Malachi Fields continues to be productive for Virginia. ~ Photo by Kris Wright/TheSabre.com
The Virginia football team limped into a bye week with three straight losses, including a rough 41-14 drubbing by North Carolina, and injuries to several key players. While the break in the schedule may have helped guys rest and the team hit reset, November presents a significant challenge with three road games and three ranked opponents waiting in the wings.
First up is Pittsburgh. The Panthers own a 10-4 edge in the all-time series that includes a 6-1 mark at home. Currently ranked No. 23 nationally, their 7-1 record represents the program’s best eight-game start since 2009. UVA, meanwhile, comes into the contest at 4-4 after ending October on a slide. While bowl talk became hopeful after a 4-1 start, the Hoos now are just trying to stop the skid.
So what does the matchup look like for Virginia and Pittsburgh? Let’s take a quick-hitting look through lists of three.
3 Players To Watch
Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (6’0”, 183), No. 10: After starting the season with 247 or more passing yards and 5 total touchdown passes in the first three games, Colandrea has not been as effective of late. He has one performance of 200+ passing yards among the last five games with 1 or fewer TD passes in three outings. Pittsburgh traditionally does a good job of keeping UVA quarterbacks in the pocket, which has caused problems for Colandrea at times so far in his young career. The Hoos should try to counter that with some pocket movement, but the offensive line’s consistency issues make that difficult too. Either way, Colandrea’s play seems directly tied to the team’s chances to win on the road this week.
Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis (6’0”, 225), No. 9: Speaking of Virginia’s passing attack ... the offense had a horrible day against North Carolina with a mixed up offensive line that allowed 10 sacks. The Hoos got some players back during the bye week, but they’ll need to deal with a Panthers defense that ranks No. 5 nationally in tackles for loss (8.1 per game) and 11th in sacks (3.0). Louis, a sophomore, leads the team in each of these categories: 68 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks (tie), and 3 interceptions. He returned a pick 59 yards for a touchdown against Syracuse.
Pitt running back Desmond Reid (5’8”, 175), No. 0: The junior enters this game ranked No. 5 nationally in all-purpose yards with an average of 156.29 per game. The totals break down as 590 rushing yards, 385 receiving yards, and 119 punt return yards. Given that UVA just had running back problems with Louisville’s Isaac Brown and UNC’s Omarion Hampton, Reid could be a challenge again this week for the defense. Reid was an All-American at Western Carolina before transferring to Pitt.
3 Trends To Know
Virginia Has Found Post-Bye Success Under Tony Elliott: The Hoos enter this game 3-0 under Coach Elliott after a bye. That includes the win against Boston College earlier this season. UVA also won at No. 10 UNC last season after a bye. With an 8 p.m. kickoff this week, the Cavaliers can try to add to some moderate success recently in that situation too - they’ve won 3 of their last 5 night games.
UVA receiver Malachi Fields has been a consistent producer: Virginia expected Fields (6’4”, 220) to follow up last season’s strong campaign (58 catches, 811 yards, 5 touchdowns) with another good season and he’s done exactly that. Fields has 43 receptions for 654 yards and 4 touchdowns and at least 3 catches in every game this season. He also has at least 63 yards receiving in six of eight games. Fields is on pace to surpass his totals from last season in all 3 categories.
Pittsburgh scored a defensive or special teams touchdown in four of eight games: The Panthers rank 10th nationally in points per game at 38.9 (the ACC by the way, has 4 teams in the top 10 for scoring), but it’s not just the offense making contributions. They’ve gotten touchdowns from either defense or special teams in four games. In the opener against Kent State, Reid scored on a 78-yard punt return. In game three against West Virginia, Brandon George returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a TD. Against Youngstown State in game four, Tamarion Crumpley had a pick-6. Then in game seven it got really crazy against Syracuse as Louis, Rasheem Biles, and Braylan Lovelace all scored on interception returns.
3 Virginia Predictions
Antonio Clary (6’0”, 203) Returns And Posts 7+ tackles: After missing the last three games, all losses for the team, Clary has returned to practice. I think he returns to the field this week and picks up where he left off. In the season’s first five games, Clary made at least 7 tackles each outing.
Grady Brosterhous (6’2”, 211) Makes A Touchdown Pass: The featured quarterback in the “Grady Bunch” package for goal line situations leads UVA with four rushing touchdowns this season. Coming out of a bye week, I predict a tendency breaker on a goal-to-go situation. Jump pass touchdown?
Receiver JR Wilson (6’4”, 212) Scores Again: In the North Carolina game, Wilson secured his first career touchdown catch on a 68-yard pass play with Tony Muskett. Here’s a chance for Wilson to build on that confidence booster.
3 Keys To The Game
Block Someone: Elliott noted the tough life of an offensive line, saying “even when it’s not their fault, it’s their fault” when it comes to criticism on offense. Even so, it’s hard not to single out the need for better offensive line play this week. The Hoos gave up 10 sacks with 12 total tackles for loss to North Carolina, 4 sacks with 7 total tackles for loss to Clemson, and 3 sacks with 9 total tackles for loss to Louisville. The offense, meanwhile scored 14 and 20 points in two of those games and would have been lower in the Clemson game too if not for a late flurry when the game was decided. In other words, negative plays and low points have contributed to three straight losses There’s no chance of ending that trend if the offensive line can’t block someone consistently.
Return The Favor: While Virginia has had its own protection issues, Pittsburgh has allowed 19 sacks this season to tie for 81st nationally. SMU posted 3 sacks in its win against Pitt last week. The Hoos haven’t been much of a pass rush threat with only 12 sacks on the season (112th-tied), but they could find some traction in this game and that would help chances of winning.
Connect On At Least One Explosive Touchdown: In its four wins this season, UVA produced at least one offensive touchdown of 24+ yards in each. Trell Harris (35) and Jack Griese (57) both had longer catches against Richmond, Tyler Neville and Harris each scored from 24 yards out at Wake, and Fields made catches of 37 (Coastal Carolina) and 30 (Boston College) in the other two victories. The red zone struggles this season have been well documented so it seems like the Hoos need explosive scoring plays in order to get enough points on the board to win.
3 Virginia Picks
Offensive Player Of The Game: Tight end Tyler Neville (6’4”, 248) pulls in 4+ catches and a touchdown.
Defensive Player Of The Game: Safety Jonas Sanker (6’1”, 210) leads the way with 8+ tackles.
Winner: To win the game, Virginia likely will need to win a battle of offenses unless Clary’s potential return resets the defense. Doesn’t feel like UVA has enough offensive consistently to do that. Unless Coach Elliott keeps his bye week undefeated magic going, this feels like a road loss. Pitt 35, Virginia 24. (Season to date: 5-3)
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