Virginia Tech vs Miami Hurricanes
Virginia Tech vs Miami Hurricanes
Virginia Tech vs Miami Hurricanes
At the beginning of the season, many people expected Virginia Tech to be positioned to take home the ACC's Coastal Division title yet again. Likely nobody predicted the Hokies would lose the first two games of the season to get here.
But here they are, with a chance to take home another title (they third in four years) when they head down to Miami Saturday. It's now how you start in college football, it's how you finish that counts.
After the humiliating loss to James Madison that set the Hokies out on the wrong foot to start the season at 0-2, they have peeled off eight straight wins. Only Georgia Tech was able to keep the game within 10 points. The Hokies have dominated yet there are still questions about their strength, having overpowered a weak conference.
The Hokies still face constant reminders of the loss to James Madison, and until they put away a ranked opponent on the road (all due respect to the Wolfpack of NC State), people will question if this Frank Beemer team has what it takes to be elite and worthy of a BCS Bowl berth.
"I think we're playing at a high level right now, and as long as we continue to play it, I think people will eventually respect us," quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "Some people don't and some people won't, but all we've got to do is go out there and win games every week."
Taylor has quietly put together a season that would be getting some recognition from more national writers had it not been for those early season losses. The senior has thrown 18 touchdowns to balance what is usually a run-heavy Hokies attack.
"Tyrod gives you a lot of confidence that he's going to do the right thing with the ball," coach Frank Beamer said. "It makes play-calling a lot easier when you've got a quarterback like that, that trust factor, who has the ability to do things with the ball. He's the guy that makes us and beyond that, we've got a football team that just battles, we've got some good players that just battle like heck."
The Hokies will undoubtedly look to run the ball against the Canes, who were proven mildly susceptible against the run when facing Florida State. But Miami is big up front, anchored on the line by Marcus Forston. Taylor will have to make quick and solid decisions and prove to be a bit more decisive in the pocket.
If Taylor get rushed and gets sloppy with the ball, his tendency to overthrow his targets could lead to some pick-sixes from a dangerously fast Miami defensive backfield.
Taylor's quarterback counterpart looks to be freshman Stephen Morris, who is stepping in for the injured Jacory Harris. And, in what has to be considered an odd development, that might be a good thing for the Hurricanes.
Harris has never been able to live up to the hype surrounding his ability and athleticism. Last year against Virginia Tech, he looked downright miserable, completing less than 40 percent of his passes and throwing a pick. His bad decision making also led to three sacks, which devastated the Hurricanes ability to catch the blitzing Hokies off guard.
A concussion in late October has kept Harris out of action, but Morris has looked great in place, winning back-to-back games while completing almost 60 percent of his passes. Morris has the good fortune of having receiver Leonard Hankerson split out wide. Hankerson went for 132 yards last week the blowout of Georgia Tech and is constantly a threat.
Hankerson's presence should take a little of the Hokies attention away from the backfield, where the Hurricanes may do their most damage yet. Damien Berry and Lamar Miller will split carries and should be able to put a dent in the Hokies defensive line, which is weaker than in years past.
If the Hokies are able to stuff the run, they will make Morris have to have the biggest game of his career. That's a lot to ask of a freshman. The Hokies will need to crowd the box at times with their linebackers and discourage Miami from trying to grind them down. If Tech can force Miami to pass the ball, Morris's youth is bound to catch up with him.
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