Hello, this is Steve IGO. You are listening to the monarchist podcast.
Ricky Rahne:podcast
Aaron:I'm Aaron.
Mike:And I might.
Aaron:And you're listening to the Monik podcast. This evening. We're joined by Greg Madea, the UVA sports beat writer for Charlottesville's daily progress. Greg, welcome to the best and only ODU podcast.
Greg Madia:Yeah, Aaron, Michael ha, happy to be with you guys. Excited to. Football a big game this weekend in Charlottesville, that probably a lot of people in the state are excited about. So it should be a good.
Mike:Yeah, we, we can't wait to get up there and start the celebration. So Greg, thank you for joining us. You're a New Jersey native, a West Virginia grad who covered the mountaineers pretty extensively followed up by our arrivals JMU. And you're now approaching your one year anniversary covering the, how is Charlottesville treating you?
Greg Madia:Yeah, I, I have to say I'm really enjoying it. You know, the, the, the team at U. It's been an interesting time kind of coming in at the same time. The new coaching staff at UVA has come in. And I always think that's a, that's, that's a nice timing. If, if it can work out the same thing happened when I was on the James Madison beat and, and Mike Houston was hired there. So it, I, I feel like that's a, that's a good building block, good starting point to kind of, you know, what the clean slate and, and everybody starts fresh with each other. So I've really enjoyed it. You know, it's been a nice you know, a nice, a nice move over to Charlottesville cover in.
Aaron:All right. So back in 2016, when this series was announced, this year was supposed to be the final. But with COVID the 2020 home game for ODU was pushed back to 2028. What's the overall fan reaction to this series. And are there any murmurs in the UVA administration about increasing the series?
Greg Madia:Yeah, I think it's interesting, right old, Dominion's done a really good job of scheduling. And Ricky, Ronnie had mentioned that earlier this week during a Sunbelt call, that he really likes what, what old dominion has done with, with Liberty on the schedule. Of course they play James Madison in the Sunbelt. Now that the tour are in the same league. And then they have Virginia tech quite right. A 10 year series with Virginia tech, which is just awesome. I think now, you know, continuing this series with, with Virginia, I think Tony Elliot, the Virginia coach, I had asked him during his press conference Tuesday about whether, you know, kind of just what he thinks of his scheduling philosophy. And he had mentioned, you know, James Madison school day wanted to play, you know, you gotta win. The state is, is kind of how he put it. And I think that's really nice in refreshing when power five coaches are like, you know what, go on a road, go play somebody or, or host a group of five school in the state. Right. I think sometimes those mid-major programs. Get put in a tough spot when, when bigger schools don't wanna play 'em. So I think that's an encouraging sign. If you're an old dominion fan or James Madison fan, or even even Liberty or somebody like that, that, you know, Virginia's willing to play a group of five team. Heck they're gonna go to coastal Carolina, right? In a couple, I think two years, three years. I can't remember off the top of my head. Coastal comes here this year to, to Charlottesville. So to me, I think that's an encouraging sign. If you're an old dominion fan.
Aaron:Yeah, well, maybe we'd get Tony Elliot to talk to Tony Bennett, you know, get some basketball going on.
Greg Madia:they, the basketball, they, they played in Harrisonburg last year and it didn't didn't go well for UVA. But he, I, he had said that you know, he was pretty flexible because when he was a, a player at had a mid-major, you know, he, he, he had opportunities to go play against big schools. So I think that's, that's kind of interest.
Mike:All right. So Tony Elliot came to UVA. With a pretty impressive resume and he's clearly motivated donors to get more involved with the project. UVA has announced since his hiring, what other changes has coach Elliot brought to the booth?
