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Virginia Football: Can Cavaliers meet lofty 2019 expectations?

By Michael McDaniel

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Bryce Perkins #3 celebrates with Ryan Nelson #54 of the Virginia Cavaliers after throwing for a touchdown during the third quarter of the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Bryce Perkins #3 celebrates with Ryan Nelson #54 of the Virginia Cavaliers after throwing for a touchdown during the third quarter of the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 13: Pat Bethel #93 of the Miami Hurricanes dives at Bryce Perkins #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 13: Pat Bethel #93 of the Miami Hurricanes dives at Bryce Perkins #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at Scott Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Is Bryce Perkins enough for the offense in 2019?

Is Bryce Perkins alone enough for the Cavaliers offense to take strides forward in hopes of winning the division in 2019?

It’s a fair question, especially when considering who Virginia has lost on the offensive side of the football.

A handful of offensive linemen are gone from a year ago. In addition, the Cavaliers lose starting running back Jordan Ellis, who rushed for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago.

The Cavaliers also lose their top receiver, Olamide Zaccheaus, who caught 93 balls for 1,058 yards and nine touchdowns last year. While difficult to replace, Virginia returns their two other top receivers in Hasise Dubois and Joe Reed, who caught five and seven touchdowns respectively in 2018.

But all eyes, for better or worse, are on Perkins, and Virginia’s lofty expectations rest squarely on the shoulders of their senior quarterback.

Perkins is the second best quarterback in the ACC behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, and his dual-threat ability was on full display last year. He threw for 2,680 yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions, and was second on the team in rushing behind Jordan Ellis, as he accounted for 923 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil and junior college standout took the ACC by storm in his inaugural season with the ‘Hoos, and Virginia is expecting more of the same out of their star quarterback to achieve their goal of winning the ACC Coastal in 2019.

The real question is whether or not Perkins’ production will be enough to take the Cavaliers to new heights in 2019. With Ellis and Zaccheaus still aboard a year ago, and with Perkins producing at a high level, the Cavaliers still ranked towards the bottom of the ACC across many major offensive categories.

The ‘Hoos were 10th in the conference in scoring offense (28.5 points per game), 10th in rushing offense (147.5 yards per game), 10th in passing offense (183.0 points per game) and 10th in total offense (384.8 yards per game).

If the Cavaliers can take even small steps forward on the offensive side of the ball, they should be in very good shape considering what is returning on defense.

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