Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 10, 1991 TAG: 9104100023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
This year, for the first time in decades, UVa will not hold a spring football game, although coach George Welsh says he hasn't ruled out a resumption at some later date.
Welsh opened practice to the media Tuesday for the first time in his 10 years at UVa, but he asked that cameras be shut off after 30 minutes.
"I'm not having an open spring game so we don't have to limit ourselves offensively and defensively," Welsh said. "I didn't want to go into the last scrimmage and say [to the staff], `You can only play one or two coverages.' Then, we can't find out as much."
An open spring scrimmage is open to everybody, Welsh said, including the opposition.
"In our case, I think a lot can be learned," Welsh said.
Virginia has three new assistant coaches, and two members of Welsh's original staff have changed areas of responsibility during the offseason. The most notable addition is new defensive coordinator Rick Lantz, who has replaced UVa's old 5-2 defense with the 4-3.
"We'll get to attack," said defensive tackle Don Reynolds, who will be a senior. "I think the defense is a good look for us. It's a great change for Virginia football."
Most of the players said they felt Virginia's old defense was too passive, especially in late-game situations.
"With this defense, I think you'll always see pressure on the quarterback," linebacker P.J. Killian said. "It's a big-play defense. It's also vulnerable to big plays, but we couldn't give up any more than we did last year."
Welsh said the defense has gone through three "changeovers," with as many as half a dozen players changing positions each time.
"We're willing to sacrifice a little bit of performance at this stage in order to minimize the changes we have to make in August," Welsh said.
One of UVa's top returnees, Tyrone Lewis, has played safety and cornerback during the spring.
"If we were playing the same defense as last year, we wouldn't have to play him at safety to know he could play there," Welsh said. "But it's not the same position. We don't have a strong safety and a free safety. It's just left and right."
That's fine with Lewis, who at one point contemplated not returning for his fifth year.
"I had to decide if the game was still fun or not," Lewis said. "But there's a level of excitement [with the new defense] that I really haven't seen here in a while."
\ Welsh said new NCAA limits on spring practice have come at the worst time for the Cavaliers, who are making wholesale changes for the first time since 1987.
"It's pretty obvious, when you go from 20 days of practice to 15, that's 10 hours right there," Welsh said. "It's one less scrimmage and a lot less hours on the field. I'd say it's reduced spring practice by 33 percent."
\ Lewis and Reynolds have been chosen co-captains along with quarterback Matt Blundin and offensive tackle Ray Roberts.
"It was something I really wanted," said Reynolds, who is from Laurel Park High in Martinsville.
Reynolds is on schedule to graduate this spring, as is Lewis. All four co-captains will be in their fifth year at UVa.
\ Curtis Hicks, a redshirt freshman from Alleghany County, is making a strong run for the starting job at middle linebacker. Hicks has been working with Killian and rising sophomore Gene Toliver on the first unit.
"Killian is probably the best linebacker right now," Welsh said. "After that, you can take your pick."
\ Charles Keiningham, who has spent time at linebacker, defensive tackle and tight end, has a new home at offensive guard. Keiningham, from William Byrd High School in Vinton, was redshirted as a freshman and missed his entire second year after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. He played enough as a reserve tight end to letter in 1990.
\ UVa quarterback Shawn Moore, the ACC player of the year in 1990, was in Indianapolis this past Friday and Saturday to have his right thumb checked by NFL team doctors. Doctors had requested a second physical when Moore was at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in early February.
Moore, who signed autographs Sunday at a card show at the Roanoke Civic Center, said the thumb has healed to the doctors' satisfaction. He dislocated the thumb in UVa's 35-30 loss to Maryland on Nov. 17 and later underwent surgery for repair of the injury.
by CNB