Virginia Tech Player Matchups

Here is my take on what will be the key match-ups heading into the big game against Virginia Tech this Thursday.

WR Aldarius Johnson vs. CB Macho Harris
The Canes are going to need the young WRs to step up and move the chains in this game. Macho Harris is one of the better CBs in the country. This is going to be a huge matchup. Aldarius is going to have to come up with 2 or 3 big catches to keep drives going for Miami at points in this game because VT is going to make sure we get in plenty of 3rd and longs. Aldarius has to make sure he stays physical with Harris who will be every bit as physical back. If Aldarius can get a step on him during those comeback routes and use his body to keep Harris away from the ball, this should be an area that Miami can win. This game will tell us how far Aldarius has come this season facing a good CB and having huge amounts of pressure on him after being shaky with drops the last 2 games.

QBs Robert Marve and Jacory Harris vs. Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster
Foster is one of the best DCs in college football. He is going to make sure he is able to stuff the run and he is going to get creative and inventive with his blitz packages for these young freshmen QBs. The key is not for the QBs to make big plays, but simply not to make mistakes. Miami has enough play makers at WR, TE and RB that all the QBs have to do is get it in their hands. If Jacory and Marve can avoid turnovers, it will go a long way to getting Miami in position to win this game. I personally expect to see a lot of Jacory with the recent penchant that Marve has shown for forcing the ball and trying to do too much. Jacory does a better job of taking what is given to him limiting mistakes which will be key in this match.

LB Sean Spence vs. RB Darren Evans
Evans is the reason behind VTs offensive explosion last week at Maryland. Without Evans, VTs offense will struggle to put up points against Miami’s defense. The good news is that Evans has only broken the 100 yard mark once all year. Spence is the best Miami LB in pursuit (and likely best LB period) and will need to make sure he keeps Evans from bouncing some runs the way Peerman was able to do at times last week. If Spence can keep himself from overrunning the play, something he has been prone to at times, he should be able to help effectively keep Evans in check and force VT to throw the ball more which will play into Miami hands with both VTs QBs being nicked and their WRs being uninspiring to the point that Macho Harris has spent some time over there.


Honorable Mention: OTs Reggie Youngblood and Matt Pipho vs. DE Orion Martin

There you have it. Will be back tomorrow with the keys to the game and final prediction.