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COLLEGE FOOTBALL Cavs counting on first-rate secondary
Virginia secondary is a primary weapon
Date published: 8/9/2009
BY TAFT COGHILL JR. CHARLOTTESVILLE --Jared Green has a bit of expertise on talented defensive backs.The University of Virginia sophomore wide receiver has lived with one all his life. Green is the son of Washington Redskins Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green. And when he practices against the gifted members of Virginia's secondary, he likes what he sees. "They make us better every day," Green said yesterday following fall practice. "I like what they're doing. I'm excited to see what they'll do to the other wide receivers they face." When Virginia's football team is discussed these days, questions surrounding head coach Al Groh's future, the introduction of the spread offense and the quarterback situation are the dominant topics. That's because they're question marks. The secondary isn't. The Cavaliers' depth is allowing two-year starting cornerback Vic Hall to compete for the quarterback job. Groh said it's the fastest group of players he's had in the secondary in his nine-year tenure. "It's one of the best circumstances I've been in since I've been here," senior cornerback Chris Cook said. "There's nobody I don't trust when I'm out on the field. In the past it was kind of iffy, but now I feel good about everybody." Cook has reason to feel that way. Junior cornerback Ras-I Dowling (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) is the only preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection on the team. Cook (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) is similarly talented, but missed all of last season because he was suspended from school for academic issues. He's back this upcoming season to help form one of the most imposing cornerback duos in the ACC. "If I was on the opposite team, I would be intimidated," Green said of Dowling and Cook. "They're big and fast. Who doesn't want that on their team?" The Cavaliers could use a jolt from the secondary this season. They were ninth in the ACC in interceptions in 2008 with 11. They've registered 22 interceptions the past two seasons combined, just two more than state rival Virginia Tech recorded last year. In addition to Cook and Dowling, the secondary features safeties Rodney McLeod and Corey Mosley. Mosley (5-10, 200 pounds) is a hard-hitting sophomore who registered 46 tackles in nine starts last year. McLeod appeared in the final nine games of 2008 as a true freshman cornerback. Cook and Dowling said McLeod's presence at safety provides an extra playmaker. "That just gives us a better cover guy at safety," Cook said. "He can make the same plays a corner can make. That gives us a lot of quickness and speed back there." The Cavaliers' secondary should also be energized by a new coach. Former running backs coach Anthony Poindexter is now guiding the unit. Poindexter was an All-America safety for the Cavaliers in 1997-98. Cook said Poindexter's passion for the game "gives us the same passion. We just feed off him." Said McLeod: "He's coaching what he did in college. This is what he loves to do." Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Date published: 8/9/2009
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