Greg Madia:Yeah, I, I think first of all, from a recruiting standpoint, there's been more emphasis on recruiting within the state of Virginia. I know that is something the old. You know, they, they had, they had not, I wouldn't say overlooked, but they hadn't succeeded in the state. Probably like it had, it would've liked to, of course UVA's got some unique academic challenges. But Tony Elliot thinks that, that they can find they can find players within the state to play at UVA. And I think he did a good job. His staff did a really good job of outreaching to the high school coaches. Early early on initially upon his hiring, they got out to the high schools within the state. And I talked to some high school coaches that said, you know, it was their first visit from a Virginia coach in three or four years whether a head coach or an assistant coach. So, you know, that, that to me is an encouraging sign. Because there are players to be had in Virginia, right? You shouldn't have to go to Texas or California to find a kid to play at UVA. You should be able to find them within Virginia and within the Commonwealth. So I think that is, is encouraging if you're a Virginia fan and that pushes starting to be made. I think from a program standpoint, obviously what you're seeing on the field looks different. The defensive scheme is much different under the new defensive coordinator. John, Rodinsky the offense. They're they're figuring things out. they're trying to be more balanced. It's it's work in progress but the, the schemes are different. So there's that. And then there's this emphasis on learning how to win and you've heard it the last couple of weeks is as Virginia's settled into its regular season, is that this team. They don't have the habits that, that Elliot is used to seeing at Clemson, right? They, that that's a perennial powerhouse program. It's a blue blood. Now I think you can. I think it's very safe to call Clemson a blue blood at this point with what they've done over the last decade. And to me, I, I think. That is a really interesting point because I, I saw it when I was on the James Madison beat, what that looks like, that, that championship mindset, that attitude with players and coaches and how they work and approach practice day in and day out. And Virginia's trying to learn that now with Elliot and, and his staff, and, but really with him and, and his background, having come from that at Clemson and understanding what the day in day out looks like not just showing up on Saturday, expecting a.
Aaron:Yeah. We've certainly seen the understanding of the process of winning. Obviously, Ricky, Ronnie, coming from Penn state and the other places you've been. Big atmospheres, big environments, history of winning. We saw last year with the team starting off slow one in six, and then the team figuring out and learning how to win. And it's interesting when you learn how to win, it's almost like you don't know how to lose. So it's a really important process there. So. Now UVA comes into this game, same record as O to you. One in one beat FDS, university of Richmond, 34 to 17 drop last week's road till against Illinois, 24 to three. What's your biggest takeaway so far in this young season?
Greg Madia:I think it's that the defense is ahead of, of the offense in two units, learning brand new systems. I think there's an understanding and. And a confidence growing with Virginia's defensive players about what they're doing on defense and that's something they didn't have last year in 2021. When, when they were giving up lots of points, week after week, they, they understand and they, they know what John Rodinsky, the defensive coordinator and those defensive coaches are asking them to do. He's got a complex system, but he's really pared it down to be simple. And simple enough so that players can play fast. And I think you're seeing some of the benefits to that. There's been an emphasis on the fundamentals of tackling the tackling is better on defense and they force turnovers. They forced four turnovers the other day at Illinois and Champaign, and really gave the offense multiple opportunities to take a lead and, and stay in a ball game. Fortunate part for Virginia was the offense couldn't take advantage of good field position and added possessions. So I think the defense being ahead of the offense is the takeaway early. And I think on the offensive side that the primary concern is, is kind of what everybody thought it would be going into the season. That's the offensive line the five new starters up front for UVA. And when you got five new starters, you, you kind of know it's gonna be a work in progress and, and Virginia's gotta figure. How maybe to mask some of those issues up front on the offensive line, whether, whether through scheme or through different combinations, they're gonna have to figure something out because they have this great quarterback. Lefthander Brenda Armstrong. But if he's got pressure in his face every single week, and he was sacked five times this past Saturday makes it tough for him to do what he he's really good at. And that's throwing a.
Mike:So Greg, you kinda let us into this next question. BN Armstrong came into the season with sky high expectations. He was voted in a tie for fourth in preseason ACC player of the year. However, at this point in this young season, he has a QBR in the thirties. The offense failed to find a consistent groove against Illinois. It went one of 16 on dirt down, just brutal. Clearly this is a small sample size and a lot can change week week. But do you see this as merely a symptom of playing with a new line, as you mentioned, and a new system, or is this something fans should be concerned about moving forward? This.
