Thursday, January 10, 2008
UVa's tailback numbers impressive on examination
Payne’s old coach preaches patience
Doug Doughty
Doug Doughty's UVa Insider is exclusive to roanoke.com and is posted by 5 p.m. Thursdays in season.
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At the time that tailback Cedric Peerman suffered a season-ending foot injury in the first quarter of Virginia’s sixth game, Mikell Simpson had carried the ball exactly twice all season.
Simpson did not carry the ball in the sixth game or the seventh game, and he didn’t start in Week 8, when he had his breakout 271-yard game in Virginia’s 18-17 over Maryland.
Since there was not a game when Peerman and Simpson shared tailback duties, it is interesting to look at their combined numbers: 226 carries for 1,155 yards and 13 touchdowns. They also had a combined 55 receptions.
Although Virginia needs to replace three offensive linemen, coach Al Groh has to like the looks of a 2008 tailback platoon that could include Peerman, who will be a senior; Simpson, who will be a junior, and would-be sophomore Keith Payne.
It’s a crowded situation even before you consider senior Andrew Pearman, sophomore Raynard Horne, redshirt freshman Max Milien and recruit Torrey Mack.
It’s also worth noting that, when Virginia opened the Gator Bowl in a one-back set, Rashawn Jackson got the call.
That’s nine scholarship running backs and you’ve got to wonder how many will make the 2008 opening-day roster.
Pearman was sent home from the Gator Bowl for behavioral reasons, so you have to wonder about his future, and Simpson was not cleared to play in the Gator Bowl until an academic matter was resolved.
Presumably, Simpson needs to stay on top of his academics in order to be in good standing for the 2008 season.
And, remember, Payne was suspended from team activities during the summer in order to concentrate on academics.
If able-bodied and available, Peerman and Simpson will be in the mix for 2008, but what of Payne, a former Group AAA state player of the year? Payne had 58 carries for 219 yards and two touchdowns this season, but was on the field for one play in the Gator Bowl.
Roanoke talk-show host and Cavalier antagonist Greg Roberts forwarded me an e-mail this week that said Payne had met with his former Oakton High School coach, Joe Thompson, to discuss his collegiate future.
Payne could not be reached for comment Thursday. Thompson said he has spoken with Payne but has not been party to any discussion about Payne looking at other schools.
“What I do know is, I talked to him Christmas Eve and he told me that he had been working with the first team,” Thompson said. “He was excited about that. Then, Simpson came back and I don’t know how much Keith played in the bowl, but he was disappointed about that.”
Presumably, the time that Payne got with the first team was in place of Simpson. When Jackson (6 foot 1, 254 pounds) was in the game, that was a set specific to Jackson, who previously had played fullback.
“I would guess the same thing,” Thompson said. “Leading up to the game, Keith got his hopes up; then they went with Simpson. I can’t argue with that. Simpson had a great season.
“You and I can rationally say that, but it’s tougher on a kid. He has to understand that plenty of good things happened this season. For whatever complaint he might have had, there’s a benefit to the time spent working with the first team.
“Everybody who plays the running back position is going to experience some discontent, but I told him that he needs to stay where he is. I don’t think it’s an issue. Matter of fact, I told him, ‘I don’t know the NCAA rules [for transferring] and it’s not my desire to find out.’
“We’ve got a good relationship with UVa and I don’t want to mess it up.”
