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JUNE 2022 23 In the Blue-White Game, the offensive linemen were unable to consistently open holes for the backs. Nonetheless, the staff continued to call running plays. "It's a mindset," Elliott said. "We want to be balanced, and for us it's not just statisti- cally balanced, it's a mindset." Like Leech and Patterson, Armstrong played for both teams in the Blue-White Game. But Armstrong, who rushed for a team-high nine touchdowns last season, was off-limits to tacklers, and that allowed the defenses to take more chances than they might have otherwise. That was OK with Elliott, who wanted to see what third-year Mike Hollins, fourth-year Perris Jones and Foston could do carrying the ball. "I thought there were a couple of situations that the offensive line did good enough just to get [the ball carrier into] a one-on-one," Elliott said, "and we didn't win those one-on-ones in the first half. So that'd be a great opportunity for us to go back and challenge those guys. … A great running back, he makes the offensive line right. And I think these guys are capable. "They've just got to develop that mindset that, 'I don't care how it's blocked, I'm going to get four yards.'" "This offense is pretty diverse," Armstrong said. "We've got a lot of different ways of throwing the ball, different ways of getting guys open, getting guys in different spots to get them the ball. Overall, it's just com- pletely different." Leech, UVA's most experienced offensive lineman this spring, likes the new emphasis on running the ball. "Last year and in the years before, I feel like the defense and the defensive ends could just tee off on the tackles, because they knew it was going to be a pass [most] of the time," Leech said. "They really didn't have to protect the run. I think this year, it's just going to help a ton." UVA's defense should benefit, too, said fourth-year inside linebacker Nick Jackson, who led the team in tackles in 2020 and '21. "One hundred percent," said Jackson, a third-team All-ACC selection last year. "Iron sharpens iron. Now we're playing against the run more [in practice], so it's just been good just to go against it. Those guys are working [on running the ball], and we're working on stopping it." If the new offense remains a work in prog- ress, there are no questions about the Cava- liers' potential in the passing game. Armstrong, who threw for a program-record 4,449 yards last season, has an immensely gifted group of wide receivers that includes fifth-years Billy Kemp IV and Keytaon Thompson; third-years Devin Chandler (a transfer from Wisconsin), Lavel Davis Jr., Demick Starling and Dontay- vion Wicks; and second-year Malachi Fields. "There's a ton of potential, there's a ton of talent in that room," Elliott said. Wicks caught 57 passes last season and led the team with 1,203 receiving yards and 9 touchdown catches. "He can do it all," Elliott said. "He's got the speed, he's got the short-area quickness, he's got the natural hands. He's a tough guy. So he's got it all. The biggest thing for him is, he was a guy that was one foot in the water, because he had success, and he knows that he's the best one returning. "My coaching style is, I'm going at the best one, and I'm coaching the best one harder than anybody else, because in order for us to be the team that we want to be, the best players have got to be the hardest work- ers. They've got to lead every single day." Armstrong said the wideouts are "start- ing to understand that [Elliott] wants them to be great. They have the talent to do it. But Coach Elliott stresses all the effort and toughness things, just finishing the play and all that. He's just really pushing those guys to make sure they become elite." Kitchings is one of three new coordina- tors at Virginia, along with John Rudzinski (defense) and Keith Gaither (special teams). Rudzinski came to UVA from Air Force, and he's overhauling a defense that ranked among the ACC's most porous in 2020 and '21. Among the players who impressed on de- fense this spring were Jackson, fourth-years Chico Bennett Jr. (linebacker), Antonio Clary (safety), Aaron Faumui (defensive tackle), Anthony Johnson (cornerback) and Coen King (safety); third-years Jahmeer Carter (nose tackle), Fentrell Cypress II (corner- back) and Ben Smiley III (defensive tackle); and second-years Mike Green (linebacker) and Langston Long (safety). "I think we're all just flying around, play- ing for each other," Carter said. Rudzinski's defense has "a lot of moving parts to it," Jackson said. "I definitely think that we're very multiple in it. Coach Rud is doing a great job with us, and he's just a fun coach to play for." As much as anything this spring, Elliott wanted to see buy-in from his players. Change can be difficult, and he knew that some players would have "one foot in the water" and be skeptical about the new staff and its approach. When he met with the team after the Blue- White Game, Elliott said, that "was my last message to the guys: 'Hey, the coaches are getting ready to go on the road. This is about to be discretionary time. We've got to finish academically, and then we've got to come back and it's on you guys to become a team.' "I was really just challenging those guys that have one foot in the water to just jump on in." Jackson is confident that will happen. "I think there's a lot of energy around the program and a lot of energy around what everyone's trying to do," he said, "and I think that it's going to pay off when we get back in the summer." Players who were recovering from injuries and missed all or part of spring ball included, in addition to Devine, Taylor and Kemp: fifth- years Darrius Bratton (cornerback), Jack Camper (a graduate transfer defensive end from Michigan State) and Ronnie Walker Jr. (running back); third-years Nathaniel Beal III (wide receiver) and Hunter Stewart (line- backer); and second-years Lorenz Terry (defen- sive tackle) and Jonas Sanker (safety). Also, rising second-year Jay Woolfolk — who backed up Armstrong at quarterback last season — is playing for the UVA baseball team this spring and didn't practice with the football team. Elliott said he expects most of that group to be available when training camp starts in early August. Fourth-year quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for a program-record 4,449 yards last season, but the Cavaliers will strive to have a more balanced attack this season. (Photo by Jim Daves/courtesy UVA)