Greg Madia:I think it has more to do with the old line and the learning and confidence in a new scheme than anything else. I think Brennan is still as talented as he is been the past couple of seasons and can sling the ball with, with the best of him. I think what they're looking for from him is maybe a little more leadership and instruction with the wide receivers who he has established chemistry and success. So I think they're looking a little more for, from him in that department, but I think until Virginia figures out exactly what it's good at on offense and how they're going to protect Brennan Armstrong, then you know, it, it, it could be tough. I, I think on offense, they're still trying to figure out exactly what they, that identity is going to be right. Tony Elliot wants to run the ball a little bit more than Virginia has in the past Des kitchens. The OC is in line with that. They want to be more balanced. Kitchens is background in the run game is the wide zone Elliot's background in the run game is gap in gap, counter schemes that he ran at Clemson. So you emergent two different. Run backgrounds together. You have a quarterback that played in an air raid offense last year and threw the ball 50 plus times a game. Right. And you have receivers that are used to catching a lot, a lot of passes, and now you're kind of molding this identity together. And that's a, that's a lot of moving parts, right? That'd be a lot of moving parts for, for any program. And then you throw on top of it that you're doing it with five new starters up front. So yeah, there, there are going to be some issues and some kinks to be worked. I don't think they're they're unfixable or I don't, I don't think they're they're issues that will sit there. The entire season, that offensive line, I think will get better as the year goes along. It's just, how fast can they get better? So Virginia can figure out what it's really good at on offense. That's at least my opinion.
Aaron:All right, so let's move to the defensive side of the ball. Couple minutes ago, you mentioned four turnovers forced by UVA, against Illinois. And they did a pretty darn good job forced in Illinois into less than 33% success rate on that third down. If I remember correctly, the first four defensive series ended in like a, a fumble and interception in two, three and outs, which. You know, pretty damn good. What do you think the biggest catalyst to success on that side of the ball is? And is there any particular part of the field that you think OD should be scheming around?
Greg Madia:I think what's really helping them early on this year is the depth of their defensive line. They brought in a four different defensive line transfers. So they go about eight, eight deep on the defensive line. They brought in cam Butler from Miami of Ohio at a strip sack last week at Illinois. Jack camper from Michigan state he's involved heavily. He, he kind of plays in a platoon with Chico. Who was healthy finally for, for UVA after missing his first season after transferring from Georgia tech Bennett had a sack last week, camper's been involved. Devonte Davis is a defensive tackle trans from South Carolina. He's probably a second third guy off the bench on the interior, the defensive line. And then you throw in Paul Aari, another edge player from the FCS level at Columbia. So that defensive line group is deeper and you saw them start to get to the quarterback last week against Richmond in week one, Richmond was more, you know, three step drop, get the ball out so hard to get to the quarterback at times against the spiders. But this past week when Illinois was dropping back, those guys were getting there and, and putting pressure on it, which I think is, is encouraging sign for UVA because that's. That, that was the intent when they brought those guys in upgrade the pass rush and, and be a little bit better against the Ron. You pair those four with, with FMU Aaron FMU. Who's been in the program for a long time. He's done an nice job, same thing with Jamir Carter and Ben smiley. And all of a sudden that that defensive line is pretty good. I think that's a very good unit especially with the way they can keep blocks off. Nick Jackson, the linebacker you guys, you guys probably know a lot, a lot about Nick Jackson at this point in his career led the ACC and tackles a year ago, the secondary, which I thought was gonna have some big time question. Going into this season has been pretty good with Anthony Johnson, the corner back leading the way, had the interception on the second play of the game against the align eye. So to me, I think that defense has, has really come together pretty nicely. Now they're gonna be tested more this season and once again, into ACC play. And I think even this weekend, We with a quarterback and receiver at old domain, Ali Jennings, at least the country in receiving yards. To me that it's a player, Zach cones, the tight end six foot eight, right? That's gonna be a very, very tough player to guard against those players will test a secondary a little more than they've been tested to this point, but so far so good for UVA, which was not good on defense last year, cost them games.
Aaron:Now you just mentioned Zach and the tight end position. The cavalier defense last game the tight end hurt him a little bit. Didn't it?
