Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Virginia enters the ninth week of its football season ranked 38th out of 108 Division I-A teams in pass-efficiency defense, which implies a better-than-average performance.
The Cavaliers, however, didn't come into the season hoping to have the nation's No.38 pass defense. To a man, they thought they could be the best.
``You can't just say you're the best and not have the stats to back it up,'' said free safety Percy Ellsworth, a senior who has started 28 games in his career. ``What we're giving up right now is unacceptable.''
Sophomore cornerback Ronde Barber used the adjective ``alarming'' to describe a 360-yard performance Saturday by Duke quarterback Spence Fischer, who also threw three touchdown passes.
``Me, personally, I don't like that,'' Ellsworth said. ``Spence Fischer is a nice quarterback, but nobody should be throwing for 360 yards against us.''
It's happened before.
Scott Dreisbach, playing in his first college game, set a Michigan record by passing for 372 yards in Michigan's 18-17 victory over Virginia in the Pigskin Classic. Two weeks ago, fifth-year Wake Forest quarterback Rusty LaRue passed for a career-high 277 yards against UVa.
Even a running back, North Carolina's Leon Johnson, got in the act. Johnson, who previously had completed one pass in his college career, was 2-for-2 for 43 yards and a touchdown as the Tar Heels handed the Cavaliers their second loss, 22-17.
Head coach George Welsh was asked earlier this week if he could evaluate UVa's pass defense.
``Do I have to?'' Welsh asked.
Assistant coach Art Markos, who coaches the defensive backs, wasn't much more effusive.
``How are they playing?'' Markos asked rhetorically. ``I think they're playing OK. I think we've given up some deep balls. We've also given up too many touchdown passes. If the touchdown passes were down, I'd feel a lot better.''
Teams already have passed for more than 2,000 yards against Virginia - the highest in the ACC by a wide margin. The trend began last year, when teams passed for 2,712 yards against the Cavaliers.
It should be noted that UVa last year ranked No.1 in Division I-A against the run, so most teams were inclined to go to the air. The Cavaliers, despite a revamped front four, rank 10th in rushing defense this year.
The reason Virginia ranks as high as it does in passing efficiency is interceptions. The Cavaliers led Division I-A in interceptions the past two years and rank fourth this year with 14 in eight games.
The interceptions became a hot topic, however, when Welsh openly questioned if the Cavaliers weren't paying too much attention to a streak that has reached 24 games with at least one interception.
``I see both sides,'' Ellsworth said. ``I understand, at certain times, it definitely would have been best if we'd knocked the ball down, [but] I know the guys. We're not saying, `Oh, we've got to get interceptions to keep the streak alive.' We might be saying, `We need an interception to turn this game around.' ''
That's what happened Saturday, when Ellsworth's interception on Duke's first possession of the second half led to a quick score. Later, cornerback Joe Crocker intercepted a pass with the score 38-30 and the Blue Devils on the move again.
One week earlier, Ellsworth had dropped an almost-certain interception that might have turned around the Cavaliers' game with North Carolina.
``I always say I'm a big-play player,'' said Ellsworth, who has a team-high four interceptions, ``[but] if you're a big-play player, you've got to make the plays. I don't want pass break-ups. I've got 10 pass break-ups on the season, but I'd rather have 14 interceptions.
``The Carolina game was really difficult for me. I never thought a team could march down the field on us like Carolina did on that last drive. When you saw what Georgia Tech did to them [beating the Tar Heels 27-25], it only made it worse.''
Many theories have been advanced for Virginia's porous pass defense: an inconsistent pass rush, slack ``underneath'' coverage, fatigue. Ellsworth doesn't buy any of them.
``What I've been saying all along is, `No excuses,' '' he said. ``Don't blame it on the coaches. Don't blame it on the pass rush. The guys have to take the approach of `I'm going to do my job regardless of what's going on around me.' ''
It's a veteran group that includes three seniors - Ellsworth, Crocker, strong safety Paul London - and Barber. Joe Williams was a proven back-up at cornerback until he sprained an ankle; the new No.3 cornerback, Joe Rowe, was beaten for touchdowns against North Carolina and Duke.
``I'm sure Texas will be gunning for us this week,'' Ellsworth said. ``When we've just given up 360 yards, they've got to. But, I know how good we are - and not just on paper. I guarantee you there's still going to be a big game when we put it all together.''
by CNB