While many may feel that Duane Brown vs. Mario Williams is the game’s biggest mismatch, I would argue that left tackle James Newby (6-5, 295, r-Jr.) vs. weak-side defensive end Darryl Tapp (6-1, 268, Sr.) is potentially the most one-sided battle of the edge rushers in this game. Tapp is a relentless competitor with exceptional physical skills (415 bench, 660 squat, 370 push press, 4.63 40) developed through hard work in the weight room. Darryl Tapp is probably one of the top three defensive ends in college football (along with Mario Williams and BC’s Mathias Kiwanuka) and presents a huge challenge for the N.C. State coaching staff. Newby is a versatile player that started some at left guard (3 games) and right tackle (3 games) last year. He is considered a good technician who is noted more for being a pass blocker, however, he lacks lateral quickness and could struggle against Tapp’s speed rush. Look for N.C. State to provide help for Newby from their backs and to call quick screens and flares to the weak side to offset Tapp’s pass rush.

In a classic power vs. speed match-up, left tackle Jimmy Martin (6-5, 311, Sr.) takes on right defensive end Manny Lawson (6-5, 245, Sr.). Lawson’s edge rush gave Martin problems last year and I’m sure that Jimmy has been looking forward to getting revenge this year. Lawson has incredible speed (recently timed at 4.43 in the 40) and athleticism (won the ACC indoor long jump championship) for a player his size. In previous years he made numerous plays in space (7 sacks, 17 QB hurries last year), but struggled when blockers got their hands on him. He has gained 25 pounds in the off-season conditioning program and should be stronger at the point of attack this year.

However, Jimmy Martin has exceptional hand strength and power (410 bench, 600 squat, 390 push press, 360 clean) and should consistently win this battle head-to-head. Martin needs to be quick laterally to neutralize Lawson’s incredible edge rush and push him beyond the quarterback. Look for Tech to use shorter drops (3-step and 5-step) and quicker passes from Marcus Vick to offset the edge rush and blitzes from N.C. State. Also, look for Tech to run directly at Manny Lawson, particularly when the Hokies have the ball on the right hash mark. N.C. State’s strong-side linebacker, LeRue Rumph (#29), is more of a pass defender than their weak-side linebacker, Stephen Tulloch (#50), who is very strong in run support, and Tech needs to take advantage of situations in which Lawson and Rumph line up on the same side of the field.

Yet another power vs. speed match-up pits huge right tackle Derek Morris (6-6, 327, Jr.) against Tech’s stud (strong-side) defensive ends, Chris Ellis (6-5, 250, r-So.) and Noland Burchette (6-2, 260, r-Jr.). Morris was a highly-touted recruit who originally signed with Ohio State. After some qualification issues, he transferred to N.C. State and immediately saw action at left tackle. Last year he started at right tackle, which is his more natural position. Morris has awesome strength (benches 500 pounds) and has lost over 30 pounds since arriving as a freshman through diligent work in the off-season conditioning program. Morris should be much more effective run blocking with the increased agility and he is a good pass blocker once he locks onto the rusher, but he has struggled against speed rushers off the edge.

Tech’s stud ends, and Chris Ellis in particular, are exceptional edge rushers, so it will be interesting to see if Morris will have enough lateral quickness to handle them. Ellis is exceptionally fast (4.62 40) with a quick first step and Burchette is one of the quickest players off the line on Tech’s team (1.50 10-yard dash) with very good speed (4.69 40). Look for N.C. State to run behind Morris in short-yardage situations. Morris is said to be greatly improved and he should be one of the better offensive tackles in the ACC this year.

All four of the offensive tackle vs. defensive end match-ups should be very interesting to follow in this game.

Both Virginia Tech and N.C. State are starting new strong safeties (rover in Tech’s terminology) that are reputed to be strong in run support but weaker in space against the pass. Both teams like to use three-receiver formations with the slot receiver on the wide side of the field, so look for similar strategies in trying exploit the inexperience of the strong safeties. However, the approach each team uses may be different. Tech may look to go deep more while N.C. State will look to throw in front of Tech’s rover.

