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Virginia Football 2022 Season Preview: Defense

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2022

Virginia Football 2022 Season Preview: Defense

With a brand new coordinator, a brand new scheme, and an inflow of expertise and depth, the Virginia protection appears to proper the ship in 2022.

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

As the ultimate installment in our 2022 Virginia soccer preview sequence, at the moment we’re breaking down the UVA protection.

Take a look at our breakdown of the Virginia offense right here: Virginia Soccer 2022 Season Preview: Offense

Take a look at our breakdown of the Virginia particular groups unit right here: Virginia Soccer 2022 Season Preview: Particular Groups

Take a look at our breakdown of the 2022 Virginia soccer schedule right here: Virginia Soccer 2022 Season Preview: Schedule

The 2021 season was one the UVA protection wish to overlook. Out of 130 FBS groups, Virginia ranked 121st in whole protection, yielding 466.0 yards per recreation, and 103rd in scoring protection, permitting 31.8 factors per recreation. In what ought to have been marginal victories given the output of the offense, the Cavaliers gave up 48 factors to Pittsburgh, 59 factors to North Carolina, and 66 factors to BYU, all losses. Virginia did not get to opposing quarterbacks, did not cease the run, missed tackles at an alarming price, and gave up a number of massive performs in each recreation.

Now, the Cavaliers have a clear slate and an enormous chip on their shoulders coming into a brand new season. And that is the place we will present some excellent news as there are numerous the reason why UVA can and will have a a lot improved protection in 2022.

From a personnel standpoint, Virginia has a superb mixture of strong returning starters, some potential breakout stars from among the many gamers who did not get a lot taking part in time final season, and a batch of transfers that convey expertise, expertise, and depth, notably on the line of defense.

UVA did lose some key contributors from final 12 months’s unit, specifically Joey Blount, Nick Grant, Mandy Alonso, De’Vante Cross, West Weeks, and Noah Taylor. However, their departures are offering alternatives for some new names to step up and be the driving pressure behind the resurgence of the Virginia protection. The thrilling additions of Kam Butler, Jack Camper, Paul Akere, and Devontae Davis will give the Cavaliers a stage of depth up entrance that they haven’t had in a number of years.

Essentially the most significance change skilled by the UVA protection this 12 months had nothing to do with participant personnel. Nick Howell, the defensive coordinator below Bronco Mendenhall, is off to Vanderbilt and has been changed by former Air Drive defensive coordinator John Rudzinski. After spending the final 12 years on the teaching employees at Air Drive, together with the final 4 seasons as defensive coordinator, Rudzinski involves UVA with a formidable resume. In 2020, Rudzinski’s Air Drive protection gave up simply 15.0 factors per recreation, the third-lowest scoring protection in all of faculty soccer that season. Final fall, the Falcons ranked No. 4 within the nation in whole protection, yielding simply 296.5 yards per recreation.

Together with the opposite defensive assistants Kevin Downing (defensive tackles), Curome Cox (defensive backs), and former UVA soccer greats Clint Sintim (linebackers) and Chris Slade (defensive ends), Rudzinski and firm look to reform the Virginia protection again into being a power of the group, not a weak point.

Rudzinski hasn’t instructed us a lot about his meant scheme for the UVA protection. However from what we will collect from his feedback and the launched depth chart for the Richmond recreation, Virginia shall be working a five-defensive again system. The Cavaliers can have a number of versatile positions on the sphere that can function hybrids that may shift from linebacker to security or from down lineman to linebacker relying on the scenario. We’ll get into the small print of which particular gamers shall be filling these versatile roles just a little afterward.

The mixture of recent personnel, a brand new teaching employees, a brand new defensive scheme, and the mentality that the Cavaliers are out to show themselves must be a recipe for important enchancment this season.

With that in thoughts, let’s check out Virginia’s defensive roster for the 2022 season:

Defensive Line

The line of defense might the power of the UVA protection in 2022 based mostly purely on the variety of gamers who can line up within the trenches and supply high quality reps. Rudzinski and firm need have a deep rotation of defensive linemen to allow them to maintain everybody recent and all the time have three or 4 high-energy rushers battling on the line of scrimmage on each snap.

Two transfers occupy the defensive finish place on the UVA depth chart. Kam Butler from Miami (Ohio) shot as much as the entrance of the place group early throughout fall camp and by no means regarded again, incomes and sustaining a beginning job. Butler was twice chosen to the All-MAC Second Workforce at Miami (Ohio) and was named to the All-MAC First Workforce in 2021 after posting a outstanding statline of 53 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three pressured fumbles, three quarterback hits, and an interception. Based on the UVA teaching employees, Butler’s work ethic has stood out from day one and he’s anticipated to be a playmaker all season lengthy.

