Some spots still up in the air for Cavaliers

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Posted 5:43AM on Tuesday, August 31, 2004

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - Less than a week before Virginia's season opener at Temple, the No. 16 Cavaliers still have a few positions where the starter, or first backup off the bench, have yet to be determined. A depth chart released Monday shows Sean Johnson or Kurt Korte as the punter, and that's likely to continue this week, coach Al Groh said. ``Both punters have had a good camp,'' Groh said. ``It's another one of these situations that the final determination will really come from game competition. That establishes a lot who plays well in the game.'' Johnson is a sophomore, and Korte is a junior, and Groh said it could even turn out that each plays a role in the punting game. Another spot still up in the air is backup quarterback, where freshman Kevin McCabe and sophomore Christian Olsen, a transfer from Notre Dame last season, have put up almost identical numbers in scrimmages. One will eventually emerge as the No. 2 guy behind Marques Hagans, but Groh said he's not necessarily going into Saturday's game with designs on getting one or both work if the Cavaliers can get the game under control. ``I'm not even thinking about that,'' he said. ``I'm just thinking about the quarterback who's going to start the game and just take it from there. ``This isn't a preseason game. This one counts.'' Hagans will be making only his third career start, and the first where he knows he'd have to really flop for the Cavaliers to make a change. Last season, as the backup to Matt Schaub, Hagans made one start and also toiled at wide receiver, running back and punt returner. Which is easier, playing one position or several? ``It's a lot easier to focus on one thing, but the quarterback position comes with so many more responsibilities,'' Hagans said. ``At the same time, there are more things to focus on as well, so it's about the same.'' For his career, Hagans has completed 31 of 51 passes for 361 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. Virginia is 1-1 in Hagans' starts, falling at Florida State in 2002 and beating Western Michigan last year. AHMAD SQUAD?: Groh said he's serious about using heralded linebacker Ahmad Brooks (6-foot-4, 249 pounds) to return kickoffs this season. ``Quite likely,'' Groh said when asked how likely fans are to see the former star running back in high school back waiting for a kickoff. ``Coach's play toy. He's one of the fastest guys on the team. He's got great hands, he's one of the fastest guys on the team and he's got experience in doing it. He did it in high school,'' a smiling Groh said. Brooks started as a freshman linebacker out of C.D. Hylton High School last year, and was the player charged with calling the defensive signals. ``I started thinking about it when he was still at Hylton,'' Groh said. ``I thought last year it might be a little bit too much on his plate.'' The Cavaliers don't tackle on kickoff returns in practice, but ``every return that he's had, there's quite a buzz on the sideline,'' Groh said. Fellow linebacker Darryl Blackstock said Brooks could be dangerous. ``I told him I'd knock him out if I was on kickoffs running against him, but I can't see many guys really bringing him down,'' Blackstock said. ``A lot of teams put their young guys on kickoffs,,'' he said. ``They're not going to believe when they see that big 3-4 running at them.'' Brooks wears number 34. END QUOTE: ``We haven't played against anybody else since December. It gets kind of old beating up on yourselves. We're just ready to get out there and play against somebody else.'' offensive guard Elton Brown.