The Hurricanes (2-2) take on the 21st-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1) at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. seeking to avoid an 0-2 start in ACC play. The last time UM started 0-2 in the ACC? 2008 when they lost to North Carolina and Florida State at home in back-to-back games. Saturday's kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. The game can be seen on ABC in the Southeast and on ESPN throughout most of the rest of the country (except parts of Texas, etc). Here is your Canes' TV coverage map.
> ABOUT THE HOKIES: Virginia Tech is coming off a 23-3 loss to Clemson at home a week ago. The Hokies haven't lost back-to-back games at home since 2002. The Hokies rolled to a 31-7 win the last time the Canes came to Lane Stadium. UM has only won one of the last five meetings. The Hokies lost five starters on each side of the ball from last year's ACC championship team including quarterback Tyrod Taylor. This Hokies team still has plenty of playmakers on offense, led by star tailback David Wilson (7th in nation in rushing), cornerback Jayron Hosley (3 INTs) and defensive ends J.R. Collins (leads ACC with 4.5 sacks) and James Gayle (3.5 sacks). Virginia Tech's national rankings on defense: 2nd vs. rush (58.20), 4th in total yards (249.60) and 29th versus the pass (191.40). The Hokies are also currently ranked 2nd in the nation in time of possession (35:48).
> WHAT TO WATCH FOR THE CANES: There have been two big injuries on UM's defense in the aftermath of the Bethune-Cookman win: starting strongside linebacker Ramon Buchanan (knee) and defensive tackle Marcus Forston (knee) have both been lost for the season. The Canes, ranked 105th in run defense, will suit up four healthy defensive tackles Saturday: Micanor Regis, Darius Smith, Olsen Pierre and former defensive end Adewale Ojomo. Tailbacks Mike James and Lamar Miller have also been playing banged up for the Canes, who on the positive side should get more production this week from sophomore tackle Seantrel Henderson. Hard-hitting safety Ray-Ray Armstrong is also back this week from suspension UM. If there is something the Canes may be able to exploit against Tech it's special teams. While that may sound surprising considering Frank Beamer's team has shined for so long on that side of the ball, Virginia Tech actually ranks 117th in net punting. UM's Travis Benjamin has had long returns in back-to-back weeks for UM and may be able to break one. In two games versus the Hokies, Jacory Harris is 10 of 27 for 153 yards with one interception.
> MY PICK: Virginia Tech 34, UM 21. The Hokies aren't as good a football team as they were a year ago -- Clemson showed us that. But the Hokies still have plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball and it's hard to picture them losing back-to-back games at home. Are the Canes totally overmatched? No. But the problems on run defense are very real. This team sorely misses Allen Bailey, Colin McCarthy and Brandon Harris, who all were exceptional on run defense. Ray-Ray will provide a lift. But the Hokies know how to ground and pound. They ran for 251 yards against UM a year ago. And against UM this season, that's all you really need to be able to do well to have success.
Now.. we r playin Hurricane football.. Just need the DEFENSE to tighten up..
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:02 PM
This is the worse miami D in 27 yrs
Donofrio is horrendous beyond belief
Brandon mcgee is the worse db in miami history
I cant take this any longer. If miami coaches players and admin knew what they put us through...
4th quarter. Miami driving. At least they are not giving up. That is an improvement versus last yr. Ill give golden that. But the defense, oh the defense!
Eduardo clements eduardo clements
Eduardo f,,,,,,i...ing clements
Posted by: 3 irrelevant overrated yrs and counting | October 08, 2011 at 06:02 PM
I'll tell you....hats off to Jackory today...Really playing a great game. The offense definitely looking better every week..that fricken defense is the problem with this team.
Posted by: IP Dailey | October 08, 2011 at 06:03 PM
Fourth quarter, and they have punted once. Right? It's about defensive calls, and getting off the field on third, and gang tackling. We are o fer
Posted by: inimounts | October 08, 2011 at 06:04 PM
I don't have any problem with it being James and not Clements. He's playing inspired.
Posted by: inimounts | October 08, 2011 at 06:06 PM
Those 3 pts that we missed in the 1st qtr would be nice right about now
Posted by: DarinD | October 08, 2011 at 06:07 PM
The OL is showing something now. VT is a bunch of b*tches
Posted by: Canesjunkie | October 08, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Played DT at Illinois in the 1990s. I was only 5.'11" but weighted 285-288. I had a very good strength coach who helped me get to a 475 bench press, squat below parallel 655 and dead lift 675 and power cleaned 365. I was in several pro camps but size hindered me and was eventually released.
The Miami interior DT are weak and have no explosive power. The get no push and have not won a battle all day in getting a pass rush. The cannot even win a battle once in a while. Only # 71 does anything. The coach DeNoforio from Penn State has the Penn State philosophy of no believing in blitzes.
VT has 25 people bench pressing over 400 and around 30 squatting with 500 or more. By contract Um has only 5 guys over 400 in the bench and I do not know how many over 500 in the squat.
