Virginia’s first loss in nearly nine months has put the Cavaliers in a familiar spot: trying to clean up the damage and move on quickly. West Virginia handed Virginia a 38-27 defeat in a game the Cavaliers were favored to win by about 10 points, a result that stings on its own and also dents the resume.
The bigger concern coming out of the week may be the health situation. Star guard Noah Josey was injured in the first half, and Virginia will also be without defensive tackle Jason Hammond for the foreseeable future.
With that backdrop, Virginia released its week four depth chart on Tuesday. The listing, though, doesn’t line up perfectly with who has actually been starting. John Rogers and Corey Costner have each started a game even while being listed as backups, and Hammond remained listed as the starter last week despite not suiting up.
The Cavaliers’ depth chart for this week is the same two-deep they handed out last week. That said, the media version is only part of the picture.
Virginia figures to lean on plenty of other players as well, especially if the game against Delaware turns into a multi-touchdown lead. There’s also room for playing time to shift with Hammond out completely and other injuries in the mix.
A loss also tends to shake up the snap count, and that may be the case here. More than a third of the players on these lists were graded as below average last week by Pro Football Focus.
Virginia will try to answer the setback on Saturday against Delaware.
In Other News...
Virginia Is Waiting On One Offensive Line Decision After West Virginia
Virginias offensive line is still sorting out one of its key early-season questions after the West Virginia game, with left guard Noah Josey working through an ankle injury and the Cavaliers preparing for Delaware. Josey left the contest partway through and was replaced by Ben York, who handled 55 snaps in relief, giving Virginia a workable answer in the moment while the staff kept an eye on the bigger picture.
Tony Elliott said Josey was out at practice and described him as hopeful for Saturday, which leaves the Cavaliers in a familiar spot this time of year: balancing caution with the need to get their best five up front on the field. The line looked capable with York filling in, but Virginia would clearly prefer to have Josey back as it keeps building toward its next game. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Needs Noah Josey Back As O-Line Concern Grows
Virginias offensive line had a rougher night once left guard Noah Josey went out against West Virginia, and that has made his status worth watching as the Cavaliers get ready for Delaware. Josey left early with an ankle issue after 20 snaps, and coach Tony Elliott said the guard is expected to return to practice soon, a timely development for a group that looked less stable without him.
The bigger picture for Virginia is simple: the line needs to settle down before the schedule gets tougher, and getting Josey back healthy would help. The Cavaliers are hoping he can be available for a later matchup with Florida State, but first they need to see how his recovery goes over the next few days and whether the unit can regain its footing in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Must Fix One Worrying Problem Before Delaware Tests It
Virginia heads into Saturday evenings matchup with Delaware still sorting through the lessons of its first loss of the season to West Virginia. The Cavaliers want more from their running game and more bite up front on the defensive line, two areas that can help settle a team down after a setback and put a game on Virginias terms. Delaware has been competitive enough against other opponents to make this a real test, not just a routine tune-up.
The bigger concern, though, is in the defensive backfield, where Virginia needs a cleaner showing to avoid giving the Blue Hens easy answers through the air. If the Cavaliers do not tighten that area, Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci could make them pay by finding the soft spots in coverage. For Virginia, the assignment is straightforward: play more physically, stay focused and make sure one shaky area does not turn a manageable game into a stubborn one. [Read more 🡒]