An Insider's Look at Virginia

An Insider’s Look at Virginia

October 21, 2017 · by · in Football

By Bryan Bruwer

Ahead of this weekend’s clash between the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Cavaliers, WZBCSports talked to Ryan Reese, a contributor to www.streakingthelawn.com, an SBNation affiliate for all things UVA sports.

 

  1. BC freshman running back AJ Dillon exploded last week against Louisville for almost 300 rushing yards, and given UVA’s struggles in stopping the run, do you think they will able to keep Dillon and the BC ground game in check?

 

That was certainly an impressive performance by Dillon, and the freshman looks to have a bright future. I don’t have to tell you this, but he also ran for 120 against Central Michigan, so this didn’t come out of the blue. He will definitely be a focal point for the Virginia defense on Saturday. That being said, up until last week when North Carolina’s Michael Carter ran for 157 on the Hoos, the defense hadn’t allowed any more than 54 yards to a running back all season. It’s been quarterbacks who have racked the majority of rushing yards against the Cavaliers. Some of that was by design with the coaching staff making a concession to quarterback runs, and some of that was miscues on the defense. However, only in the loss to Indiana was that a difference in the game. I don’t know if Virginia will keep the running game “in check” but they may not have to. Given the quality of the Virginia pass defense, look for the Hoos to make Boston College one dimensional conceding some yards on the ground, but ultimately keeping the Eagle offense in front of them, limiting big plays.

 

 

  1. Who is the biggest X-Factor in this game for UVA? 

 

The strength of both of these teams is their pass defense, so I look for Virginia’s run game to take center stage. While it would be easy to say Jordan Ellis coming off his career high 136 yards, you said X-Factor and that has to be Olamide Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus is a junior and I still have a hard time with whether he is a running back or a wide receiver. Officially listed as the H-Back, Zaccheaus routinely touches the ball 10+ times a game. With Virginia likely to come out and employ a power run game behind Ellis, Zaccheaus could be the difference in the game whether he gets utilized in the running game, or whether he can get a free release on a play action pass down the seam. He’s a big play waiting to happen having caught touchdown passes of 30 and 81 yards while adding a rushing score where he scampered 56 virtually untouched off tackle, so if the defense is keying on Ellis, it won’t take much for Zaccheaus make the Eagles pay.

 

  1. BC’s vaunted pass rusher Harold Landry has been turning it on lately, registering four sacks in the last three games. How will UVA keep him under control and mitigate the BC pass rush?

 

Keeping Kurt Benkert clean is a key for Virginia. Last week’s win over UNC was an outlier with the defense getting to Benkert four times on the day. But before that the Virginia offensive line only gave up a single sack in each of the previous four games. While the play of the line is crucial, the Hoos have done a good job of mixing up the play calls giving Benkert any number of receiving options. To avoid an aggressive pass rush, look for Zaccheaus out of the slot and Daniel Hamm out of the backfield to get a lot of short screen-type passes. Plus, Benkert is pretty elusive. He’ll never be mistaken for Michael Vick, but he can move if needed to avoid the pass rush, and I’d argue he might actually be a better passer on the run.

 

  1. Virginia QB Kurt Benkert has been sensational this season, but the BC defense has forced its fair share of turnovers, including five interceptions by ball-hawking DB Lukas Denis. How will UVA win the turnover battle and prevent turnovers against this BC defense?

 

While saying upright has been significant for Benkert this season, perhaps no other stat can be looked at as the reason for his success as his lack of interceptions. On the year, he’s thrown it to the other guys only three times. He’s coupled that with 15 touchdowns for a ratio that puts him 15th in the country. Compare that to 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions a season ago and it’s no surprise Virginia has three more wins already than they had in all of last season. But the key to avoiding turnovers against Boston College is most likely to be limiting Benkert’s attempts. Since I see this as a grind-it-out slug-it-out game, I don’t see Denis and his mates in the secondary having many chances for picks.

 

  1. Who will win and why? Score prediction?

 

Saturday should be slow-paced, physical game between teams who are best on the defensive side of the ball. Both will look to keep the ball on the ground and control the clock. However, Benkert will connect on a couple plays (perhaps one to Zaccheaus) that will be the difference. Virginia wins 21-13