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Gearing up for the season: Offensive line
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Excited yet? We're less than three weeks from the season kickoff on the first weekend of September. To get you ready for the start of the season, we'll look at each unit on the team and see where they stand going through preseason camp, leading up to the opener against William & Mary on September 5. We'll start with the most important part of any offense. No, not the quarterbacks. How does UVa's offensive line look?
The nominal starters are:
LT Landon Bradley: There are huge shoes to fill here. Bradley is a sophomore and has apprenticed behind top-ten NFL draft pick Eugene Monroe for the last two years. With Monroe off to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bradley will be counted on to protect his quarterback's blind side. Bradley will be closely scrutinized - when he steps onto the field on September 5, it will be only his second career college game.
LG Austin Pasztor: Last season, senior guard Zak Stair got the starting nod at left guard, but was injured early in the season, and true freshman Pasztor stepped in. Pasztor made an instant impression, immediately upgrading the quality of play on the line, and didn't relinquish the starting job all season. His runblocking was a point of particular excellence. He's just a sophomore, but he has a good chance of developing into yet another member of the long line of Virginia's first-round picks on the offensive line.
C Jack Shields: Shields was recruited to the University as a tight end, but outgrew the pass-catching role and was moved to the offensive line. He's starting his second season as the starting center, and has been a quiet and underappreciated member of the line.
RG B.J. Cabbell: Like Shields, Cabbell is starting his second season as a regular starter on the line, and is a solid, under-the-radar performer at right guard. His blocking improved from game to game last season, and he's earned the confidence of coaches and fans alike.
RT Will Barker: Elected a team captain by his teammates, Barker is the only offensive lineman so honored and the only senior on the line. He'll be looked to for leadership not only by his fellow linemates, but the whole offense. Additionally, he's looking to the NFL next season, being projected as a possible draft pick in April.
On the second unit, there are some names to watch out for. True freshman Oday Aboushi could push Bradley for playing time at left tackle, and on the other end, Lamar Milstead will act as Barker's backup. Milstead was a highly touted recruit and should be in line to start next year after Barker departs.
One name missing from the conversation is massive tackle Morgan Moses, the marquee member of the recruiting class of 2009. Moses excited the Cavalier faithful by committing to Virginia on National Signing Day, but couldn't get himself academically eligible and will spend a year at prep school before hopefully arriving at UVa in 2010.
Outlook: The line will be challenged this year by the complete revamping of the playbook brought on by the change in offensive coordinators. Al Groh has always liked his linemen to be as massive as possible, and the current starting lineup includes three players listed above 300 pounds. The mobility and athleticism required to run a spread offense may not be a fit. On the other hand, it's a group that's stepped up and responded to challenges in the past. After taking some heat early last season for poor run-blocking, they turned in a vast improvement in this area in the second half of the year. And their pass-blocking, a skill requiring plenty of athleticism, was impeccable as Virginia led the league with fewest sacks allowed all season. They've had a full season to gel as a unit with a lot of experience and consistency to bring to the 2009 season, and the offensive line figures to be a strength of UVa's offense for 2009.
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