Greg Madia:Yeah, they, they gave up. It's funny. I wrote about that a little bit today. After, after Virginia's media availability UVA gave up the two touchdowns that allowed were, were the tight ends. Two offensive touchdowns they gave up one was on a 39 yard. Touchdown pass from, from Tommy to Vito, to Michael Marqui. And that was after that was after a play toss fake UVA got, got bit, bit in and sucked in on the run a little bit. And then Illinois hit him over the top. And then the other one came into red zone from, from DeVito to tip reman. I think it was a two yard play for a touchdown, but yeah, that's something they're gonna have to be aware of. And Antonio Clary, their safety was saying. It's kind of like practicing against gani woods, right? You guys remember gani woods was a was a third round pick at the Indianapolis. COLS from Virginia last year. Woods was like six foot woods. Woods is like six foot seven. And cl was like, yeah, I had a lot of practice reps against him. It's gonna be a very similar situation with, with Koons, you know, you gotta play physical and you can't let those, those big guys bully you around a little bit. So I think that's one of the intriguing matchups. How does UVA guard a tight end of that size?
Aaron:Well, I'm really interested in seeing what happens because Zach has had a bit of a slow start this year. He had 70 something catches last year, a ton of yards. And it's, I think it's really important to get him involved in the offense. So it'll be interesting to see, cause I know both sides of the. Equation here, you know, UVA really wants to shut him down and I know ODU really wants to get him going.
Mike:So, the past two weeks he's been bracketed the whole game and the oppositions basically said we'll let Ali beat, they're leaving one on one situations a lot time, and he's not a really do one on against.
Greg Madia:And that's why he leads the country in receiving yards. Yeah.
Mike:but it's, it's kind of hurt his productivity cause he is only getting a handful of targets, a game. Cause he always in double coverage. Is that something that the UVA coaches have said they'll be doing this week or
Greg Madia:I.
Mike:key?
Greg Madia:We'll find out a little bit more tomorrow. When, when defensive coordinator John Rodinsky speaks, I'm sure that that's when we'll learn a little bit about how they plan to slow both Koons and Jennings. My guess they, they played some zone last week against Illinois, right? They're not as much man to man. So I assume that, you know, they're not gonna change their defense for any particular reason. But you know, Virginia's cornerbacks Anthony Johnson and fre Cypress Johnson, the veteran six career picks, fre Cyprus kind of, kind of in his first while he is healthy, right. He started games last year, but he's healthy now. They're gonna have to do a good job on Jennings and, and really figure that out while the middle of defense. I'm. Has to stop cones. You know, whether, whether it's one of the linebackers or ends up matched up with a safety. I think those, those are really tough matchups just cuz you know, he he's bigger than everybody and he is probably faster than most linebackers.
Aaron:Yeah on their own by themselves. It's a really tough matchup, but like
Mike:So we, talked a lot about the passing game. How are they on, run defense.
Greg Madia:They've given up some chunk plays in the run game. Not, not, not, not terrible in week one against Richmond and really not bad considering the competition this past Saturday in champagne. Right? Chase brown. Nations leading Russias they're running back in Illinois. When, when you think of Brett beum of football, gosh, he's. He's got that team with his full identity already downhill offensive lineman, bully ball, basically. And, and they did, they held up, right. And, and when brown broke looked like he was gonna break a run in the, in, in the opening quarter, they stripped the ball away from. So I think they did a good job of, of gang tackling and getting to the ball. There were some large gains before that happened at times, but I think they, they they've been better against the run they've been in the past. Of course they wanna, they wanna see some more upgrades in that department too, though.
Mike:So I'll add this for OD fans. You'll recognize the defense. It will look very similar. The scheme at least will look very similar. To ODU and ECU, you guys are running a three, four base that can transform into a 4 25.
Greg Madia:Yeah, I, I guess it really depends how you de define it is, is how you determine what that edge player is. Right. Do, do you see him as an outside Lineback or do you see him as a, as a defensive end? Sometimes he's got his hand in. Dirt other times he's standing up, but it is the same player. Mostly in that with UVA calls it, the bandit position, sometimes call it a spur or a star UVA terms at the bandit position. That's either Chico Bennett or Jack camper. And I think. To me, it feels more like a 4, 2, 5. That's what it feels like to me. But I think by definition they collect the call to three, four. I, I think it's more of a 4, 2, 5, but you know, they they're out there. I'll let the, you know, fans can figure out and determine and coin it. However they want.
