Virginia OC expects Tennessee to come after Cavaliers QB in his first start for UVA
Virginia Cavaliers offensive coordinator Des Kitchings expects the Tennessee Vols to bring the pressure early when the two programs meet on September 2 in Nashville. Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott announced this week that Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett will start at quarterback this season for Virginia. Muksett's start against the Vols in the season-opener will […]
Virginia Cavaliers offensive coordinator Des Kitchings expects the Tennessee Vols to bring the pressure early when the two programs meet on September 2 in Nashville.
Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott announced this week that Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett will start at quarterback this season for Virginia.
Muksett's start against the Vols in the season-opener will be his first career start for the Cavaliers. It will also be the first time that Muskett's played in front of a crowd with more than 21,000 fans in attendance.
The combination of Muskett's first game as Virginia's starter and the large mostly pro-Tennessee crowd that's expected at Nissan Stadium is why Kitchings believes the Vols will be looking to pressure the senior quarterback early.
"Certainly I would," said Kitchings on Monday when asked if he expects UT to pressure Muskett early. "It's the guy's first start. First game of the year. Let's test him and see. Test the O-line and see if we can protect. Test the quarterback and try to get him to move off his spot. That's where all 11 of us playing together gives us the best opportunity."
Kitchings has been particularly impressed with Tennessee's front seven while preparing for the Vols.
"Their front seven stands out," said Kitchings when asked what stands out about UT's defense. "I know they had a couple of acquisitions in the transfer portal so their roster will probably look a lot different than what it did at the end of the season and even in the spring. Some of their guys did not participate in the spring game which is understandable."
"So we have an idea of who will be playing in certain spots," added Kitchings. "Haven't seen them in a Tennessee uniform, but structurally, they want to try to crowd the box and stop the run with their front seven. They got some secondary guys they've acquired too in the transfer portal. But I like where we are to go out and have a plan and to go attack them and try to win the game."
Tennessee has made getting pressure with their defensive front — specifically their front four — a priority this offseason. The matchup against Virginia will be a great test to see how much progress the Vols have made in that area (especially since Virginia's offensive line is still settling on their rotation according to Elliott).
The Vols and the Cavaliers kick off at 11:00 AM CT on September 2.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
