Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - 2007 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Virginia Cavaliers won nine games in 2007, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC, good for a second place finish in the Coastal Division.

The season certainly didn't start out on the right foot for Al Groh's squad, as the team was routed in its season-opener at Wyoming (23-3). To the Cavaliers' credit, they responded with seven straight victories, opening up ACC play at 4-0 in the process. The team would split its last four games of the regular season however, including a memorable blanking of Miami-Florida in southern Florida (48-0). With the nine wins Virginia earned a bid to the Gator Bowl, but dropped a 31-28 decision to Texas Tech.

2007 will be remembered as a highly successful season in Charlottesville, considering the team's nine wins were its most since the 2003 campaign. In addition, the Cavs set an NCAA record with five wins by two points or less.

2008 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: The Cavaliers averaged 24.4 ppg in 2007 and did nothing truly remarkable offensively in terms of numbers. In fact, the team ranked ninth in the league in total offense (330.4 ypg), including a mere 10th in passing (194.8 ypg). With six starters back on this side of the football, the hope is the offense can make some strides in the right direction.

Gone is QB Jameel Sewell, but true freshman Peter Lalich got a taste of action in 2007 and is the only returning signal-caller who got snaps last season. He will battle senior Scott Deke and sophomore Marc Verica for the starting nod.

With the tight end position being vital to what Al Groh likes to do offensively, it will be imperative for senior John Phillips to elevate his game, after catching 17 balls a year ago. Phillips will be replacing Tom Santi, who led the Cavaliers in receiving yards (418) last year. Tailback Mikell Simpson actually led the team in receptions out of the backfield (43) and could take on a vital role in that capacity again. Wideout Kevin Ogletree missed 2007 due to injury and his return on the outside is highly anticipated Maurice Covington (6-4, 225) and Staton Jobe (6-0, 182) bring depth to the receiving corps as well.

The ground game is in a bit better shape, now that senior Cedric Peerman returns after losing half of 2007 due to injury. Peerman was leading the ACC in rushing before going down to injury. His replacement was Simpson, who played well down the stretch and finished the year averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

DEFENSE: Virginia ranked third in the ACC in scoring defense (19.7 ppg) a year ago. Gone is All-American Chris Long up front and he will be impossible to replace. Long was an early first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft and finished 2007 with 79 tackles and 14 sacks.

The strength of this year's defense is in the linebacking corps, where three of the four starters return, comprised of seniors Jon Copper (team-high 109 tackles, three sacks, two INTs), Antonio Appleby (60 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Clint Sintim (77 tackles), who led all LBs in the country with nine sacks. Sintim knows what kind of leader Long was but believes his teammates can get the job done without him in 2008.

"Obviously, it's not going to be easy replacing Chris, but I think we have enough young talent that can step up and help this team win some games."

Half of the secondary returns, including junior cover corner Vic Hall (58 tackles, one INT).

SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game is in need of a complete overhaul, with placekicker Chris Gould and punter Ryan Weigand both moving on. Redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein is slated to take over the field-goal duties. He knocked down 70 percent of his opportunities in high school, including a 54- yarder. Replacing Weigand won't be as easy, as he averaged over 45 yards per punt, ranking fourth nationally. Senior John Thornton will get the opportunity to earn the job. Vic Hall handled the punt return duties a year ago and will probably resume that role in 2008.

2008 OUTLOOK: It doesn't get any harder in the season-opener than what Virginia has to face, as USC comes to Charlottesville in late August, something Coach Groh is fully aware of.

"Since 2000, USC has been in a league of their own as far as college football is concerned. They're the only team that has been in the top three of four teams n the country every year and they're the most talented college team that I've seen since the Florida State teams of the middle and late '90s."

Following the USC game, Virginia will welcome FCS foe Richmond to Charlottesville. The remainder of the non-league slate includes UConn and East Carolina. The conference schedule does the Cavaliers no favors either, with Maryland, North Carolina, Miami and Clemson coming to town. Road trips within the conference include winnable games at Duke and Georgia Tech, but gets tougher with treks to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech looming large in November.

The losses on both sides of the football and on special teams will certainly prevent Virginia from matching the nine wins it put up in 2007. In fact, the team will struggle just to reach .500 and will probably wind up home for the holidays, watching the bowl season on television.