Clash in the Coastal

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist Aaron Pyre tackles this week's big ACC Coastal Division clash: Miami at Virginia.

Aaron Pyre
SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist

SouthernPigskin.com Mid-Atlantic Columnist Aaron Pyre tackles this week’s big ACC Coastal Division clash: Miami at Virginia.

Next week I will tackle the HUGE Maryland at Virginia Tech ESPN Thursday Night Football game.  I will say the 12-day layoff could not come at a better time for the mentally and physically banged up Hokies.  Recharge, reload and refocus a football team that has just lost two hard fought football games.  The quarterbacks certainly need the rest more than anyone.  The ‘Terps probably wish the game were this Saturday and not at night as their last Thursday night trip to Lane was a horror trip and they are playing very well again.

This week it’s time to look at the Virginia versus Miami contest in Charlottesville.
UVA is 3-1 in conference; the only blemish was against Duke.  Beating Coastal foes North Carolina and Georgia Tech gives them a leg up in the division.  Miami is 2-2 with a loss to UNC as their only Coastal defeat.  The winner of this game will position themselves well as the favorite for the trip to Tampa on December 6th.  http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/mifl/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/674535.jpeg

Miami got thoroughly embarrassed last season by the Wahoos, in what was the last collegiate game in the Orange Bowl, by a score of 48-0.  Many Cane alums made it to that game and were disgusted by the lack of effort shown by Miami.  Coach Randy Shannon is downplaying that game in the media saying that those were different teams last year.  I got a private island in Hawaii for you, if you think that’s what he is saying to the team.  Miami is favored by a point heading into the game.  In the whacky ACC who knows but one would think being a home dog will get the Hoos’ blood boiling a bit.  Expect to see a two jacked up teams square off at Scott Stadium this Saturday.

No team other than maybe the one in Tallahassee is playing as well in the ACC as the Cavaliers of Virginia.  Balance seems to be the key as they have put their early season woes behind them.  Running and passing effectively while playing extremely solid defense is this team’s identity.

Miami has a lot of young talent, young being the key word.  The words poised and freshmen do not usually go together; so it will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes handle a hostile environment.  One thing going for Miami is they have won both high scoring games and low scoring dogfights.  Their young players are going to be real good in the coming seasons but there is likely to be a few hiccups along the way.  Is this one them?

Just a few things I will be watching for during the Game:

For Virginia
Poise and patience; will this ultra confident team stay focused and believe if they fall behind early?

Can Cedric Peerman get a 100 yards or more?  If he does they will be in it until the end.
Will the 3-4 defense give the Cane freshman quarterbacks some confusing pre-snap looks?

Can the Hoos, unlike every other ACC team so far, win when they are the division leader?

For Miami
Like UVA the Canes will need to run to set up the pass; they have two excellent tailbacks and Graig Cooper is a true gamebreaker.

Block the Cavs’ Clint Sintim when they do pass, there is no better pass rusher in the ACC.

Juggling the quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris: will it be done effectively or will the team lose momentum?

Will the Canes come out angry from last year’s debacle?

This is the must see ACC game of the week, at least for us Coasties.  It’s a shame this isn’t a national TV game but all you southerners make sure you find it on Raycom on noon on Saturday.  Like 80% of the other ACC games, it will be competitive and hard fought.

WR
1. Logan Heastie 6’1” 190
This WVU commit is the best athlete at wide receiver in the state. 4.3 speed and 33.5” vertical makes him very explosive.  Route running and hands will need some work but that should come with time.  A gamebreaker in the open field and is double teamed on every snap.

2. Quintin Hunter 6’2” 185
An excellent dual threat H.S. quarterback, Quintin looks to move to wideout once he arrives in Charlottesville.  Defensive back is also an option.  Quintin’s transition to wideout (if he lands at the position) in college will likely take longer than Heastie’s and Smith’s. 

3. Tim Smith 6’1” 190
Playing for state powerhouse Oscar Smith, Tim is their main passing target this year after sharing it last season.  He will head to Charlottesville next year, as the Hoos continue to recruit well in the Commonwealth this season.  Smith has good speed, good hands and runs good routes and is the most polished wideout in the Commonwealth.

TE
Logan Thomas 6’6”  225
There is only one good tight end in the state this year and he’s great.  Logan Thomas very well could be the best player in Virginia.  A high school qb with jaw dropping athletic ability, he is sure to be a top flight tight end very soon.  Twenty more pounds of weight and a year of reps and he is pushing for major playing time by year two in college.  VT and UVA are said to be the top 2 but every big time school in the country as offered.

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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently.  Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.