Becoming a member of Butler at defensive finish is Columbia switch Paul Akere, donning the No. 1 jersey for Virginia. Akere made the All-Ivy League Second Workforce final season, recording 42 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and a pressured fumble. The one-two punch of Kam Butler and Paul Akere could possibly be a serious difficulty for opposing offensive tackles this season.

Virginia has a few big-body disruptive forces of nature on the nostril sort out spot. Jahmeer Carter is a critical candidate to have breakout season in 2022. The 6’2″, 313-pound junior began in 10 video games final 12 months and made 23 tackles. His potential to plug the gaps shall be essential to UVA’s run protection. Devontae Davis, a switch from South Carolina, is listed at 6’4″, 306 kilos. After a summer time spent with new UVA power and conditioning coach Adam Smotherman, Davis reported throughout fall camp that he feels he’s in unbelievable form and is happy to make a distinction on the inside of the line of defense. Virginia additionally returns junior Olasunkonmi Agunloye, a veteran with some strong expertise after showing in 9 video games final season.

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At defensive sort out are Aaron Faumui and Ben Smiley III. Faumui initially entered the switch portal throughout the teaching change, however determined to come back again to UVA after assembly with Tony Elliott and the brand new Virginia teaching employees. The 6’2″, 282-pound senior Faumui appeared in all 12 video games final season, recording 23 tackles 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. As for Ben Smiley III, he has additionally gotten a number of love from the UVA teaching employees as a participant who’s primed for a breakout season. Smiley was very highly-recruited popping out of highschool and held affords from Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, Texas A&M, and a number of other different Energy 5 packages. He has handled important harm and well being points all through his profession, together with bronchial asthma assaults, however now he seems to be in nice form and is doing very nicely each on the sphere and within the classroom. The teaching employees could be very enthusiastic about Smiley reaching his potential this fall.

Bandit is a flexible place that may function a fourth down lineman whereas additionally with the ability to drop again into protection like a linebacker. At that important spot, Virginia is trying to senior Chico Bennett Jr. and Michigan State grad switch Jack Camper. The 6’4″, 252-pound Bennett transferred to UVA from Georgia Tech in 2020 however did not seem in any video games final season, however this has been a career-changing offseason for him, as he has completely impressed the brand new UVA teaching employees and earned a beginning job in fall camp. Equally, the Virginia coaches have appreciated what they’ve seen from Jack Camper, with John Rudzinski even noting that it did not appear to be Camper was a switch given how nicely he has built-in himself into this system this 12 months. Camper’s Large Ten expertise taking part in in 27 video games over the past 4 seasons at Michigan State shall be very beneficial.

Linebackers

On the MIKE or center linebacker place sits Virginia’s defensive chief, Nick Jackson. A two-time All-ACC choice and a member of the preseason watch lists for each the Bednarik Award (greatest defensive participant) and the Butkus Award (greatest linebacker), Jackson returns after main the ACC with 117 tackles final season. Virginia has excessive expectations for Jackson this season and that additionally goes for junior linebacker Josh Ahern, one other breakout candidate for the upcoming season. Ahern has appeared in 22 video games over the past three years, together with 11 video games final season, and recorded 25 tackles and a pair of.5 tackles for loss in 2021. Ahern should sit out the primary half of the Richmond recreation because of a focusing on penalty known as in opposition to him within the Virginia Tech recreation final 12 months, however the Cavaliers are hoping for him to take an enormous leap this 12 months.

Sophomore James Jackson will begin on the WILL or weakside inside linebacker place. A 6’3″, 228-pound sophomore, Jackson had a robust fall camp and the UVA teaching employees likes what he brings in the course of the protection. Becoming a member of Jackson at WILL are juniors Hunter Stewart, who recorded 37 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks final season, and D’Sean Perry, who performed in seven video games in 2021.

Secondary

As a part of John Rudzinski’s five-defensive again scheme, the same old two cornerbacks and two safeties shall be supplemented by the SPUR place, a hybrid participant who can fulfill each the roles of a security and a linebacker. Fifth-year Darrius Bratton has been pegged because the starter at SPUR. A veteran with 43 profession appearances, Bratton was tied for fifth on the group with 26 solo tackles final season.

Junior Chayce Chalmers can be listed at SPUR. Chalmers had a robust offseason, together with a notable efficiency within the spring recreation, the place he led all gamers with ten whole tackles.

