Virginia’s offense fizzles again in lopsided loss to Miami

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- With Miami's 52-17 victory safely in hand, former Virginia star Chris Long went over to defensive end Matt Conrath to offer some consoling words.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of that exchange was that Conrath spent time on the sideline.

Once again, a defense with little depth was asked to take the field far longer than half the game, the result of an offense that has bigger problems than just who is lining up behind center. The unit also had to deal with short fields caused by misfiring punters.

"I felt like we brought a lot of energy to the game," cornerback Ras-I Dowling said. "The second half, we just didn't come out with the same passion."

Missed tackles did in the Wahoos, and they were most notable on a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown by the Canes' Thearon Collier.

He took the ball with six white shirts surrounding him, but shook off Danny Aiken and Ausar Walcott. He took off sideways before turning vertical when Patch Duda was knocked to the ground violently by Chavez Grant. The crowd responded with a loud "ooh" each time the replay was shown.

Those oohs also were the noise of the Virginia faithful, realizing there was not any comeback magic for the 3-6 Cavs.

"Miami has a lot of playmakers in all three phases of the game, and we had a lot of trouble controlling those playmakers and matching them," coach Al Groh said.

Offensively, that meant finding a way for quarterback Marc Verica to have some time in the pocket. He was starting because of a shoulder injury to Jameel Sewell, and finished the game 11 of 29 with 75 yards in the air.

He struggled to find time in the pocket. Nor did he receive much help downfield.

"They did a good job of locking down the receivers," Groh said. "We didn't have a lot of guys open."

None of the team's offensive players were made available for comment after the game. Groh may have offered the most pointed remark, however, when he was asked how Wake Forest put up more than 500 yards of offense against the same team just seven days earlier.

"They have Riley Skinner" was his response, referencing the Demon Deacons' star quarterback.

Virginia's points were generated mostly by the punt rush. The field goal followed a Dowling interception, where the offense gained two yards afterward. One touchdown was created when Terence Fells-Danzer tipped a punt, setting up a Rashawn Jackson run. The other score came on Bill Schautz's 20-yard return of Trey Womack's blocked punt.

"He made a great play on the ball," Schautz said of Womack. "It bounced right to me, and I just took off."

The special teams never got the opportunity to make a play in the second half, though. On the first possession, the Canes were pinned in their own territory, with third and 6 from the 25.

Cam Johnson had a shot at quarterback Jacory Harris, but let him slip away, and Harris completed a pass that extended the drive.

"We didn't do what we had to do there, and it was one of the top things on the list," Groh said. "Keep the quarterback in the pocket."

Miami's next three scoring drives were 79, 80 and 90 yards, enough to finish off the depleted defense.

"It's always tough when you're taking that many plays," linebacker Steve Greer said. "But at the same time, we have to be ready for that."

Groh said the third-and-6 opportunity was pivotal. Had the defense had gotten off the field at that juncture, it would have given the offense the opportunity to tie the game. Virginia trailed 24-17 at halftime.

Of course, that assumes the offense would have moved the ball, which the unit found tough to do yesterday. Miami's pass rush and pass coverage combined to shut down the aerial attack, giving Verica little opportunity to make the 3rd-and-6 conversions that would have extended drives and kept Miami's offense on the bench.

"We're very aware of (the importance of time of possession) and have been for weeks," Groh said. "We came in with a very specific plan."

It wasn't enough, though, and now Virginia is in the midst of another losing streak with three winning teams left on the schedule.

"Nobody on this team likes to lose," Greer said. "That's why we'll start working towards Boston College."

Contact Michael Phillips at (804) 649-6546 or .