UVa line gets tough USC test

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Published: August 28, 2008

Last year was a good time to be Dave Borbely, in his second season as Virginia’s offensive line coach.

From stem to stern, he had veteran linemen at every spot, including first-round NFL draft choice Branden Albert at guard. That was last year.

One day away from the season opener against visiting college football kingpin Southern California, Borbely’s job has been a little more challenging. While both starting tackles return, the Cavaliers must break in three brand new starters in between.

You could call it the changing of the guards ... and center.

Diving right in

Going up against a mighty Trojans defense for a first-time starter isn’t how Borbely would have scripted things by choice. Wonder what he’d give to have last year’s O-line back just for this one game?

As the old axiom goes, you’ve got to dance with the one that brung you.

So, on Saturday afternoon in a sold-out Scott Stadium, Virginia will trot out its new trio of linemen: senior left guard Zak Stair, sophomore center Jack Shields, and sophomore right guard B.J. Cabbell. A large part of how the Cavaliers’ offense operates against USC will depend upon their efficiency.

Between the three of them, Stair has plenty of experience and a few starts under his belt, mostly from 2006 when current left tackle Eugene Monroe was hobbled with injuries. Shields played mop-up duty at center in the blowout over Pittsburgh last season and Cabbell, a local product from Nelson County, got into four games as a reserve.

How they’ll fare against the Trojans is anybody’s guess.

Works in progress

When quizzed this week about how the three new interior linemen have progressed, UVa coach Al Groh left the door open.

“I would say probably they came about as far as they could come under these circumstances,” the Wahoos’ CEO said. “Training camp has taken them about as far as it can take them. They need those other schemes and other players to progress.”

That request will be granted beginning at 3:30 Saturday afternoon when Southern California’s defense, led by a loaded linebacking corps, begins to administer some lessons to Virginia’s newcomers. Talk about baptism by fire.

Stair, who was recruited as a tight end, isn’t intimidated about what’s on the horizon.

The new UVa center said he has waited on this start a long time. While he quietly worked on his game last season, he didn’t feel the true pressure because veteran Jordy Lipsey was the starter and if Lipsey went down, then right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham was likely to slide into the spot.

Now, things are different.

“Now, I have to be ready to go in and be ready for this game,” said Shields.

Because his father, Jack, was a middle linebacker at Notre Dame from 1979-82, little Jack is more than familiar with USC’s program.

With both Shields and Cabbell being new starters, at least they have developed some cohesion in working side-by-side the past two years in practice.

“That has definitely helped,” Shields said. “We have a good feel for each other, where we’re going to be. If [Cabbell] has trouble with one thing or another, or if I do, we kind of pick up on that. We’re close and we talk a lot, so communication isn’t a problem.”

Unlike his predecessor at guard, Cunningham, Cabbell isn’t the lightest afoot lineman for Virginia. Power is his game.

Stair isn’t exactly as efficient as Albert was at pulling either, but then again, who is? Stair is working on his mobility, but he prefers the smash-mouth opportunities provided by the new guard position, something that wasn’t as readily available at left tackle where he backed up Monroe last season.

For the 6-foot-6, 300-pound veteran, a starting assignment has been a long time coming. He worked behind Monroe, a projected first-round choice, and behind D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a first-round pick a few years ago, while learning his craft. In fact, Stair has worked behind just about everybody up and down the UVa line the past four years.

“I’ve played left tackle, right tackle, center for about two weeks, and left guard now,” said the fifth-year senior. “Everything but right guard. Playing so many positions has helped me have a better understanding and to communicate better with the other guys. I can see things from a much wider view.”

While much of his exposure has been at tackle, where he and Monroe developed a working chemistry, he lights up when asked about the advantages of moving to guard.

“At guard, you can just line up and hit people and play football,” Stair said. “I definitely enjoy the smash-mouth aspect of it, something I didn’t get as much of at tackle.”

He’s no stranger to contact. How could he be considering that he had to go up against former Virginia All-American defensive end Chris Long, yet another first-rounder, for the past four years. Certainly, he won’t be intimidated by anything the Trojans throw at him after having to deal with Long.

“I played against Chris just about every day for the last four years,” Stair said. “It helps to know that you were prepared by such a high-caliber player.”

While the line is dotted with fresh faces, it’s a potentially solid part of the offense and a group that’s quite imposing when it walks out of the huddle: Monroe at 6-6, 315; Stair 6-6, 300; Shields 6-5, 290; Cabbell 6-6, 304; and right tackle Will Barker 6-7, 315.

Still, no one, Groh, Borbely, or even the linemen know how this group is going to execute under fire. Games are so different than practice.

“You can never really tell where you are until the first game,” Stair admitted.

If it’s any consolation, Southern California offensive line coach Pat Ruel, who is also breaking in some new talent, was quoted this week as saying, “We’ve been struggling.”

Such is life on the offensive line, especially for guys who must grow into the position and find a comfort level. That is if you can become comfortable getting into the equivalence of a street fight every Saturday afternoon.