Cavaliers’ offense gets a tuneup

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Published: October 4, 2008

It was no coincidence that the revival of Virginia’s offense on Saturday night coincided with a resurgence of the Cavaliers’ running game in a stunning 31-0 pummeling of Maryland.

For weeks now, UVa’s offense has coughed and sputtered like an old clunker ready for the junkyard. What trotted onto the field at Scott Stadium on this October evening didn’t even resemble that old heap.

Instead, this was a smooth-running, shiny sports car chomping at the bit to hit the highway.

Was a bit reminiscent of Al Pacino’s character, the blinded Col. Frank Slade, in “The Scent of a Woman,” after he had taken a test drive of such a sports car for a harrowing ride through the city streets. When he was pulled over by an officer, Pacino’s line was priceless.

“Doesn’t she purrrrrr,” Pacino said.

An offensive breakout

Al Groh must have felt that way after his Cavaliers broke a two-game losing streak with a runaway upset over Ralph Friedgen’s 4-2 Terrapins. After all, Maryland was about a two-touchdown favorite and was coming off two wins in the previous three weeks over then-No. 23 Cal, and then-No. 20 Clemson.

Meanwhile, Virginia had stumbled all over the place. In fact, the Cavaliers’ 31 points nearly matched their season total of 36 points in the first four games.

Struggling with a new quarterback, Marc Verica, who was thrown into the starting lineup with little notice, the Cavs were trying to feel their way in the early games. Verica was breaking in, the offensive line was having a difficult time grasping the concept of run blocking, and UVa’s best running back, Cedric Peerman, wasn’t 100 percent healthy until Saturday night.

When all those factors came together, Virginia looked like an offensive juggernaut.

Ground gains

Against the Terps, who had given up an average of 134 yards rushing per game in its first five contests, Virginia chewed up real estate at an amazing rate.

Paced by Peerman, who was eventually relieved by Mikell Simpson, the Cavaliers piled up 201 rushing yards on 41 carries.

What that did was open up the passing game for Verica, preventing Maryland from crowding the box. When Verica came alive with a solid performance (226 yards passing, two touchdowns, 25 of 34) that, in turn, opened up the ground game.

But the offensive line was the biggest story. Considered a weakness heading into the season, at least in terms of being able to punch holes for its running backs, Virginia’s wide bodies dominated the line of scrimmage all night. That’s what good offenses do.

“The offensive line made good progress tonight,” Groh said. “It should be a nice first at-bat for Austin Pasztor, who started against some real good players and did a real good job over there.”

Pasztor, an amazing story, is a 17-year-old freshman, who earned his first start of the season at left guard. Clearly, the Canadian, who played at Fork Union Military Academy, added some punch to the offensive line.

Certainly it had to be a reassuring feeling with Peerman back in the huddle.

The fifth-year senior had but 20 carries coming into the game and finished with 17 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 23 yards.

More importantly, he added inspiration and leadership for a team in desperate need of both.

“To have Cedric back for essentially, all intents and purposes, the first time this season, made a great difference,” Groh said. “He’s got a rare heart for competition and a rare heart for this team. It’s been painful for him not to be a part of it. His performance and production is a significant part of what we are doing.”

His performance represented the first 100-yard game for a Wahoo back this season.

Peerman’s most spectacular run of the evening was a 36-yarder on UVa’s first possession of the second half, racing to the Maryland 11, where the Cavs kicked a field goal for a 24-0 lead.

One of his most powerful runs came on the next possession, an 11-play, 61-yard march that essentially iced the game. From the Terps’ nine-yard line, Peerman took the ball around the left corner, following big, ol’ pulling right guard B.J. Cabell, who blew up the Maryland defenders as the UVa tailback bolted to paydirt for a mindboggling 31-0 lead.

“I told Ced before the play, ‘Just stay in my hip pocket and we’ll be getting in there,’” Cabbell said about the play.

Peerman remembered it just that way.

“Before the play, B.J. said, ‘You can run behind me,’” Peerman said. “So I said, ‘OK I’m going to run behind you.’ He came around the edge and blew that guy up.”

And thusly, Virginia blew up the Terps.

We couldn’t help but remember earlier in the week Groh stating that “When Cedric is Cedric again, we’ll all know it.”

The real Cedric is back.