On Saturday, November 22nd, the Virginia Tech Hokies take on the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes inside Lane Stadium. It is senior day with hope on the horizon as Hokies honor the past and look to the future of Virginia Tech Football. The dawn of a new day is within view, however we must sit in the juxtaposition of what is and what will be.
The James Franklin era has begun, yes, but the Brent Pry era has not yet been completed in its entirety. Franklin will begin recruiting to Blacksburg by hosting a large quantity of highly-valued recruits on Saturday while Tech will honor the seniors.
Although there has been disappointment, these young men have paved the way for what comes next and will forever be part of Hokie history. However, there is a game to be played against a highly talented program looking to finally establish itself back in the national conversation. Let us take a look at some keys for this game.
Defense
1. Pressure Carson Beck
Carson Beck and Miami have operated like a well-oiled machine for the majority of the season. Beck has gone 213/292 (73%), 2,485 yards, 18 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 8.5 yards per completion, and 248.5 yards per game. The Canes have done a pretty good job of protecting Beck from pressure, only allowing nine sacks total for a loss of 51 yards. Like most other quarterbacks at the collegiate level, Beck seems to struggle against consistent, relentless defense. I do not think Virginia Tech’s defense is consistent enough to force Beck into throwing multiple interceptions or taking multiple sacks, though you never know.
A key player to watch defensively for the Hokies is Kemari Copeland, who has totaled 39 tackles (ten solo, 29 assisted) including 7.5 tackles for loss for 51 yards with 4.5 sacks for 45 yards. Copeland’s most underrated attribute is his ability to free-up his teammates to make a play, especially with the amount of snaps he spends double teamed. Given the extra ‘juice’ surrounding the program with the hiring of James Franklin and how many three and four star recruits will be on the sideline for this game, I will be interested to see how Beck and Miami handles the crowd.
Outside of a trip to then 18th-ranked Florida State, this will be the most hostile environment Miami has played in all season. Pair that with how aggressive defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes has been, and I think we have an intriguing matchup on our hands. However, if the Virginia Tech offense is unable to sustain drives, the defense will get worn down rather quickly and the game will unravel from there.
