THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410070739
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 166 lines
Virginia not only has run over Wake Forest in recent years - winning 10 straight games - but has run through the Deacons as well.
At least one Cavalier has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last five meetings and 11 of the last 14. Three times a pair of Virginia backs cracked the 100-yard mark.
With Wake Forest on the menu for Saturday, tailback Kevin Brooks likes to think he will be the next Cavalier to sear the Deacons for a 100-yard day.
``But I was thinking about having that kind of game last week against William and Mary, too,'' admitted the former Great Bridge High star. ``In fact, I have been hoping for it ever since we opened the season at Florida State.''
But the closest Brooks has come to a 100-yard game this year was against Navy when he netted 73 yards on 13 carries.
He got only 43, which included a 15-yard touchdown run, in the 37-3 victory over William and Mary, a team he shredded for a career-high 124 yards two years ago as a freshman.
This year, Brooks has gained 196 yards on 55 carries in four games, an average of 49 yards per game.
``It is not going as well as I was hoping,'' Brooks said. ``I have been working just as hard, and doing all the things in practice, but it is just not a good season for me right now.''
Brooks had solid reason to expect a grand season, which he still hopes to salvage in the final seven games.
Last year he was the 10th-leading rusher in the ACC while playing behind senior Jerrod Washington and became the first Cavalier since Terry Kirby in 1990 to rush for touchdowns in four consecutive games. Brooks figured on moving into the starting tailback position and getting most of the work this season.
Instead, he is splitting time with sophomore Tiki Barber and having problems adjusting to a new substitution concept by which tailbacks are shuttled in and out of games. And Barber has put up the better numbers so far - 229 yards on 44 carries (5.2 average) to Brooks' 196 yards on 55 attempts (3.6).
``My playing time is not what I expected it to be this year,'' Brooks said. ``I am getting a lot of carries, but I am in the game one play, out of the game the next play. That really isn't playing time to me.
``They (the coaches) have got certain backs they want to run certain plays and certain receivers they want to run certain plays. I guess they are trying to play the best person at that position at the time, but there never will be any consistency if we run plays like that.''
Brooks said he explained his feelings to offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien a couple weeks ago.
``He asked why I thought I wasn't producing as well as last year,'' Brooks said. ``I told him I was not getting into the flow the game like I was last year. I need to be in there at least one or two series to get into the flow.''
The Cavaliers have tried to use Barber's speed by getting him outside, especially on swing passes out of the backfield. Brooks gets most of the calls that go into the line.
Brooks said he reminded O'Brien that the offensive line is not the experienced force it was a year ago.
``We are not going to be able to just pound the ball up the middle like last year,'' Brooks said. ``I suggested they try to get me outside or let me run some off-tackle plays.
``We need to throw dumps and swings to the backs to spread the linebackers out a little, and get some room up the middle.''
Virginia coach George Welsh says the rushing game is his biggest concern.
``We are not blocking people as well as in the past,'' Welsh said, ``and teams have been crowding up in the middle trying to stop the run.
``The line has got to do a better job, and our backs have got to break some tackles to get a few more yards.''
Brooks said Welsh has told the team that the offense is ``only inches away'' from being as good as it can be.
``I know the running game is probably the worst part of the team right now,'' Brooks said. ``We need to be able to rush for 200 to 250 yards per game to beat teams like North Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.''
The Cavaliers are averaging 160.3 rushing yards per game.
They expect to improve on that Saturday against a Wake Forest team that ranks last in the ACC in rushing defense, yielding 251.8 yards per game.
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia not only has run over Wake Forest in recent years - winning 10 straight games - but has run through the Deacons as well.
At least one Cavalier has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last five meetings and 11 of the last 14. Three times a pair of Virginia backs cracked the 100-yard mark.
With Wake Forest on the menu for Saturday, tailback Kevin Brooks likes to think he will be the next Cavalier to sear the Deacons for a 100-yard day.
``But I was thinking about having that kind of game last week against William and Mary, too,'' admitted the former Great Bridge High star. ``In fact, I have been hoping for it ever since we opened the season at Florida State.''
But the closest Brooks has come to a 100-yard game this year was against Navy when he netted 73 yards on 13 carries.
He got only 43, which included a 15-yard touchdown run, in the 37-3 victory over William and Mary, a team he shredded for a career-high 124 yards two years ago as a freshman.
This year, Brooks has gained 196 yards on 55 carries in four games, an average of 49 yards per game.
``It is not going as well as I was hoping,'' Brooks said. ``I have been working just as hard, and doing all the things in practice, but it is just not a good season for me right now.''
Brooks had solid reason to expect a grand season, which he still hopes to salvage in the final seven games.
Last year he was the 10th-leading rusher in the ACC while playing behind senior Jerrod Washington and became the first
Cavalier since Terry Kirby in 1990 to rush for touchdowns in four consecutive games. Brooks figured on moving into the starting tailback position and getting most of the work this season.
Instead, he is splitting time with sophomore Tiki Barber and having problems adjusting to a new substitution concept by which tailbacks are shuttled in and out of games. And Barber has put up the better numbers so far - 229 yards on 44 carries (5.2 average) to Brooks' 196 yards on 55 attempts (3.6).
``My playing time is not what I expected it to be this year,'' Brooks said. ``I am getting a lot of carries, but I am in the game one play, out of the game the next play. That really isn't playing time to me.
``They (the coaches) have got certain backs they want to run certain plays and certain receivers they want to run certain plays. I guess they are trying to play the best person at that position at the time, but there never will be any consistency if we run plays like that.''
Brooks said he explained his feelings to offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien a couple weeks ago.
``He asked why I thought I wasn't producing as well as last year,'' Brooks said. ``I told him I was not getting into the flow the game like I was last year. I need to be in there at least one or two series to get into the flow.''
The Cavaliers have tried to use Barber's speed by getting him outside, especially on swing passes out of the backfield. Brooks gets most of the calls that go into the line.
Brooks said he reminded O'Brien that the offensive line is not the experienced force it was a year ago.
``We are not going to be able to just pound the ball up the middle like last year,'' Brooks said. ``I suggested they try to get me outside or let me run some off-tackle plays.
``We need to throw dumps and swings to the backs to spread the linebackers out a little, and get some room up the middle.''
Virginia coach George Welsh says the rushing game is his biggest concern.
``We are not blocking people as well as in the past,'' Welsh said, ``and teams have been crowding up in the middle trying to stop the run.
``The line has got to do a better job, and our backs have got to break some tackles to get a few more yards.''
Brooks said Welsh has told the team that the offense is ``only inches away'' from being as good as it can be.
``I know the running game is probably the worst part of the team right now,'' Brooks said. ``We need to be able to rush for 200 to 250 yards per game to beat teams like North Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.''
The Cavaliers are averaging 160.3 rushing yards per game.
They expect to improve on that Saturday against a Wake Forest team that ranks last in the ACC in rushing defense, yielding 251.8 yards per game. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
THE BROOKS FILE
Position: Tailback (junior)
Size: 5-11, 196 pounds
High school: Attended Great Bridge in Chesapeake. Was
All-Tidewater as a junior, but was sidelined part of his senior year
with a knee injury. Also started for the basketball team.
College history: After redshirting in 1991, was the team's
third-leading runner his freshman season with 242 years - 124 of
them in a game against William and Mary. Second-string tailback most
of last year as a sophomore, rushing for 538 yards (second on the
team) and six touchdowns. Has averaged 4.9 yards a carry at
Virginia.
Personal: Born in Norfolk. Philosophy major.
by CNB