The Virginia Cavaliers are off to a solid start to the season sitting at 3-1 with an ACC win over Wake Forest. Their offense has taken a marketable step forward averaging 455.5 yards per game good for 33rd in the country. Most recently, they were seen trouncing Coastal Carolina on the road 43-24 and have now had an early bye week to prepare for the Eagles.
The sophomore Anthony Colandrea secured the starting job after showing out in the back half of 2023 as a true freshman. He’s taken a slight dip from his excellent adjusted completion rate last season (73.6%). While he’s shown more poise and maturity, he’s still a certifiable gunslinger. He’s thrown for over 1000 yards and ran for 135 more.
Whoa boy, this throw from Anthony Colandrea pic.twitter.com/H9y3p37XvQ
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 15, 2023
Still, he threw a pair of interceptions against both Maryland and Wake, picking up where he left off with nine picks in eight games in ‘23. That will make three weeks in a row where the Eagles defense faces a similar-minded quarterback and have the opportunity to create turnovers.
6-4 receiver Malachi Fields has been the top target for Colandrea on the season. After over 800 yards a season ago, the senior now has 349 yards with two touchdowns. The quarterback has keyed on him in clutch situations and he’s second in the conference in receptions and yards per game. Kent State transfer Trell Harris is another crafty weapon who’s been deployed all around the field. His seven catches against Wake helped spark the comeback victory. Tyler Neville, a former Harvard man, has been a cog at tight end collecting 10 catches, 161 yards, and two touchdowns on the season. BC has struggled in coverage against opposing tight ends and Neville has been incredibly reliable. We’ll have our work cut out against this pass game overall.
After some more troubling rushing performances against Wake and Maryland, UVA kept nearly everything on the ground against Coastal with nearly 400 yards. Xavier Brown alone had nine carries for 171 yards. He’s shown some burst a la Turbo Richard, and this outing may have secured a few more carries compared with Kobe Pace.
Xavier Brown has crazy potential.
Most talented back Virginia has. pic.twitter.com/MQCjSFHx7v
— Zach Carey (@Zach_Carey_) September 21, 2024
The offensive line has been significantly better than the 43 sacks allowed last year (10th worst in the country). This year they’ve only allowed 6, about average for FBS.
The Cavaliers have shown a lot of progress on offense from where they were a season ago. They’re going to put up points in this one. While they’ve coughed up the ball seven times already, I’m not so sure how long BC can keep relying on turnovers to correct for sluggish starts. If they can play from ahead, they can force Colandrea to play hero ball. Fans have credited his willingness to take what the defense gives. Let’s put that to the test.