Photo by Vironevaeh

Virginia vs Southern Miss: I gather that the U. of Virginia took note when Southern Miss adopted the rugby-style punt last year. The Golden Eagles soared on that tricksy-looking punt, turning the season around after an awful start marked by dreadful special-teams performances and eventually nabbing a ticket to a bowl game. When the 0-3 Cavs deploy the rugby punt, though, it doesn’t feel like Southern Miss’s quick-fix for a special-teams problem. Of course, nothing against UVa sophomore kicker Jimmy Howell; hell, the rugby punt’s the best play that offense has.

But going 7-for-18 on third downs means that anyone watching that team gets over the novelty but-quick. There isn’t any reason a team should have to resort to punting when they are handed the spectacular number of opportunities Virginia saw in Saturday’s game. Forcing two sacks, two fumbles, and two interceptions, the Cavs defense gave the offense everything but some two-point safeties and Two-Buck Chuck. In a critical play in the fourth quarter, Virginia’s special teams even blocked an extra point, putting overtime within the realm of the possible. And yet Virginia still managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, losing 37 to 34.

The least one can say is that Virginia’s learned from its first two losses, securing the team behind the leadership of senior quarterback Jameel Sewell, who threw under constant pressure for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns. But that is the least one can say. Though the offense is no longer struggling with the difficulties that inevitably flow from the decision to go with a committee of quarterbacks, no one can succeed under the hellish conditions in the Virginia pocket. Sewell was constantly harried. Southern Miss senior defensive tackle Terrance Pope sacked him four times — for yardage that nearly erased Sewell’s impressive 79 yards rushing.