ACC Blitz ‘Game of the Week’: Miami at Virginia Tech
#9 Miami (2-0, 2-0) at #11 Virginia Tech (2-1, 0-0)
Last year: Miami won 16-14
Series History: Miami leads 17-9
The showdown in Blacksburg this weekend between #9 Miami and #11 Virginia Tech feels a little more like the match ups of old, with both squads returning to the upper tier of college football and playing when both are ranked for the first time since 2005.
 |
A 2-2 start to the season would have been deemed a success by many for the Hurricanes considering they start out against 4 Top-20 teams. Behind Sophomore sensation QB Jacory Harris, the Canes are already in the Top 10 and are eyeing a 4-0 start and even more importantly, a trip to Tampa for the ACC Title game. They are in great position for the latter, with 2 of the toughest in-conference games behind them: a win at #18 Florida State 38-34, and a 33-17 blow-out of the team that spanked them 41-23 last year, #14 Georgia Tech. The magnitude of this weeks contest cannot be stressed enough.
For the Hokies, the opener against Alabama wasn’t exactly how
they wanted to start their season. The game was no where as close as the 34-24 final appeared. The Tide rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense to Tech’s 155 and were in full control of the game. Almost all of the Hokies points were due to big returns: Dyrell Roberts took one 98-yards for a score and two 60+ yard returns setup quick TD’s. This team is in dire need of offensive stability, and they need it quick. Miami is getting that swagger back, and the offense is on a roll. The Hokie defense will probably be able to slow them some, but it’ll do no good if the offense can’t score.
All Eyes on Me:
Miami QB Jacory Harris
No one in the ACC, or probably all of college football, has gotten off to a hotter start than Harris. He started the season throwing for 386 yards an 2 TD’s in a 38-34 win at #18 Florida State, and followed that up by completing 80% of passes for 270 yards and 3 TD’s as Miami dismantled #14 Georgia Tech 33-17. If he can navigate his way around (or through) the Hokie defense, and follow that up with a ‘W’ against Oklahoma, he may very well slide up to the Top 3 on your Heisman list.
Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams
When Tech RB and super-stud Darren Evans was lost for the season, there was a sense of fear in Blacksburg. Enter Ryan Williams. After to falling to third at tailback earlier this year, he has stepped up and and stepped up BIG for the Hokies. He leads the ACC in rushing at 114 yards a game, and has tallied 6 TD’s and an uber healthy 6.8 yard average. After a season high 164 yards against Marshall, he put together his second 100-yard game in a row with 107 in a 16-15 win against Nebraska. He appears to be well on his way to Freshman of the year honors.
Key Match-Up:
The Miami passing game versus the Virginia Tech defense
While it’s true Harris is off to a blazing start, the defenses he has faced are questionable at best. Georgia Tech and Florida State are ranked in the bottom 4 of the ACC in defense, and both are in the bottom 3 in passing defense. And even though they won big over #7 BYU, Florida State was torched for over 300 yards by QB Max Hall while Georgia Tech surrendered 261 yards to Clemson QB Kyle Parker 2 weeks ago.
The Hokie defense is lot stingier. After being lit up by McElroy and Alabama in a season opening loss, they have clamped down against the pass. They held Nebraska QB Zack Lee to just 136 yards on 11-30 passing and forced 2 INT’s, and have only allowed a TOTAL of 262 yards passing and 0 TD’s in their last 2 contests. They are ranked 12th in the nation in pass efficiency defense, and are holding opponents to a 45% completion rate.
ACC Blitz Prediction:
I think Bud Foster will bring the heat early, trying to pressure QB Jacory Harris into mistake after mistake. It’ll work – for a quarter. But don’t be surprised to see the Hokies shift into a coverage scheme that will force Harris to be dead on. What Foster’s crew has to watch for is Harris’ scrambling ability, and the backfield duo of Graig Cooper and Javarris James, who are capable of consistently chipping away with 5-6 yards a run.
I think the Tech offense will look a little sharper than they did against Nebraska. A win like that breeds a ton of momentum, plus they have a baller in RB Ryan Williams. He’ll see another 100-yard game, and maybe a score or two. But quarterback play is pivotal for Tech. The very end of the Nebraska game gave us a glimpse of what Tyrod Taylor is capable of, but he needs to maintain that for 4 quarters.
