Notre Dame Football First Look: Virginia Cavaliers

Defense & Special Teams

On paper, the Virginia defense has been great this season. The team ranks 14th in the nation in average opponent yards per game at 263.8. Likewise, the Cavaliers are tied at 28th in points allowed (the other team? Notre Dame), averaging 18.0 points allowed per game.

Looking at the first four games of the season, there aren’t any glaring holes in Virginia’s defense. The unit has experience across the board and is enjoying contributions from some younger talent as well, namely sophomore outside linebacker Charles Snowden — who was named 247 Sports’ national defensive player of the week after recording 15 tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss last Saturday.

While there aren’t many obvious points of criticism at this point in the season, the Virginia defense hasn’t yet faced an offense comparable to Notre Dame. The best offense it has squared off against thus far, in terms of total offense, is 2-2 Florida State, who currently ranks 49th.

The Irish offense will most likely be the toughest test for Virginia’s defense all season, and it remains to be seen whether the Cavaliers will be able to slow them down.

Virginia’s special teams has been adequate, but not great, in 2019 thus far. The biggest concern for the Cavaliers’ special teams is the play of junior kicker Brian Delaney, who has already missed an extra point and whose field goal percentage sits at an alarming 62.5% (5 of 8). For Virginia to pull off an upset against a top-10 team on the road, they will have to be perfect on all sides of the ball. In a close game special teams could make all the difference.