Mike:We call ours at four twenty five. So we've seen plenty of it. We've loved it so far at ODU. Cause we had it the last year under Bobby. And that was when we first started seeing kind a turn
Greg Madia:Yeah.
Mike:of the defense and the last last year, and this year, we really with the defense in the four 20 special teams, O O made a bit of a name for itself on that side of the ball. And last week we showed that skill quite a. Blocking two extra point attempts. What can you tell us about O UVA special teams core and how they plan to stifle the ODU side?
Greg Madia:Yeah, new special teams coordinator for Virginia. Most of the staff is. But, but Keith Gaither is the special teams coordinator and, and I think their, their schemes are good. They're playing a lot of starters on the special teams. Now what's interesting is they've, they've had some, some interesting moments on special teams, particularly this past Saturday. Again, still annoying when Billy Kemp fumbled a punt return, he was trying to make a play deep in his own end zone, deepen, you know, deep in his own territory. Lost the ball ball rolled into the end zone. Illinois player jumped on it touched down in a lead for, for Illinois that they never gave up. So there, there, there are some issues there on special teams for Virginia, I think. Good, good news is for UVA is their punter. Daniel Sparks the transfer from Minnesota who did a nice job. Before getting hurt this past Saturday looks like he'll be okay. At least that's what Elliot had said. So that'll be good for them. They need him. He, he landed two punts inside Illinois's 10 and really helped UVA win the battle of the field position early. I think as far as, as far as slowing old dominion, special teams and limiting the big plays that old dominion can create on special teams, it's gonna be stressed all week at Virginia. Tony Elliot hit mentioned it. He's aware of what ODU has done on special teams with the block kicks and you know, ability to make some have touchdowns. Right. And you only been, you had a couple of touchdowns on special teams last year. Who was it last year? Didn't they block
Aaron:on Mario James. Yeah.
Greg Madia:AC white, right? Was that another one I'm trying
Aaron:Oh, blocking. Yeah. Blocking, blocking the kick.
Greg Madia:yeah. Be before he transferred, right? Yeah.
Mike:We led the country in block cakes last year.
Greg Madia:Yeah. So to me, yeah, to me, it's like, it's, it's gotta be stress and players have to understand. I, I think UVA will be on alert right after you lose. You're typically more, there's a little bit more heightened awareness, urgency. So I think UVA will be, you know, be ready to take on the challenge that old dominion presents in the special teams department.
Mike:So you, you mentioned the punter's injury and how he'll probably. Are there any other injury concerns in this game?
Greg Madia:Darius Bratton safety started week one. Didn't play this past week. He's dealing with a bone bruise, high ankle sprain. Don't know whether or not he'll play, but when Tony Elliott said it today, he was saying, he was hoping it's not long term. So I don't know exactly where that leaves brought in, in terms of Saturday. My guess would mean probably not. But they, they, they have some other safeties. They trust you own a saner cl who I already talked about a little bit. So I, I think they'll be okay at that position. But other than that, they came out of Illinois, pretty clean pretty healthy. So that, that is a good sign for Virginia.
Aaron:Besides the quarterback position. Who's the one dude on offense that old dominion fans should be worried.
Greg Madia:Probably Ws Davian wicks receiver for Virginia. He, he he's had a rough slow start. You know, he, he, he caught for over a thousand yards last year. Set the school's all time record. For receiving yards in a season. But he's had some drops early this season. He probably should have caught a touchdown last this past Saturday at Illinois. Ball went right through it. Would've been a tough catch, but the ball hit his hands and went through his hands. So I'm sure there, there's some motivation there for, for S to get back on track. Big part of this UVA offense and, and he had a fumble in week one. So slow start. I'm sure he he's anxious and eager to, to get it righted and get, get, get back to what he did last year in the productivity he had.
Aaron:All right. Let's talk about a little bit of fun stuff. A little bit of non-football stuff here. So we all know about the corner. We. Up main street and the brewery scene in Charlottesville, but for O fans making the trip there that don't have tailgating plans, where should they go for pregame?
