FB: Virginia 31, Duke 21

[chrishoke]

Big game Devils. Let's kick the Cavs. Go Duke!

[mkline09]

Big game Devils. Let's kick the Cavs. Go Duke!

Hadn't seen a Game Thread Started yet and was getting ready to start one then I saw you did so I'll just concur this is a big game and a very winnable game. I'm interested to see how they come out after last weeks debacle. I suspect they should come fired up for this one. Lets hope they can get it done.

[davekay1971]

Despite the performance against Miami, we have a team that has shown a lot of promise and we've been right there in games against a couple of really good teams. We can definitely win this game. Hope the guys come out believing that! Tough disciplined D and limit mistakes and we can win this thing.

Go Duke!

[Bob Green]

We need to establish some momentum early and play a full 60 minutes of football. Hopefully the team is focused today.

[mkline09]

Despite the performance against Miami, we have a team that has shown a lot of promise and we've been right there in games against a couple of really good teams. We can definitely win this game. Hope the guys come out believing that! Tough disciplined D and limit mistakes and we can win this thing.

Go Duke!

I was thinking about this yesterday. Duke could very easily be 6-3 instead of 3-6. The missed opportunities are a sign of a young team in many respects. Lots of reasons be be hopeful especially if we are patient. They can win the next three games for sure but it will take a maximum effort. Lets hope it starts today.

[mkline09]

We need to establish some momentum early and play a full 60 minutes of football. Hopefully the team is focused today.

Agreed. Can't come out on defense in the wrong formation. Can't let them score first. Offense needs to move the ball and get some points and build some momentum. Defense needs to do the same with a few three and outs or a turnover.

[chrishoke]

I think we will be able to run the ball today.

[Bob Green]

I think we will be able to run the ball today.

I hope you are right because we need to establish better balance on offense in order to put together sustained drives and keep our defense fresh. However, it is worth noting Virginia has the fourth best rushing defense in the ACC. We rushed for only 63 yards against the #1 rushing defense (Florida State) and for 100 yards against the #2 rushing defense (Virginia Tech). QB sacks counting against rushing offense do skew these numbers some.

[riverside6]

Live stats for the game here...

http://www.scacchoops.com/FB_ViewHDGame.asp?hGame=1592

[SilkyJ]

@#$%^&*

Why is watching Duke FB so HARD! Dropped TD pass that hit him in. the. hands. Then a blocked FG.

Let's go D. They looked good so far...

[Richard Berg]

Another red zone whiff.

BTW, why are red zone stats presented so stupidly? It's always either a % of scores or raw TD/FG #s. Surely the obvious metric is points per possession?

[PDDuke85]

@#$%^&*

Why is watching Duke FB so HARD! Dropped TD pass that hit him in. the. hands. Then a blocked FG.

Let's go D. They looked good so far...

Got the flag football defensive strategy on that drive

[Duvall]

Does Mike London understand that being born in West Point doesn't make him part of the military?

[snowdenscold]

I don't think Virginia can complain too much about that 4th down pass interference call when they basically got away with PI on 3rd down. A wash in my opinion.

I don't know if that was a make-up call or if the refs really were convinced it was PI...

[TwiceDuke]

Didn't watch the Miami game last week, but the announcers are saying that Renfree didn't stand under center to start many plays.

Good to see that he is in this game. I think it's been a fairly successful formation for us this year.

[davekay1971]

The refs giveth...and the refs taketh away.

Two awful blunders in a row by the stripes. First they somehow miss a textbook example of pass interference. Then they call UVa for interference on a clean play.

[PDDuke85]

there's a fine line between a tough, physical football team and a Mike London coached team.

[Rogue]

Devils Football looking decent today.. leading 14- 7 2:25 left in the first half,, And it's 4:30 , time to start flipping channels to watch the Duke Basketball,, vs Presbyterian.. Goooo DUKE,, send Coach K to 902.

[Rogue]

I thought he was out of bounds at 2:16 left in the first half.. 14-14

[Bob Green]

I think we will be able to run the ball today.

We have 8 yards on 13 carries in the 1st half.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I thought he was out of bounds at 2:16 left in the first half.. 14-14
VERY close. No camera position with an image showing more definitive view of how close the foot was to the line for those first two to three steps, so the call stands. Ugh!

[Richard Berg]

Injuries really piling up.

