Cavaliers report: Strategy and personnel

May 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Inside slant · Notes, quotes

2008 OUTLOOK: The tumultuous offseason and a schedule that starts with Southern California coming to town on Aug. 30 make for a somewhat bleak outlook for the Cavaliers. Only 10 starters return from last year's 9-4 club that had six wins by five points or less, and no quarterback emerged from the pack as the frontrunner at quarterback. The bright spots are at running back and receiver on offense and linebacker on defense.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
A three-way battle at quarterback to take over for academic casualty Jameel Sewell will continue in the fall. Candidates are senior Scott Deke, sophomore Marc Verica and sophomore Peter Lalich. Lalich played as Sewell's backup in 2007. TB Cedric Peerman, who led the Cavaliers in rushing with 585 yards in just six games before sustaining a foot injury, and Mikell Simpson, who took over when Peerman went out, give the Cavs depth at running back. Junior WR Kevin Ogletree, back from a knee injury that cost him all of 2007, and senior Maurice Covington are a pair of experienced, quality wideouts. Sophomore WR Staton Jobe also is a returning starter. With Branden Albert casting his lot in the NFL, tackles Will Barker and Eugene Monroe are the only returning starters in the offensive line.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Three starters -- Jon Copper, Clint Sintim and Antonio Appleby -- return at linebacker, and CB Vic Hall and S Byron Glaspy are returning starters in the secondary. But the line must be completely rebuilt. DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald could have helped there, but he lost out to academics. Redshirt freshman Matt Conrath earned one starting spot at end with his play in the spring and senior Alex Field looks to step in at the other. Junior Nate Collins, a backup to Allen Billyk, likely will take over the nose guard spot in Virginia's 3-4 front. Sophomores Ras-I Dowling and Trey Womack are candidates in the secondary.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Two new kickers will step in for the Cavaliers. Chris Hinkebein, a redshirt freshman, looks to take over for Chris Gould on field goals and PATs, and sophomore John Thornton likely will handle punting. Hall averaged an even 10 yards on punt returns last year, and he also will figure in kickoff returns along with Peerman and Simpson.

ROSTER REPORT

-- TB Cedric Peerman, Clint Sintim, Eugene Monroe, LB John Bivens, OT Lamar Milstead, OG Patrick Slebonick, S Corey Mosley and DE Sean Gottschalk all sat out the spring game because of various injuries. All are expected to be ready by the fall.

--Add LB J'Courtney Williams, a redshirt freshmen, to the list of player dismissals from the offseason. Williams was charged with one count of credit card theft and one count of credit card fraud in connection with the theft of a wallet in early March. He already was on probation after being arrested and charged with possession of marijuana the previous month. Lost to the team following the season for academic reasons were Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Jameel Sewell, CB Chris Cook, WR Chris Dalton and LB Darnell Carter.