The Virginia Cavaliers’ defense ranked 43rd nationally last season, not too bad considering how much they were on the field (Virginia ranked 117th in time of possession, losing the clock battle by roughly five minutes per game). The rush defense ranked 70th, not great. But they were 18th in most rush attempts against and 34th in rush yards per attempt. This was not a bad run defense.
That run defense starts up front, and it starts in the middle. If the defense can push the middle of the offensive line backwards, the offense is going nowhere.