Virginia Tech Football: Miami Q&A Preview

Fresh off their big win over N.C. State, the Hokies head south on Saturday to take on longtime foe Miami. While The U may not be "back," they continue to have a dangerous roster full of talented players. Sitting at 3-2 on the year (0-1, ACC) after a tough loss to in-state rival Florida State, the Hurricanes are in a similar position as the Hokies were a week ago; at home and looking to rebound from back-to-back losses in what feels like a make-or-break game for head coach Al Golden's team. In an effort to better understand the Canes' season thus far, I asked Jerry Steinberg of State of the U to provide some insight.

As Hokies OC Scot Loeffler would say, Canes QB Brad Kaaya is, "a Dude." Despite his solid numbers, The U sits at 3-2 on the year. How have teams found success against Kaaya, and what facets of the game would you say he struggles with most (or is still developing)?

Brad Kaaya has been everything Miami fans, teammates, and coaches could have expected in a sophomore QB. I think his only shortcomings have been more or less team shortcomings; protection issues, penalties, and poor execution in the red zone have cost the team points. He's not exceptionally mobile, but he's played very well this season, overall. When he faces heat, he sometimes loses a little accuracy. But that is true of just about any QB out there.

Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton had great starts to the season, before hitting a roadblock last weekend against the Seminoles. What went wrong against FSU, and how will Al Golden's staff be looking to get the running game in gear heading into Saturday's tilt with the Hokies? How might this offense look different with injured starter Gus Edwards leading the rushing attack?

Yearby and Walton quite frankly, never had a chance. The FSU front seven dominated the 'Canes o-line, and UM basically abandoned the run for large parts of the game. Edwards may have helped some, but Walton and especially Yearby have run the ball as well as anyone could expect, when they have been given any room at all.

Re-establishing the run versus the Hokies will definitely be a focus. When the offense gets one dimensional, Kaaya takes too many hits.

During our off-season Q&A, you noted the youth and inexperience along the offensive line. Approximately halfway through the season, how would you grade the unit? What are their strengths and weaknesses, and how do you see those matching up against the Hokies front seven?

I'd give the O line a C-. Sunny Odogwu has been abysmal at times at RT. Guard Alex Gall has been overmatched as well. Trevor Darling is in a bit of a sophomore slump. Center Nick Linder has been the anchor, but he's banged up coming into the game with the Hokies. This group has been underwhelming as a whole.

In four games this season, FBS teams are averaging 468 yards of total offense per game against the Miami D. Walk us through what is going on with the Canes defense and Mark D'Onofrio's strangely passive schemes against average Cincinnati and FSU quarterbacks the last two weeks. Is it fair to say that the staff isn't doing the talent any favors?

There's a lot wrong with the defense right now. The three man rushes have allowed QBs far too much comfort in the pocket. But other times when they rush 4 or 5, they still have trouble getting to the QB. The tackling at the second level has also been atrocious. Dalvin Cook can make any D look bad, but against Cincinnati and even FAU, the Canes made lesser players look explosive via poor tackling. The scheme is just part of the problem, but no doubt it is a big, big part of it.

Dating back to the Big East days, Virginia Tech fans have treated the annual matchup against The U as a rivalry game. Do Canes fans feel similarly, and if so, where would you put this on the Hate Meter?

I think there is a healthy respect on the part of 'Canes fans for Virginia Tech. But it's not in the category of FSU or even Notre Dame/Florida in terms of pure hatred. On a 1-10 FSU is a 10, Notre Dame is a 200, Florida is a 9, and VT is a healthy 7 or 8.

Alright, time to put you on the spot: Who wins on Saturday, how do they do it, and what what will the attendance be in Sun Life Stadium?

I think Miami wins in front of a somewhat sparse crowd, 30-23. First team to turn the ball over in the second half loses.