Associated Press

Southern Miss defenders Andre Watson (left) and Ronnie Thornton break up a pass intended for Virginia wide receiver Kris Burd (center) on Sept. 19 in Hattiesburg, Miss.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jameel Sewell's combined 69 passing and rushing attempts at Southern Mississippi are a school record that coach Al Groh would rather not see broken.

Sewell has accounted for 73.1 percent of Virginia's offense in three games, but how much pounding can he take?

Sewell had 23 rushing attempts in a 37-34 loss to Southern Miss and no other UVa back has more than 14 attempts for the season.

"We're very conscious of those things," Groh said during an off week. "There were only eight or nine called quarterback runs in the game.

"The rest of those were his reaction to certain pass plays. Eight or nine would be a desirable number going into the game, but we realize there are going to be some spontaneous situations."

Maybe it would help if the Cavaliers blocked somebody. Virginia also has allowed more sacks (4.33 per game) than any other Division I-A team.

In 2007, when he started every game in a 9-4 season, Sewell averaged 28 pass attempts and just under 10 rushing attempts per game. That year, he accounted for 57.1 percent of the team's offense.

Those numbers are slightly misleading because, on passing plays, there also is a receiver involved.

In 2002, when Matt Schaub set the previous UVa record for "plays" with 64 in a game against Georgia Tech, he had 58 pass attempts.

"If he could have a Matt Schaub-type game, that would be beautiful," Groh said. "But, this is part of [Sewell's] game.

"To inhibit him would be to take away a talent that he has and an attribute to the team. So, we just talk to him about good judgment."

Sewell has not missed a game because of injury since taking over as UVa's starting quarterback in the fourth game of the 2006 season. The only interruption came when he was on one year's academic suspension in 2008.

"I try to stay in touch with him as to what his stamina and endurance is [and] how much is good for him," Groh said. "He's a good communicator about that.

"Right now, it's clearly to our advantage to let him go ahead and be himself."

Virginia had 90 offensive plays against Southern Miss after slowing down the tempo and taking only 51 snaps in a 30-14 loss to TCU.

"It was an extraordinarily long game," Groh said of his team's Hattiesburg, Miss., appearance. "It was three hours and 41 minutes. I didn't realize that till I looked at [the final stat book] on the plane on the way home.

"I'd say that I'd never been in a game of regulation time that went three hours, 41 minutes. We played [81] plays on defense in the first game and I think that's just part of what's going along with teams now not going into the huddle.

"Unless teams decide to slow it down, they're using up a lot less of the 40-second clock."

By the numbers

Virginia ranks 111th out of 120 Division I-A teams in total offense, continuing a trend that could land the Cavaliers outside the top 100 for the fourth straight season.

The Cavaliers are 112th in rushing offense and also rank outside the top 100 in passing efficiency (106th), turnover margin (111th) and time of possession (107th).

But, here's the kicker: The Cavaliers are 119th in the country in kickoff returns (15.2) and 120th in kickoff-return defense (34.0). That's despite the much-heralded return of former aide Ron Prince as special-teams coach.

Groh said that part of him feels that regardless of how the Cavaliers practice special teams now -- four periods during each practice -- that they need to practice more.

"By the same token, to do more would also say that we would abandon practicing on offense and defense," he said.

Odds 'n' ends

Game time for the Virginia-Indiana game has been set for 3:30 p.m. in a game that will be available on ESPN360. Kickoff for the Cavaliers' game this Saturday at North Carolina is noon. Virginia has won six of the last seven meetings between the teams and nine of the last 11.