Despite the home field advantage and a good defense, I think the Hurricanes pull this one out. Even if he’s off, I think Harris is good enough to create chaos for the Hokie defense. This kid’s cooler than the other side of the pillow, and will show that composure in leading Miami to a ‘W’ on the road.
Miami 20, Virginia Tech 12
What they said:
“We’re clicking because of the defense,” said Harris, who has completed 69.5 percent of his passes. “The defense … they go out there and they show us that they can stop the team (Georgia Tech) that last year put up over 400 yards rushing on us and when they showed us that, it gave us motivation.” – Miami QB Jacory Harris on the reason for the Canes early success.
“It really has helped us,” Harris said. “It’s given us more time to watch film. Sometimes when you watch film for the first time, you tend not to see a lot of things. You just scan through it and just look at basically the matchups and stuff like that. But when you go back through it again, you start seeing different things that show up and occur a lot.” – Harris again, on the extra days off to prepare for Virginia Tech
“This is one of those games that could turn things around if you build on it and learn from it,” coach Frank Beamer told the Hokies’ official Web site. “We need to learn from it — not only the great plays at the end, but all those things in between that we need to get better at. When you can win one like that and improve from it, that’s important to your season.” – Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer on the his teams last second win against #19 Nebraska last week.
Notes and Numbers:
0 – Fumbles by Miami this season
1 – Sacks given up by Miami
3 – The ACC lays claim to the Top 3 players in the nation in All-Purpose yards per game; Miami’s Graig Cooper is 3rd behind NC State’s Torrey Smith and Clemson’s CJ Spiller
3 – Miami QB Jacory Harris is 3rd in the nation in pass efficiency
4 – ACC Teams in the Top 25; Miami and VT are the 2 highest ranked
10 – VT has scored only 10 3rd quarter points in 3 games; their opponents are faring even worse, scoring only 0
12.5 – Points allowed per game in Virginia Techs last 2 contests
21 – Seconds left when VT QB Tyrod Taylor found Tyrell Roberts for the game winning TD las week against #19 Nebraska
30 – Total points scored between both teams in last years defensive struggle
95 – Yards rushing Miami held GT to last week
114 – Yards per game for VT Freshman standout RB Ryan Williams
328 – Yards per game for UM QB Jacory Harris
Injuries:
Miami
DeMarcus Van Dyke DB Prob Sat – Undisclosed – 9/14/09 Van Dyke is dealing with a concussion and is probable for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Joseph Nicolas DB Ques Sat – Flu – 9/16/09
Nicolas is dealing with the flu and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Ben Jones OL Ques Sat – Illness – 9/16/09
Jones is dealing with the flu and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Levi Paalua DL Ques Sat – Upper Body – 9/8/09
Paalua is dealing with an upper body injury and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Aldarius Johnson WR Ques Sat – Hamstring – 9/7/09
Johnson is dealing with a strained hamstring and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Andrew Smith DL Doub Sat – Upper Body – 9/25/09
Smith is expected to miss Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech due to an upper body injury.
Marcus Forston DL Doub Sat – Foot – 9/25/09
Forston is doubtful for Saturday against Virginia Tech with a sore foot.
Lee Chambers RB Doub Sat – Leg – 9/19/09
Chambers is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech with a leg injury.
Richard Gordon TE Doub Sat – Arm – 9/15/09
Gordon is dealing with an arm injury and is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.
Gavin Hardin DE out for season – Neck – 9/7/09
Hardin is out for the season with a neck injury.
Shavon Green LB Out indefinitely – Lower Body – 9/7/09 Green is out indefinitely with a lower body injury.
Taylor Cook QB out for season – Undisclosed – 8/26/09
He has decided to transfer.
Adewale Ojomo DL Out indefinitely – Jaw – 8/22/09
Virginia Tech
Stephan Virgil CB Ques Sat – Knee – 9/22/09 Virgil is questionable for Saturday’s game against Miami Florida due to a bruised left knee.
Ryan Williams RB Ques Sat – Ankle – 9/22/09
Williams is questionable for Saturday’s game against Miami Florida due to an ankle sprain.
Darren Evans RB out for season – Knee – 8/26/09
Filed Under: Archives
