive system UVA is running is not well-suited to the talent in the Commonwealth and, thus, has a very limited upside given the dynamics of recruiting and UVA’s place in the football meritocracy. Doug, UVA will never be a fantasy football success. Never. The reasons are just too obvious to list. Groh’s grail — the pure “model drop back QB with enough legs to add a pinch of spice, but not more — was a disastrous crusade that brought Christian Olsen, Kevin McCabe, Scott Deke, Peter Lalich Marc Verica and Michael Rocco to the turnstile. Groh only won big with Marquest Hagans and Jameel Sewell. Yes, he won with Matt Schaub, but that was an interesting collaboration to say the least, and don’t forget the season-saving work Hagans did in the year Schaub was being touted for the Heisman but had his collar bone broken in the opening game against Duke.
UVA is still chasing that dream with Crusader Lazor at the offensive helm. Thank goodness they’ve let silliness go on the defensive side, or we’d be 0 for the last 24+. Whether or not UVA is predictable on first down has anything to do with our offensive failings, I can almost certainly say that the running game that featured Barry Word, Beaver Petty, Antoine Womack, Terry Kirby, Steve Morse, Charles Way, Nikki Fisher, Tiki Barber and, finally, Thomas Jones, would have been more successful on first downs in every game we played this year, even if the plays were handed to the opposing team before the huddle was broken.
UVA is losing because of its devotion to a certain type of passing-based model of offense that will never get traction in the Commonwealth.
Meanwhile, the nation’s top running back, according to Rivals, Derrick Green, is a Hermitage High grad (Jameel Sewell, anyone?): 6’0″, 220 lbs with 4.4 speed. Remind you of anyone (someboday say TERRY KIRBY)? He has received 32 offers from D-1 programs; i.e., all the best programs and the usual suspects. Astonishingly, he has crossed UVA off his interest list (i.e., “none”), yet holds “medium” interest in MISSISSIPPI, TENNESSEE, MIAMI AND AUBURN, all of which have as much holes in their current program picture as swiss cheese. Heck, UVA beat Miami two years in a row and we’re not even on this kid’s list.
I don’t want to hear about grades, about “character” or any other loser garbanzo. We’re not on his list and that is an indictment on the system we’re running. It’s for the other guys, and Green is smart to know he’s not what somebody in the Commonwealth seems to want to see, no matter how much we lose and how stupid we look doing it. Reminds me of the pre-Welsh era that I had so hoped was way, way in our rearview.
Looks like we’re back to Schutes, Kirtley and bourbon. Man, when will the South grow up?
Well said, “Theo”………I have been saying the same thing for years, and until the “philosophy” and “culture” of mediocrity changes at UVA, then they will always settle and produce less – sadly, for the alumni, fans and individuals who pay their hard-earned money for tickets, will always be the TRUE losers!!!
If London can recruit 5-star running backs, it is time to recruit four and ’5-star” QB with mobility and change the old, predictable “drop back” passer offense for a more dynamic, spread-the-field, mix-it-up offense……..UVA – IT IS TIME TO COME UP TO THE MODERN ERA OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND RECRUIT ACCORDINGLY!!
London does not call the plays. He is responsible for the whole operation, though. Can’t remember a time in their three seasons that there were so many head-scratching play calls.
Agree with everything you said. A lot of good fifth-year players last year but not much behind them and a lot of that was Groh’s fault.
Think that Sims winning his appeal for instant eligibility made for a very dysfunctional situation.
I think that Parks is a power back. Didn’t think the O-line was very good and the playcalling was predictable.
I was OK with the fake field goal. I thought UVa’s best bet was overtime, so my criticism was with the next-to-last drive — three passes, the first two incomplete and the last one intercepted.
That took 17 seconds off the clock. Why not run? That’s how they started every other drive.
Chris knows his stuff.
Wouldn’t disagree with you except on the fake FG. At 4th-and-8, maybe that was a little too much. But Jarrett from 39 was no sure bet. Even the failure to convert left them with good field position but the defense crumbled and gave up 83 yards.
How much would it cost to go out and get one of the top 10 special teams coaches in the country? A lot less than it would cost to get an O- or D-coordinator and might make more difference.
Had a head coach tell me the other day: I’m in charge of timeouts and that’s about all.
The selection process when London was hired was very flawed.
Maybe. He doesn’t call the plays, though. If you’re looking to blame the play-caller, blame Lazor.
Rocco makes good decisions. It’s the bad throws that cost him. Sims isn’t nearly as adept at going through his progressions.
The whole Derrick Green situation is a mystery to me. Jacked around the Hokies, too.