Greg Madia:Ooh. Interesting. See. I'm I'm still kind of new. So I, I probably will tell you the wrong places. Right? I've only, I haven't eaten at a ton of places in Charlottesville yet. One place I actually ate today was Mo's barbecue. Not too far from John Paul Jones arena. That that was pretty good. Then there's also Wa heroes, which is a kind of a Cuban sandwich type place. Very, very good food. So to me, you know, Charlottesville's got great food, all around brewery scene is as excellent as you said you can find a beer anywhere. So I, you know, I'm sure old dominion fans will have no problem finding something.
Mike:All right. Well, we're staying overnight. We have plans, but others might not dinner spot post game. I was told to avoid the corner of postgame cause it's just gonna turn to a night club area for college kids. So clearly downtown is. Probably the way to go. Right?
Greg Madia:I would think so. There there's plenty of restaurants. I'm sure you'll be able to find something. That would be my guess. I, I, I should have got my, my colleague Mike Barber on the phone to tell you where to go. He's he's big into, to all the food seeds. I, yeah.
Mike:I can vouch for three notched
Greg Madia:Oh yeah. Very good.
Mike:South street brewery is a pretty relaxed atmosphere for our post game. Breakfast. I was gonna say, you've got two choices here. Tip top or BDOs.
Greg Madia:See, I, I'm gonna be honest. I'm from Jersey and Bodo.
Mike:Yeah, I know. I know you're gonna have a very high bagel quality that
Aaron:It's the water man. It's the water.
Greg Madia:It is the water. You're exactly right. You know, to me Boto is fine. It does it, it does an adequate job, I guess, and people in Charlottesville, probably not like me for saying that, but it is not a Jersey. It's not a Jersey bagel. It's good. It's good. It's a great substitute.
Mike:but tip top,
Greg Madia:I haven't been there yet.
Mike:you're missing out. It's it's pretty classic diner breakfast place, but it's, it's awesome. It's over on pan top. Definitely try it out sometime when you have a free morning.
Greg Madia:Yeah. Well, do.
Aaron:All right. So. Charlottesville. It's obviously a really scenic area. It's beautiful in Charlottesville. Lots, especially as we get closer to October and November, is there an outdoor activity that, like you said, you hadn't been there that long, but is there an act outdoor activity, maybe an Arboretum or a botanical garden that you would suggest that fans take time out of their weekend? Maybe on the back, you know, on the way back to the 7 57 that they could check.
Greg Madia:See, I was gonna say if, if you keep going west a little bit and you add about 10 mile, 10, 15 miles past Charlottesville, you can get the skyline drive. Right. You get to skyline drive and chat to national park, which, you know, you can't go wrong with that. This time of year, the beautiful mountain views do some hiking. So to me, if, if you've got the time when you you're treking all the way from Norfolk, you know, you, you can, you can have some fun and, and get some relaxation into this trip. If, if you had, if you had, if you had west a little bit further than Charlottesville, not, not too much but stay on 64 for another 10, 15 miles, and then you'll.
Mike:All right, Greg. So a lot has changed since ODU and UV last met in
Greg Madia:Yeah.
Mike:that is a painful performance for a lot of ODU fans, especially that fourth down attempt that eats at us quite a bit,
Greg Madia:I could tell.
Mike:but we got two new coaching staffs since that game completely different rosters. Obviously O B the team that UVA has struggled to be over the last couple decades in Virginia tech. How are, are UVA fans coming into this game? Or a little bit of both.