[chrishoke]

I hope you are right because we need to establish better balance on offense in order to put together sustained drives and keep our defense fresh. However, it is worth noting Virginia has the fourth best rushing defense in the ACC. We rushed for only 63 yards against the #1 rushing defense (Florida State) and for 100 yards against the #2 rushing defense (Virginia Tech). QB sacks counting against rushing offense do skew these numbers some.

Boy was I wrong.

[Richard Berg]

Dropped passes piling up.

Don't understand the personal foul on the pass interference play, though. Watkins hit the UVA interceptor maybe 1/2 second after he was down, if that.

[chrishoke]

DV drops a touch down. Wow and crap.

[loran16]

Enough. This is enough. There is no excuse for the playcalling ineptitude in this 2nd half. None. After 8 yards rushing in the first, but still driving effectively, Roper on consecutive drives calls rushes on first and 2nd down (wasted downs completely).

Then with 7:30 on the clock, he calls a RUN! Down 10! You can't stop their Run at all, and you are RUSHING DOWN TEN!?!?!?! Oh and then he calls a bubble screen the next play. Killed 1:37 to lose 7 yards, and of course led to the missed FG.

It's inexcusable. These aren't strategies that look bad in retrospect, these are obviously terrible calls at the time.

[Richard Berg]

Feel terrible for Snyderwine. The rest of our special teams have actually been excellent this year.

[ChrisP]

I do feel for Snyderwine, but...wow. If he's not still hurt, then the dude needs to pull it together! Obviously, there are several issues with this team but a few made, MAKEABLE FG's and our season looks totally different.

[Duvall]

Well, another season down the drain.

[duke09hms]

Enough. This is enough. There is no excuse for the playcalling ineptitude in this 2nd half. None. After 8 yards rushing in the first, but still driving effectively, Roper on consecutive drives calls rushes on first and 2nd down (wasted downs completely).

Then with 7:30 on the clock, he calls a RUN! Down 10! You can't stop their Run at all, and you are RUSHING DOWN TEN!?!?!?! Oh and then he calls a bubble screen the next play. Killed 1:37 to lose 7 yards, and of course led to the missed FG.

It's inexcusable. These aren't strategies that look bad in retrospect, these are obviously terrible calls at the time.

Couldn't watch this game, but if this is true, it fits into the pattern of terrible Duke play-calling in our losses. Roper's playcalling has been hamstringing our offense all season, the guy probably needs to go. Maybe guys like Roper is why Ole Miss fired Cut, because he was unwilling to fire parts of his staff who clearly needed to go.

Didn't Cut make his reputation as OC? Perhaps he should start calling the plays then.

[chrishoke]

Feel terrible for Snyderwine...

You are a better man than me.

[chrishoke]

Anybody else see Cut and the Vir. Coach yelling at each other at midfield after the game?

[Duvall]

Anybody else see Cut and the Vir. Coach yelling at each other at midfield after the game?

Understandable. London is a [ ].

[TheDevilMadeMeDoIt]

Enough. This is enough. There is no excuse for the playcalling ineptitude in this 2nd half. None. After 8 yards rushing in the first, but still driving effectively, Roper on consecutive drives calls rushes on first and 2nd down (wasted downs completely).

Then with 7:30 on the clock, he calls a RUN! Down 10! You can't stop their Run at all, and you are RUSHING DOWN TEN!?!?!?! Oh and then he calls a bubble screen the next play. Killed 1:37 to lose 7 yards, and of course led to the missed FG.

It's inexcusable. These aren't strategies that look bad in retrospect, these are obviously terrible calls at the time.
I do not profess to be an expert, but I disagree with the above quote. We lost today because our receivers failed to catch too many catchable balls. Helfet has always dropped balls and Varner in past years has dropped some. This was a game that we could have won. When Renfree had time he was good and he threw down the field more this week. Late in the game he had to check off on a 3rd down, but he had no choice, he had no time to throw even a medium range pass. I actually plan to watch the 2nd half again to see if maybe I watched a different game than the earlier poster.

The defense had a bad spell in the 2nd half, but then in the fourth quarter they kept forcing punts. We had kids on defense I haven't seen much this year.

Yes, this year has been disappointing, but after the first three games I became concerned we might not win a game. I think we still can win one or both of the remaining games. If we don't win next year, then I will truly be disappointed. That's when we turn these close losses into wins.

[devildeac]

Anybody else see Cut and the Vir. Coach yelling at each other at midfield after the game?


Understandable. London is a [ ].

Would be very interesting to know what that was about. As Cut was escorted away by police, London kept yelling at him.

[Acymetric]

Would be very interesting to know what that was about. As Cut was escorted away by police, London kept yelling at him.