On the cornerback spots, Virginia will go along with junior Fentrell Cypress II on the left and graduate Anthony Johnson on the precise. Cypress began in six video games final 12 months and had an interception within the North Carolina recreation, selecting off Sam Howell. Anthony Johnson is the most important persona on the group, however he additionally brings it on the sphere. A really skilled participant with 45 recreation appearances in his profession, which he started at Louisville again in 2017, Johnson had three interceptions, 9 passes defended, and 44 tackles final season. Sophomore Elijah Gaines will again up Cypress on the left and senior Jaylon Baker will backup Johnson on the precise.

A few sophomore Virginia natives occupy the security positions for the Hoos. Beginning at free security is Lex Lengthy, who hails from Woodbridge, Virginia and performed in eight video games as a real freshman. The starter at sturdy security is Charlottesville native Jonas Sanker, who additionally acquired a number of taking part in time as a primary 12 months, showing in 9 video games final fall. Each Sanker and Lengthy impressed defensive backs coach Curome Cox throughout camp and earned their beginning jobs in August. Sophomore Donovan Johnson backs up Lengthy at free security whereas Sanker’s sturdy security backup is senior Antonio Clary, who had 42 tackles final season. Count on to see Clary on the sphere fairly a bit as nicely.

Conclusion

After a disastrous 2021 season, there actually is nowhere for the UVA protection to go however up. With the weapons Virginia has returning on offense, even marginal enchancment on the defensive finish ought to lead to a extra profitable season this fall. With the inflow of expertise from the switch portal and from a number of breakout candidates in addition to the scheme changes from the brand new teaching employees, there’s an opportunity the Cavaliers expertise extra than simply marginal defensive enhancements in 2022.

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Court Finds Virginia's Punitive Damages Cap Applies Per-Plaintiff in Charlottesville Case

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2 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Press Room

Court Finds Virginia's Punitive Damages Cap Applies Per-Plaintiff in Charlottesville Case

A federal appeals court has ruled that Virginia’s $350,000 punitive damages cap applies on a per-plaintiff basis in a case against white supremacists who organized the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in August 2017.

A Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel in a 3-0 vote reversed a federal district court that had limited the punitive damages that the eight plaintiffs would receive to $350,000 aggregate. The appeals court found that in a case where there are multiple plaintiffs, the $350,000 cap applies to each plaintiff, not to the group as a whole.

In the opinion written by Chief Judge Albert Diaz, the appeals court rested its decision largely on the statute’s not mentioning plaintiffs and the fact that the state did not permit multiple plaintiff actions until well after the cap statute was drafted and enacted.

As a civil jury trial in 2022 proved, the protester-defendants — who included white nationalists, white supremacists, and neo-Nazis— conspired to commit racially motivated violence to, in part, “defend Western civilization and white men against perceived enemies—specifically, Jewish persons, Black persons, and their white gentile traitor allies.” The protesters “sought violence, planned for violence, sparked violence, engaged in violence, and afterwards, glorified the violence” committed.

The jury found the defendants guilty of civil conspiracy; racial, religious, or ethnic harassment under Virginia’s hate-crime statute; assault and battery; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Jury Award

The jury’s damages award against the protester-defendants totaled over $26 million, split among compensatory damages which the district court assigned jointly and severally against the defendants, and a historic $24 million in punitive damages. The district court ultimately slashed the punitive damages to $350,000 by applying Virginia’s punitive damages cap across the eight plaintiffs who sought them.

Defendants Michael Hill, Michael Tubbs, League of the South, and Nathan Damigo challenged the district court’s decision to hold them jointly and severally liable for the $26 million in compensatory damages award, while the plaintiffs challenged the district court’s decision to apply Virginia’s punitive damages cap across all plaintiffs.

Because the jury found that all the defendants engaged in a conspiracy, the district court applied the collective compensatory damages. The Fourth Circuit found no error in this part of the district court’s decision.

The defendants also argued that Virginia’s punitive damages cap should apply to the jury’s punitive damages award, reducing them to $350,000, and that the damages were constitutionally excessive.

The plaintiffs’ argued that the punitive damages cap only applies in “run-of-the-mill” tort and insurance cases and not at all than in the hate-crime context. The plaintiffs’ fallback contention was that the cap applies on a per-plaintiff basis, with each plaintiff receiving $350,000.

The district court rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments that the punitive damages cap should not be applied at all and that the cap applies on a per-plaintiff basis.

The Fourth Circuit also rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that punitive damages statute does not apply to hate crimes. The court cited the plain language of the statute that says it applies to ‘all actions” and not just some actions. The court noted that Virginia passed its hate-crime statute only a year after passing its punitive damages cap. It therefore had an opportunity to exclude hate crimes from the cap’s purview but it didn’t.