Greg Madia:I I think with what the Sunbelt conference has done as a whole put, puts everybody on alert, right? I mean, gosh, Appalachian state going to Texas a and M Marshall going to Notre Dame. Georgia Southern ending the Scott Frost, right in Nebraska. And plus what, what old dominion did the first week against Virginia tech on that Friday night? Down in 7 57, man. Yeah, you gotta, you can't just look at it as, as an easy game on a schedule. It's it's, it's a real football game. You better strap up and be ready to play. Otherwise you will get beat right? Old dominion has talented players. You know, Ali Jenning start his career at West Virginia was a big time, big time recruit coming outta high school at island Springs. And I think that's one thing too. That's not lost right? When you have these in-state games. The kids tend to know each other a little bit. I know Virginia's roster, isn't, isn't probably as, as full of Virginia kids as old dominions is, but you know, they still have players that played at the same high school's arrival, high schools. They, they know how, you know, how close the talent level is. So I, I think in terms of the team, they won't take it lightly. If you're a fan. No. And you've missed what the Sunbelt has done. To this point this year and what old dominion has done, right. They had a great win week. One against Virginia tech played a much improved east Carolina team under Mike Hughes and the former James Madison coach and, and played tough there. If you're not paying attention to what, what they've done, especially toward the end of last year, when they rattled off what all those six, six straight wins to get to a bowl game you know, it, it it's, that's bad. You gotta know this is a good football team coming in Charlotte.
Mike:All right. So the spread on this game opened at 12 and since moved down the 10 and half
Aaron:It's nine and a half now, man, just moved.
Mike:it did,
Aaron:Yeah. It's nine and a half. Right.
Mike:I like that number a lot. What's your take on how this goes down.
Greg Madia:Yeah. In terms of terms of game, I, I try to stay away from making a prediction, but just cuz with Virginia, gosh, you just don't know what it's gonna look like front from week to week, you know, you don't know what you're gonna get. They were okay. Week one against Richmond, but it's lower level competition. They were bad this past Saturday. And with a young offensive line, it fluctuates right? If full dominion starts getting pressure early, maybe copies some of the stuff, Illinois. It's gonna be a four quarter game and, and maybe old dominions won with the lead at the end. So to me, you know, I, I think you gotta look at this game as, as a tight match up. And if you think anything else you're probably thinking wrong. I think it'll be a very good, very competitive game. I do think Virginia though, it, it knows it has to bounce back. And it's trying not to let you know one loss snowball into another. So I do think Virginia ultimately bounces back with a victory. Man there's gonna be a tight, competitive football game.
Aaron:Mike. I, I don't know what the percent of money is, but 81% of the bets are on old dominion right now, 81%.
Greg Madia:A lot of
Aaron:But I don't, I don't know overall money, but,
Mike:I, I think a lot of that is that the number just opened up too big, that 12 and a half enticed, a lot of bets. Now we're gonna get down to nine and half and the money might start going to the UVA side and it'll balance out a little bit, but. It's gonna be hard to, for them to top that 81%, by the end of the Greg, you mentioned we have our issues solution. There was just a fact of two of the, on our, but you guys have performed who knows? I mean, You said you're rotating eight. That's gonna be a fresh defensive line all game long.
Greg Madia:I think that I think the defensive line is where, where Virginia has an edge. And one of the, like I said, one of the reasons why it's defense I think is played well early, they're deeper, upfront. They're a little more athletic on the edge. They can get to the quarterback and I think they can affect the way hay and Wolf throws the football. I, I do think they'll be able to impact a game in that way. Just like gum, Cheryl dominion thinks it can get Torenna Armstrong a. So, so it's interesting, you know, you got some of the same strengths, right?
Mike:Yeah. How, how mobile is.
Greg Madia:That's that I think is the difference. Right? Armstrong can really move and he can get out and escape the pocket. I think one thing that Tony Elliot could do, and he hinted out a little bit post game is use him in some more design quarterback run there. There's risk involved in that too. Cuz you don't wanna get your starting quarterback. But if you move BRN around a little bit you've slow down that defense, all of a sudden you freeze that defense all of a sudden, even some numbers up in terms of, in terms of the box and then take away that advantage from the defense. So I think that's one thing Virginia could do to alleviate some of its old line issues.
Aaron:Mike, do you think we're gonna see Jason Henderson kind of spying him and following, following him wherever he, he roams.
Mike:Well, I don't, I don't know about Jason. It might be one of the outside backers or a safety. I kept thinking it was gonna happen with AERs and it never really did cause we were in that zone for most the game. Oh, we'll see. AERs is obviously a much more consistent runner than Armstrong. So IR Mays be seen.