Cut probably made a comment about the UVA sportsmanship that was on display both physically as well as verbally (the guy who took a jab at Sean apparently started jawing directly at Cut later in the game).

Imagine losing is starting to wear his nerves thin anyway.

[CDu]

Ughh. Oh well.

Hopefully we can play better and maybe win one of the next two. Going into the season, I was thinking 5 wins made sense. After the opening loss, I felt like 4 was about right. But this was one of those 4.

Just a tough season with regard to results. There have been some definite positives, but also a lot of negatives. We need better kicking and better playcalling. And then we need to get some wins to boost the team's confidence in close games.

[Acymetric]

Please let us beat unc this year. Please please please please please.

[mkline09]

Another game that truly tests your intestinal fortitude. Another game that Duke could have won, but they just made too many mistakes. Missed blocks, dropped passes, and yet again missed field goals. I hate it for Synderwine but he needs to be retired. If Iijas can hit a 25 to 30 yard kick then let him kick. I can't stand to watch another missed field goal. Between Duke and my Redskins I just can't take it anymore.

Injuries were just awful today. Kyle Hill done for the season. Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo done for the season, Brandon Braxton and Charlier Hatcher both lost for the game and maybe longer. No Bowl for the 17th straight season. The only thing that gives me hope is how young this team is and how at least in a majority of games they've been competitive.

I actually thought the play calling was better. Took more shots down field with Varner and Vernon. Still can't run and that just makes no sense with two solid backs. Congrats to Donovan Varner for breaking Clarkston Hines' record, just sorry it came in another loss and he will now end his great career without having played in a bowl. Two games left, I will watch both and support the team but this game just has me shaking my head. Saw a very emotional Cutcliffe after the game. You can see the frustration starting to boil over a bit. He lit into Sean Renfree after thowing that last past two yards short of the first down. I would have yelled at th receiver for running a route shorter than the required distance though too. Anyway what are you going to do. We are sadly use to this situation, hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I'm still looking.

[Richard Berg]

Still can't run and that just makes no sense with two solid backs.
How many different guys have we had to swap into the center & OG positions? Those are places you absolutely need teamwork & reliability in order to establish a power game between the hashes.

More beef wouldn't hurt either. Even if all 11 guys on the other side know what's coming, it shouldn't take us 4attempts to break the plane from the 1/2-yard line.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Another game that truly tests your intestinal fortitude. Another game that Duke could have won, but they just made too many mistakes. Missed blocks, dropped passes, and yet again missed field goals. I hate it for Synderwine but he needs to be retired. If Iijas can hit a 25 to 30 yard kick then let him kick. I can't stand to watch another missed field goal. Between Duke and my Redskins I just can't take it anymore.

Injuries were just awful today. Kyle Hill done for the season. Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo done for the season, Brandon Braxton and Charlier Hatcher both lost for the game and maybe longer. No Bowl for the 17th straight season. The only thing that gives me hope is how young this team is and how at least in a majority of games they've been competitive.

I actually thought the play calling was better. Took more shots down field with Varner and Vernon. Still can't run and that just makes no sense with two solid backs. Congrats to Donovan Varner for breaking Clarkston Hines' record, just sorry it came in another loss and he will now end his great career without having played in a bowl. Two games left, I will watch both and support the team but this game just has me shaking my head. Saw a very emotional Cutcliffe after the game. You can see the frustration starting to boil over a bit. He lit into Sean Renfree after thowing that last past two yards short of the first down. I would have yelled at th receiver for running a route shorter than the required distance though too. Anyway what are you going to do. We are sadly use to this situation, hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I'm still looking.
I thought Hatcher was back in play in the second half. Was he injured a second time?

Conner Vernon played an amazing game at more than one position..... and wrapped with extra tape and padding around his ribs and waist. Cooper Helfet made a beautiful catch (second half) and sailed over a VA player like he was a hurdle on a track. Donovan Varner did miss some passes, but he also caught quite a few..... tied Scottie Montgomery's record for string of games with at least one catch/game.

I hate losing, but I recognize that the result this week was influenced by injuries, especially those which occurred during the game. The team didn't give up even when fans thought there was no hope.

[mkline09]

I thought Hatcher was back in play in the second half. Was he injured a second time?

Conner Vernon played an amazing game at more than one position..... and wrapped with extra tape and padding around his ribs and waist. Cooper Helfet made a beautiful catch (second half) and sailed over a VA player like he was a hurdle on a track. Donovan Varner did miss some passes, but he also caught quite a few..... tied Scottie Montgomery's record for string of games with at least one catch/game.

