Miami loaded with respect for Hokies' Vick

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Stopping Michael Vick in a showdown five years ago was easy for Miami. Of course, his badly injured ankle was immobilized in a ski boot-type contraption, rendering him unable to do much before leaving the game.

The Hurricanes know containing Michael's little brother won't be so simple.

Marcus Vick is the Atlantic Coast Conference's most efficient quarterback, completing 69 percent of his passes for No. 3 Virginia Tech — leading the Hokies to an unbeaten record. He's thrown for 11 touchdowns, rushed for 319 yards and is touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

He'll have the full attention of Miami's defense Saturday, when the fifth-ranked Hurricanes (6-1, 3-1) visit the Hokies (8-0, 5-0) in a game that'll probably decide the ACC's Coastal Division champion.

"You say, well, you've got to control Marcus Vick," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "Well, you've got to keep him under control. They're going to make plays. He's going to make a play. . . . You're going to get touched by those guys, but you can't get crushed by them."

Vick and the Hokies have faced some of college football's finest defenses already this season. West Virginia's defense is ranked ninth in Division I-A; the scored 34 points against the Mountaineers. Georgia Tech's defense is ranked No. 19; Virginia Tech beat the Yellow Jackets 51-7.

But Miami is a big test for Vick and the Hokie offense, which is scoring 36.8 points per game.

"Marcus Vick can't win the game by himself," Miami linebacker Leon Williams said. "He's going to have to run the ball and pass the ball at the same time. There's 10 other players on that field and he's not going to be able to do it all by himself."

It's a matchup of the nation's two best defenses — on paper, anyway.

Virginia Tech leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.1 points per game. Miami tops the charts in pass defense, pass efficiency defense and total defense.

"We're not going out there trying to prove who has the better defense," Miami defensive tackle Orien Harris said. "We're just trying to go out there and get a victory. We want to take advantage of this opportunity right now."

Miami let an opportunity slip away last year, losing to Virginia Tech 16-10 in what essentially was the ACC title game. Miami's defense has 10 starters back who saw the Hokies celebrate on the Hurricanes' homefield.