Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993 TAG: 9312310092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
The coaches can take their time, unless they plan on using him at center.
"I ought to make a few snaps," said Reid, who has started at least one game at every other line spot in a distinguished career capped off by a first-team All-ACC selection.
Reid, overshadowed for most of his career by All-America offensive guard Mark Dixon, has been in the spotlight since Dixon was suspended before the Cavaliers' final regular-season game against Virginia Tech.
Reid, who has had a home at left tackle for the last two seasons, moved into Dixon's spot at left guard, but a thumb injury prevented him from finishing the game.
"At the very beginning, I was a little hesitant," Reid, a 6-foot-7, 297-pounder, said, "but, after a couple of days, I was ready to go."
Reid has split time between guard and tackle during bowl workouts and is likely to get action at both spots against Boston College.
"We're not really concerned about Jimmy," said UVa assistant Jim Bollman, who coaches the centers and guards. "It's a matter of who we want to play, [Jeremy] Raley or [Jason] Augustino."
Augustino started at tackle against Virginia Tech, but coach George Welsh said Thursday that the Cavaliers will go with Raley, an oft-injured redshirt freshman.
"You'd rather be weaker at one position instead of two," offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien explained. "Jimmy, at this stage, is not as good a guard as he is tackle."
Raley, even if he starts at left guard, will be the back-up to right guard Peter Collins. Collins is listed as the back-up to center Bryan Heath, leaving seven players to fill 10 spots on UVa's two-deep.
"I think we've had unusual depth in the past," said Bollman, citing the 1991 team that led the ACC in scoring, "but, with scholarship reductions, I think it's going to be harder to have 10 guys."
Reid played right guard on the 1991 team, which included Dixon and future NFL tackles Ray Roberts and David Ware. Tim Samec was the center.
Reid began the 1991 season at right tackle before undergoing the first in a series of arthroscopic procedures on his right knee. By the time he returned, Ware was established at tackle, so Reid made the first of his moves - to right guard.
"As it turned out, he spent most of his career at tackle," Bollman said, "but he could have been very good if he stayed at guard. He's not out of position at guard."
It was Dixon's contention that tackles receive more attention because they frequently go head-to-head with an opponent's best pass-rusher. Bollman said guards operate "in a closet."
"If there is a glamour position on the offensive line, you can make a strong case for tackle over guard," Reid said, "but you need the same skills at both positions."
Bollman pointed out that Virginia did not play one game with its projected offensive line. That was assured when junior tackle Chris Harrison broke a leg in practice before the season.
Harrison remains in a cast, four months later. Bill Edwards, expected to start at right guard, broke a bone in his leg during the summer, later underwent knee surgery and eventually left the team.
"People talk about [injuries to] the wide receivers," Heath said, "but no unit has experienced as much adversity from the start of the season till the end as the offensive line."
Nevertheless, the Cavaliers and Florida State were the only teams in the ACC that averaged more than 200 yards passing and rushing. If UVa's offense had a problem, it was turnovers.
"People say we're on the spot [without] Dixon," Reid. "Personally, I think the line is always on the spot. If we don't go anywhere, the team doesn't go anywhere."
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB