Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 121 BY BRYAN DRISKELL When head coach Bronco Mendenhall was hired after the 2015 season, he inherited a UVA program that had gone 35-62 (.361 win- ning percentage) in the previous eight cam- paigns and had made just two bowl games in the last 10 years. The former Brigham Young head coach quickly got the Cavaliers back on track, re- turning Virginia to the postseason in his sec- ond and third seasons. It was the first time since 2004-05 the program had back-to-back bowl appearances. After an 8-5 record in 2018, expectations are raised for Mendenhall and the Cavaliers. "Virginia football hasn't been in this secure a position in decades," CavsCorner.com pub- lisher Brad Franklin said. "Overall, there is so much playable depth on the roster." Virginia made major offensive improve- ments last fall, jumping its scoring average to 28.5 points per game after tallying just 22.5 in Mendenhall's first two seasons. It's not a coincidence that it happened once transfer Bryce Perkins stepped in behind center. "His escapability kept plays and drives alive, which in turn allowed UVA to cover up some issues it had running the ball," Frank- lin explained. "That he extended so many plays and drives allowed a very good defense to stay fresh, and that's a big part of why the Hoos were able to withstand some inju- ries late in the year. … Perkins is easily the Coastal Division's best returning quarterback, and that's a sentence really never said about a Virginia signal-caller." Virginia made strides on defense last sea- son as well, holding opponents to just 20.1 points per game after allowing 30.96 in Men- denhall's first two years. It returns a veteran group of linebackers and a talented secondary, meaning more is also expected on that side of the ball. "Virginia's defense has the potential to not just be good this year, but great," Franklin stated. "Bryce Hall is likely the best corner- back in the nation and a likely top-20 pick in the next NFL Draft. "His decision to return to Virginia was a boon for Mendenhall and a defense that was already locked and loaded at pretty much every position." One area where Virginia must improve is its pass rush, which Pro Football Focus ranked 71st in the nation last fall. "Getting after the passer is a concern," Franklin agreed. "Replacing [outside line- backer] Chris Peace will be a challenge, but the Hoos have recruited well and the guys who fill in there have played a good amount. "There really aren't many areas where the defense will be lacking." An improved defense and the return of Perkins give Virginia a chance to win its first- ever Coastal Division title. Reasons For Optimism • QB Bryce Perkins • Talented secondary • Bronco Mendenhall Head coach Mendenhall has brought much- needed toughness and discipline to the Cavalier program, but the arrival of dynamic quarterback Bryce Perkins was the boost needed to get the Cava- liers over the hump … Cornerback Bryce Hall earned several All-America honors last season (including second-team nods from Walter Camp, Football Writ- ers Association of America and Phil Steele), and safety Joey Blount is an All-ACC performer. Reasons For Concern • Front seven losses • Lack of offensive depth • Special teams questions Losing two defensive line starters and top pass rusher Chris Peace at outside linebacker are prob- lematic for a defense that allowed 245.3 rushing yards per game in November last season … Virginia can't afford any personnel losses on offense due to a lack of depth. VIRGINIA CAVALIERS GAME 4 • SEPT. 28 • NOTRE DAME STADIUM X-FACTOR: Senior Bryce Perkins was one of two quarterbacks nationally to pass for more than 2,600 yards and rush for more than 900 yards in 2018. The other — Oklahoma's Kyler Murray — won the Heisman Trophy and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 31 at Pittsburgh L, 23-13 Sept. 6 William & Mary — Sept. 14 Florida State — Sept. 21 Old Dominion — Sept. 28 at Notre Dame — Oct. 11 at Miami (Fla.) W, 16-13 Oct. 19 Duke W, 28-14 Oct. 26 at Louisville W, 27-3 Nov. 2 at North Carolina W, 31-21 Nov. 9 Georgia Tech L, 30-27 (OT) Nov. 23 Liberty W, 45-24 Nov. 29 Virginia Tech L, 34-31 (OT) QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 2-0 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 34, Virginia 27 (Sept. 12, 2015; Charlottesville, Va.) Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall, 16-22 at UVA (4th year) and 115-65 overall (15th year) 2018 Results: 8-5 overall, 4-4 ACC Coastal (tied 3rd); beat South Carolina 28-0 in the Belk Bowl Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense) Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Virginia 23 RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: QB Bryce Perkins (923 yards, 9 TD) Passing: Perkins (2,680 yards, 25 TD) Receiving: WR Hasise Dubois (578 yards, 5 TD) Tackles: LB Jordan Mack (66) Sacks: LB Charles Snowden and Mack (2.5) Interceptions: Three players tied (2)