However, citing history, statute language and public policy, the Fourth Circuit agreed with the plaintiffs that the cap applies per-plaintiff.

The statute says in part that the “total amount awarded for punitive damages against all defendants found to be liable shall be determined by the trier of fact. In no event shall the total amount awarded for punitive damages exceed $350,000.”

First the appeals court noted that the punitive damages statute doesn’t include similar “all plaintiffs” language as it does “all defendants” and the court believes there are good reasons for that legislative drafting. If lawmakers meant to treat defendants and plaintiffs equally under the statute, even with the “all defendants” qualifier, that would render that term superfluous.

Another reason relates to the state’s historical understanding of joinder. and the fact that when the punitive damages cap was enacted in 1987 the common law largely didn’t permit separate plaintiffs to jointly adjudicate their claims. So an “action” was typically one plaintiff prosecuting one claim. There were no multiple plaintiff actions.

Virginia adhered to this common-law approach until 1995, when the General Assembly permitted a court to join separate actions, or six or more plaintiffs to join in a single action. But these joinder principles were enacted after the punitive damages cap passed in 1987.

“As a matter of text and history then, the General Assembly could not have contemplated including a multi-plaintiff limitation in the punitive damages cap because single-plaintiff actions were the norm,” the appeals court explained.

Furthermore, the court found that a per- plaintiff reading serves public policy interests by incentivizing plaintiffs to join their claims where appropriate. “Were we to hold otherwise, any plaintiffs seeking punitive damages against a defendant (or defendants) for a single occurrence would have 350,000 reasons not to join their claims. And had that been the law here, the district court likely would have faced eight trials in a loop of repeat operative facts and players,” Judge Diaz wrote.

Photo: James Kolenich, left, attorney for Jason Kessler, speaks with the media after a jury gave a partial verdict in Sines v Kessler case Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at the Federal Courthouse in Charlottesville, Va. A jury ordered white nationalist leaders and organizations to pay more than $25 million in damages Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, over violence that erupted during the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. The lawsuit accused some of the country’s most well-known white nationalists of plotting the violence, including Jason Kessler. (Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress via AP)

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Virginia House and Senate leaders agree to fix for military tuition program

Published

9 hours ago

July 2, 2024

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Virginia House and Senate leaders agree to fix for military tuition program

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – Democratic leaders in the Virginia House and Senate have agreed on a fix for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.

VMSDEP benefits the families of military service members and first responders who were killed or disabled in the line of duty. Changes to the program sparked an outcry from families that depend on the tuition waivers.

Tuesday afternoon, Del. Luke Torian (D-Prince William Co.) and Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) said they have agreed on a full repeal of the controversial changes.

The legislation they will propose also includes an additional $90 million from the FY2024 surplus to offset costs of the program.

Both the House and Senate now plan to reconvene on July 18th to consider the legislation.

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A Patriotic Prelude with a Virginia Connection

Published

16 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

A Patriotic Prelude with a Virginia Connection

As the nation prepares to celebrate its independence, WHRO-FM 90.3 invites you to join Raymond Jones for a special edition of “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection” this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. This week’s program features a carefully curated selection of classical music perfect for the eve of the Fourth of July.

The evening begins with a July 4th Concert from Colonial Williamsburg, a historically rich performance that captures the spirit of early America. This will be followed by Randall Thompson’s “The Testament of Freedom,” a stirring composition that sets to music the powerful words of Thomas Jefferson, a key figure in Virginia’s—and America’s—history.

Next, we travel to Staunton for “Heifetz on the Air,” presenting an episode entitled “Independence Day.” This segment promises to bring a unique musical experience, celebrating the essence of American freedom.

The journey continues back in Norfolk, with the Old Dominion University Schola Cantorum, led by the esteemed Lee Tepley, performing “A Capella Americana.” And finally, the program wraps up with a charming and patriotic performance by Williamsburg’s own Dean Shostak, who will play “Yankee Doodle” on a fiddle reputedly owned by the legendary Davy Crockett.

Tune in this Wednesday at 9:00 PM for an evening of exceptional music with a Virginia connection, celebrating the eve of Independence Day in true patriotic style.

And then join us on the Fourth of July as well for a rich celebration of American music throughout the day, capped off by the next program in our “Classical Americana” series at 9:00 p.m.: “Wonderful Town – The Sounds of New York, New York”. Lara Downes swings you through the sights, sounds and stories of the city that never sleeps, from Gershwin capturing the soul of New York in the roaring 20s, to Jessie Montgomery doing the same, almost a century later.

Celebrate the Fourth with us at WHRO-FM 90.3, or stream online!

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