Aaron:Yeah, it'll be interesting. You know, to talk about the lines, what we were just saying, because our offensive lines seem to pass block better in this last game than being effective in making any holes for for Blake in the rest of the, the running back crew. So it'll, I, I see that there's, we're gonna find out pretty early on, I think, on, on who who's happier with the progress between weeks two and three.
Greg Madia:Yeah, no, no doubt. And Virginia averaged only 1.4 yards per carry last week against Illinois. So I'm sure they're, they're looking for better in that department. They ran for over 200 plus yard, 200 plus yards against Richmond. And I'm sure they'd like to get back to that and that, that could open some things up in a passing game as well. But when you're, when you're only averaging 1.4 yards per carry it's, it's not.
Mike:And I think you could throw Odus rushing defense stats out the window after the ECU game, because really that was just kind of a, a symptom of the offense not being able to sustain drives the defense was on the field all game long. And then by the fourth quarter, they were just gas.
Greg Madia:Yeah, that that happened.
Mike:Yeah, they just started giving up big runs in the fourth quarter. So I like our defense a lot. But it all depends on how good the offense is playing. So
Greg Madia:Yeah, Tony, Tony Elliot mentioned today. How, how athletic he believes some of some old dominions defenders are Trey. Trey Hawkins, I think stands out the most, right? The cornerback six, six foot gray and, and pretty good there in the back end.
Mike:Him Terry Jason Henderson has been a Moser this season.
Aaron:Hey, I was just gonna ask Greg would, did you say that the, the same. That Mike was talking about, about our defense, just getting gas because they were on the field so much. Cuz we just, every time we scored last week, it was like lightning in a bottle. I mean we're couldn't have any long sustained drives to give the defense a chance to, to get hydrated and get some breaths is the same. Did the same thing happen to UVA last week after, after those initial, you know, four drives that they were just on the field so much or.
Greg Madia:They, they did a really good job. I thought the defense, all things considered, cuz Virginia had had some just horrendous three and ounce that were quick and they were right back on the field of defense. But, but they played through all four quarters really well. Illinois had a couple two. Missed field goals in the second half. So maybe the score could have been, could have been what, 30 to three or 27 to three. But the defense never quit. I'll give 'em credit. They, they never stopped quitting. They never stopped trying, excuse me. And I, I think there's a lot of, you know, there's a lot of credibility that comes with that. That, you know, when your offense isn't producing that you're still going out there and trying to give him chances against a physical Illinois team. Right? I mean, that's, that's, that's big boy type football, big 10 physicality. And I think to me, that's, that's. One of the impressive things about Saturday's performance is they, they didn't, they didn't slow down there in the second half. Just cuz the game was outta hand, they kept playing. Nick Jackson linebacker was in the middle of things was sec. I think he had second, most tackles this past Saturday L long. The safety was really good at clarity was really good. Just never stopped playing and, and I think the defensive line depth helps cause they can roll guys in and out and they're not getting gas. And when you keep those guys. The rest of the defense kind of play behind him,
Mike:All right. Well, we really appreciate you joining us tonight, Greg. Other than the daily progress, where can people find you?
Greg Madia:Yeah. You can find me on, on Twitter at Greg Madea and read all the stuff daily progress.com.
Mike:Awesome. Thanks again for joining us.
Greg Madia:Yeah. Thanks. Thanks for having me, Aaron and Michael. I really appreciate you guys. Having me on.
Aaron:I was just gonna say, I realized that we don't have a game scheduled in Norfolk until 2028, but we'll have the open invite for you to come to our tailgate.
Greg Madia:Let's hope newspapers. Yeah. Let's hope. Newspapers are still, still charted out at that time.
Aaron:If not, I'm sure you'll Bob and weave and figure out what the, the media of the day is.
Greg Madia:yeah. Fair
Mike:follow, you just can follow Andy's lead to join the athletic.
Greg Madia:Well, I'll, I'm, I'm happy at the newspaper. Happy, glad, glad I'm there. So yeah, happy, but thanks for helping me on guys.
Aaron:Go monarchs.
Mike:bill monarchs.
Ricky Rahne:podcast