Who is the strength coach for Miami Danny DeVito? This strength program is a joke I can tell that.
Posted by: Illinois67 | October 08, 2011 at 06:08 PM
All we need is A fg
Posted by: Backspace | October 08, 2011 at 06:08 PM
@Rick I agree with you on that tip. If we can get a score and a the defense can clamp down on VT offense we will be alright.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:08 PM
DEFENSE,DEFENSE,DEFENSE
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:08 PM
TIM YOU ARE AN IDIOTIC PATHETIC LOSER !!! BREAK YOUR OWN NECK SINCE YOUR A WORTHLESS PIECE OF SH*T !!1
Posted by: DMAN | October 08, 2011 at 06:09 PM
CANES CANES CANES CANES !!!!
Posted by: jorge | October 08, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Yeah Defense needs a turnover I mean a good turn over.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Does anyone know a more reliable canes blog on gameday? I'm over this choppy l crappy iPhone app
Posted by: inimounts | October 08, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Defense needs a stop. Period.
Posted by: inimounts | October 08, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Spiderman, Spiderman, dududududud, Spiderman.
Posted by: Spiderman | October 08, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Smhwow
Posted by: Backspace | October 08, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Spiderman, Spiderman, dududududud, Spiderman.
Posted by: Spiderman | October 08, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Thats was tooooo easy
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:12 PM
What did I tell you!!! Mike Williams is garbage.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:13 PM
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Posted by: We Suck | October 08, 2011 at 06:13 PM
pathetic
Posted by: dan kind | October 08, 2011 at 06:14 PM
McGee was burned, I can understand that, but where the hell was Ray Ray! Son, Sean Taylor would've pic
Posted by: Canesjunkie | October 08, 2011 at 06:14 PM
picked that and returned it to the house.
Posted by: Canesjunkie | October 08, 2011 at 06:14 PM
LOOK OUT! HERE COMES DA SPIDERMAN!
Posted by: Spiderman | October 08, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Vt techs qb is 20 of 22 279 yds where and its not tyrod taylor wtf
Posted by: Backspace | October 08, 2011 at 06:15 PM
They need to start playing the freshmen. Dallas Crawford because Mike williams ain't hitting on nothing.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:16 PM
And on the 7th day God rested. But before he did, he took a squat over the Atlantic, and what came out..........was UM.
Posted by: Canes stink | October 08, 2011 at 06:16 PM
I remember back with Jimmy Johnson, every position during weekly practice was open. These DB all should be forced off the team, and the D Coordinator and his DB coach should be fired. There is no way this is the best the U has. Starting should earned each week of practice.
Posted by: DarinD | October 08, 2011 at 06:17 PM
So that's who gave up the play Brandon Mcghee. Shame. Good run Lamar Miller. Gionni Paul is stupid for giving up a personal foul. He needs to sit his dumb ass on the bench.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:18 PM
DEFENSE SUXXXXX Woowwww!!
Posted by: jerry | October 08, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Miami has very very stupid players . Low football iq
In football iq they qualify as mentally retarded
I cant take tjis
Posted by: 3 irrelevant overrated yrs and counting | October 08, 2011 at 06:19 PM
Dammit man I knew this was going to happen. I hate it when Miami tries to play catch up.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:20 PM
Come on Canes damn let's pull this one out.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:21 PM
DEFENSE,DEFENSE,DEFENSE..... Lets go CANES!!
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:23 PM
waah! waah! waah!
Posted by: UM fans are HORRIBLE | October 08, 2011 at 06:23 PM
ThugU is back.
Posted by: Nevin Shapiro | October 08, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Come on canes!!!!!!! lord knows we need have to take advantage of the help VT is giving us. Come on Defense clamp down damn.
Posted by: 850cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Wow. Nice Running
Posted by: MdCane82 | October 08, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Let's Go!!!! 3 point game baby!
Posted by: 202cane | October 08, 2011 at 06:24 PM
NICE trick play..TD !!!
Now the bad news...
Here comes our D...:(
Posted by: jerry | October 08, 2011 at 06:24 PM
DEEE FENCE
Posted by: JJ | October 08, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Just need a stop
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:27 PM
i guess we know why golden wants the offense to have the ball at the end of the game. the defense would lose it
Posted by: mike -s | October 08, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Defense folds like origami.
Posted by: Worst.D.Ever. | October 08, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Should be a tie gm by the way
Posted by: Backspace | October 08, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Does anyone have an Ark they could spare for a weekend?
Posted by: JJ | October 08, 2011 at 06:31 PM
Wooow.. Got a chance to win it.. Gotta love it..
Posted by: caneNduval | October 08, 2011 at 06:34 PM
I sometimes believe in miracles, I am Jacory's worst critic but I am pulling for him and the offense to pull this off. If he comes up short I will be disappointed in the results, but I will say that he has had a great game today!
Posted by: DarinD | October 08, 2011 at 06:35 PM