No clear favorite exists in London’s second year
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Amid the optimism that second-year football coach Mike London has delivered to the University of Virginia, there is short-term angst in Charlottesville.
Who will be the Cavaliers’ starting quarterback in 2011?
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On Wednesday, the day before the Cavaliers begin preseason practice, the quarterback situation was the dominant theme. In his 20-minute session with the media, all but one of the questions fielded by offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was about the quarterbacks.
In no specific order, four are in the mix to replace graduated Marc Verica: sophomores Ross Metheny and Michael Rocco, redshirt freshman Michael Strauss and true freshman David Watford.
After guiding Virginia to a 4-8 record in his rookie year, London is in deflection mode, trying to relieve the pressure on his quarterbacks.
“I think the surrounding cast has to be good,” London said. “If the line can play better, which I expect them to do, if the tight ends can block and do what they do better, same with the wide receivers, I think we take something off the plate of the quarterback.”
Before fielding a question, Lazor knew what was coming. So he told a story about coaching in Washington under Joe Gibbs in 2004, when the preseason question was holdover Patrick Ramsey or newly acquired Mark Brunell.
“He announced an open competition,” Lazor recalled. “But in my heart, I believe Coach Gibbs knew who he wanted to be the starter. But he let it play out on the field. I just learned I think that’s always the best way.”
So let the competition begin.
Rocco, the starter in the spring game who completed 13 of 25 passes last fall for 143 yards, might have the best grasp of the offense. The left-handed Metheny, who went 13-for-17 for 171 yards, splitting mop-up duties with Rocco, appears to have the best arm. Though a redshirt freshman, Strauss has two springs in Charlottesville under his belt. The highly recruited Watford has the best legs and the most upside but is the least experienced.
All were with the Cavaliers in the spring. None took the reins.
“I’ve been in situations where it hasn’t played out quickly, and that’s not fun,” Lazor said. “Hopefully sooner rather than later we get a starter and he can get more reps. That’s the best thing for the football team.”
The first question for senior wideout Matt Snyder on Wednesday was about the quarterbacks.
“I thought that might come up,” Snyder said, shaking his head and smiling.
“I think that pressure is much better put on 10 guys versus one,” Snyder added. “I think that quarterback, whoever it’s going to be, is going to be lifted up by the experience and the veteran play around him.”
The quarterback should be well-protected as six starters return up front: budding sophomore star Morgan Moses (6-6, 350), sophomore tight end Colter Phillips (6-6, 245), junior Oday Aboushi (6-6, 295) and seniors Austin Pasztor (6-7, 320), Anthony Mihota (6-4, 270) and Landon Bradley (6-7, 280).
“We’re excited about the guys surrounding the quarterback,” London said.
Now it is up to London to pick one.