I hate losing, but I recognize that the result this week was influenced by injuries, especially those which occurred during the game. The team didn't give up even when fans thought there was no hope.

Was Hatcher back in. I don't think I ever heard and just assumed he was out for the game. Could have been an oversite on my part. I thought they all played very hard. They almost all always do. I hate losing too. I don't think Conner Vernon can be hurt and if he is he'd play with a broken bone I'm sure.

There were some great things in this game but they just can't seem to put it together. I worry about the health of the d-line going into Georgia Tech. They area always notorious for their cut/chop blocking. We may not have any defensive lineman left.

[Duke1986]

I don't think Virginia can complain too much about that 4th down pass interference call when they basically got away with PI on 3rd down. A wash in my opinion.

I don't know if that was a make-up call or if the refs really were convinced it was PI...

I saw tonight that Virginia Coach Mike London has filed an official protest of the pass interference call with the ACC. Coach, did you see the play just before that when pass interference wasn't called? And isn't it a moot point since your team won anyway???

[ForkFondler]

I saw tonight that Virginia Coach Mike London has filed an official protest of the pass interference call with the ACC. Coach, did you see the play just before that when pass interference wasn't called? And isn't it a moot point since your team won anyway???

Yep, definitely a make up call. How about the stepped out of bounds at least once if not three times UVa touchdown? The officiating was not good.

That was the first Duke FB game I've been to in several years, and they looked better than the last time I saw then at Maryland, dropped passes and missed field goals notwithstanding. What really rubbed me the wrong way were the "media timeouts". The numerous two minute breaks beyond those that normally occur in a football game (injuries, timeouts, quarters, scores) are outrageous. That didn't use to happen, but I guess that's normal now. Add that to the reason fans don't want to sit in the stands. I would think 15-20 second spots after a first down would get more attention.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Yep, definitely a make up call. How about the stepped out of bounds at least once if not three times UVa touchdown? The officiating was not good.
To be honest, I'm glad I wasn't a UVA fan during that game, I thought the officiating totally sucked for both sides and that they got shafted more than us. I was amazed they didn't at least review Renfree's TD when we finally "crossed" the goal line on an inch rush.

[Reilly]

Would be very interesting to know what that was about. As Cut was escorted away by police, London kept yelling at him.

http://blogs.roanoke.com/aaronmcfarling/2011/11/tuesday-sandusky-says-hes-innocent-the-cutcliffe-london-handshake-hokies-eye-new-york-trip/

Doug Doughty’s UVa notebook today includes an interesting nugget about the postgame handshake between Duke coach David Cutcliffe and Cavs coach Mike London: A TV reporter who had sound to go with his video asked London about his confrontation with Duke coach David Cutcliffe after Saturday’s 31-21 UVa victory.
“I reviewed the tape, and he said, ‘First, congrats, but in my 38 years of coaching, I’ve never been more insulted than I was by No. 13,’” the reporter said. “You said, ‘I’ll take care of it, coach.’ How did you take care of it?”
London’s response: “That’s going to remain in-house, how I handled that and my response to Coach Cutcliffe. What I also said was, ‘There are a lot of emotions, passion and energy out there.’”
No. 13 is Virginia defensive back Chase Minnifield, who returned an interception for a touchdown but apparently also had a verbal exchange with Cutcliffe toward the end of the game.

[Reilly]

http://www.wset.com/story/16038851/2011/11/14/dukes-cutcliffe-has-choice-words-for-london-and-uva

[killerleft]

http://www.wset.com/story/16038851/2011/11/14/dukes-cutcliffe-has-choice-words-for-london-and-uva

I thought London was pretty straightforward and handled it well, we can only hope he followed up. I have a feeling that if a Duke player ever does that the repercussions will be swift, sure, and worse than a talking-to.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I saw tonight that Virginia Coach Mike London has filed an official protest of the pass interference call with the ACC. Coach, did you see the play just before that when pass interference wasn't called? And isn't it a moot point since your team won anyway???


Just to put a final cap on this drawn-out pass interference saga involving Virginia free safety Corey Mosley in last Saturday's Duke game, it appears coach Mike London finally got some kind of closure on the issue.


Of course, all of this talk may have been a bigger deal if U.Va. (7-3, 4-2) hadn't won the game by 10 points. As it stands, it's fair to say the game won't make ACC director of football officials Doug Rhodes' list of favorites this season
http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/college/accblog/2011/11/virginia_coach_mike_london_get.html