Countdown to Camp: Mendenhall talks QB, recruiting, and much more

It wouldn't be an offseason in Charlottesville if there weren't at least a few questions surrounding the quarterback position, though this year there's obviously a different tenor to those debates.

Virginia will enter fall camp next week with both its 2015 starter, Matt Johns, and his primary backup, Connor Brewer, on the roster. While the competition this spring between the two ended in what seemed to be a dead heat, incoming ECU transfer Kurt Benkert will undoubtedly be in the mix this fall, too.

The choice facing Bronco Mendenhall in his first year as UVa's head coach isn't clear cut on any side. There are other factors at play, including the lack of depth on the offensive line, the experience levels of the QBs, and the fact that Virginia's offense is entering its first year under new coordinator Robert Anae.

"I prefer a dual-threat presence if possible," Mendenhall said last week at the ACC Kickoff, "and I'll just say this pretty simply in terms of philosophy: A dual-threat quarterback takes pressure off the offensive line and puts more pressure on the defense and allows you to score points more quickly than if you become more traditional, which requires a higher level of execution. That doesn't mean I'll pick a quarterback only based on dual-threat if he's not the most efficient.

"But the dual-threat would allow us, with a thin offensive line, to possibly keep them healthier," he added, "and maybe even with some injuries be able to continue to put points up, which is the most important statistic in football, and sometimes that's forgotten."

Asking the first-year UVa coach to handicap the pending competition is all but futile. He's committed to letting the players decide it on the field. He said he "wouldn't underestimate" Johns or Brewer, who aren't seen as dual-threat guys.

"Knowing that we think that's more likely the direction we're going to go, not certainly but more likely, there probably will be more elements that all three might have similar offenses," Mendenhall explained. "We're at a point now where you can't have distinct offenses for different quarterbacks with the timeframe we're under. So you'll probably see elements of dual-threat with whoever is in there than just specifically one who we think is a runner or a thrower."

Along with finding its quarterback, the biggest question the Cavaliers must answer is finding the right personnel on both the offensive and defensive lines. The latter, in the midst of a switch from a 4-3 base to the 3-4 Mendenhall ran at BYU, could be more challenging.

Asked how long it would be until he had the personnel to run the defense the way he wants, the new Virginia head coach said, "If this year's recruiting so far is any indication, it'll be sooner rather than later with the amount of interest in our system and our program."

In Provo last season, Mendenhall said the Cougars played more snaps out of a 4-3 than they did out of the 3-4. That's because at BYU, much like he plans to at UVa, the staff made a decision prior to each season on what scheme fit their personnel.

"We have a simple meeting every year," he said. "It's called 'Best 11' and that means the best 11 defensive players in whatever configuration is out there. Our knowledge base will allow us to do that. I don't know how long but this would be much more hybrid oriented than 'This is only what we are.' That has evolved over the 13 years by different personnel groups we've had that've always allowed us to be successful in keeping the points where they need to be to win."

"Play him," he said, when asked what he'd do if his fifth DB was better than his fourth best LB. "Play him. You bet."

With Donte Wilkins in the middle of the line, the Wahoos have a clear playmaker at nose tackle. But Wilkins, a senior, is going to have to log a lot of reps given the lack of depth. That Trysten Hill, a defensive tackle signee from Florida, didn't enroll this offseason meant that position took an even bigger hit.

"Regardless of talking about anyone specifically, anyone that doesn't qualify for our program and knew what the qualifications were really made the right choice for them and us," Mendenhall said. "They saved everyone a bunch of time. They were more clear on what they wanted. My job is just to educate that this is what it will take, this is what we require. And if they make it, that means that they endorse. If they don't make it, that means that they don't endorse.

"So, we have one great nose tackle and we're limited in depth, much like the offensive line," he added. "So how all of this shapes up, it'll be fun to watch. Who knows...I'm not opposed to fanatical nor radical ideas to put defensive players on the field. Who knows what that will look like. But I know how it will start and how we install."

Clearly, defense is personal for him. Though Nick Howell technically serves as UVa's defensive coordinator, it's obvious that Mendenhall oversees that unit with fierce attention.

"Every part of our organization is labeled," he said. "Every task is labeled into a type of work. I only do competitive work during the season. I delegate competitive-enabling work, business-essential work, compliance work. I just won't do any of that in-season because my No. 1 responsibility is to our players, to help them win. So in season, if there's an emergency that's player related and I have to step out of it, all I do is, the meeting keeps going, and I pass the clicker and then we switch it back when I come in.

"Sometimes I'm viewed as non-approachable during the year," Mendenhall added. "When you're the head coach and the defensive coordinator and your competitive work is to win games, then that's probably right. That's not because I'm anti-accessible. It's just that my first priority is to my competitive work and I'm really clear about that."

Asked how much of the season's game prep is done as fall camp approaches, Mendenhall said, "It's done. We're playing really good teams, and a lot of them, with a team that is learning to be capable and [has] a lot of work ahead. There's not much time to waste."

While some fans may be willing to concede that the rebuild will take time, don't expect Mendenhall to be among that group.

"Today," he said when asked what his timeframe was for winning. "I don't expect a honeymoon period. I want to win."