Tramain Hall (5-10, 194, r-Sr.) is a preseason first-team all-ACC wide receiver who will generally be matched up with Aaron Rouse (6-4, 221, r-Jr.), a converted whip linebacker in his first year at rover. Hall is a former all-star running back in high school who was converted to slot receiver in State’s offense. He lines up in various positions, but generally will go to the wide side of the field. Hall has great hands with excellent ability to gain yards after the catch. Two years ago he caught 69 passes from Philip Rivers, though that number dropped to 28 last year due to injuries and a new quarterback. Hall generally runs shorter routes, but he will occasionally go deep on wheel routes.

N.C. State will surely challenge Rouse, who is an exceptional athlete with outstanding speed (4.44 40) but has never played a game at the position. The biggest question regarding Rouse is his ability to provide coverage in space, and Tramain Hall will definitely test that concern. In the last couple of years Tech has played more zone coverage and I look for the Hokies to mix their coverages in this game, bracketing Hall underneath in two-deep and three-deep zones. When in man-to-man coverage, Rouse must play Hall physically and try to disrupt his routes. Tech handled Hall well last year and this match-up is probably the key receiving concern for the Hokies on Sunday.

Unlike Aaron Rouse, Garland Heath (6-2, 225, Jr.) has played strong safety in his previous two years (171 plays as a true freshman and 71 plays last year) and gained a reputation for being very strong in run support. He is adequate in pass coverage but lacks recovery speed (estimated 40 in the 4.6-4.7 range) against the deep ball. Tech will play a number of different receivers in the slot, but I believe that the Hokies will try to isolate one of their speed receivers, such as David Clowney (6-1, 175, Jr., 4.33 40), on Heath and see if Vick can connect on a big play.

The Big Pass-Catchers - Tight Ends vs. Strong Safeties

Both teams also have very good receiving tight ends in first-team preseason all-ACC Jeff King (6-5, 253, r-Sr.) for Tech and two-time honorable mention all-ACC T.J. Williams (6-3, 253, Sr.) for N.C. State. King has exceptional hands and runs good routes with improved agility from playing basketball last year. He will occasionally be matched up against the strong safety, Garland Heath, in this game and Tech may try to get King behind the secondary for a big play at some time. T.J. Williams may be the most underrated player on State’s team. He has excellent speed (estimated 4.7-4.8 40 range) for a tight end and is one of the strongest players on the team. Williams led N.C. State in receiving last year with 31 receptions and should see even more action in the new west coast offense. State may try to exploit the size mismatch when Cary Wade (5-10, 178, r-Jr.) is substituting for Aaron Rouse and hit Williams down the field.

Obviously, all eyes will be on Marcus Vick (6-0, 216, r-Jr.) in his debut as a starter and his ability to remain poised and create big plays will be critical for Tech to win the game on Sunday. From the N.C. State perspective, all eyes will be on Jay Davis (6-2, 220, r-Sr.) and his ability to run the newly-installed west coast offense. However, new “quarterbacks” of the secondary will be playing for each team as well. D.J. Parker (6-0, 184, So.) will get his first start at free safety for Tech and Miguel Scott (6-0, 203, So.) gets the starting call for N.C. State. Both free safeties are excellent athletes with good coverage skills but they each have limited playing experience and potentially could be exploited for big plays.

With both teams having such strong defenses up front, driving the ball downfield consistently will be difficult, so ultimately the team that can create the big plays will likely win. Both teams may look to take advantage of the inexperience at safety to hit the big play on deep posts or go routes. In throwing the deep ball, Marcus Vick holds a big advantage over Jay Davis whose deep ball tends to hang. Also, Tech has considerably more speed at wide receiver than State, so the potential for hitting the “home run” would appear to be to the Hokies advantage. N.C. State’s fastest receiver is Lamart Barrett (6-1 190, Jr.), who runs a 4.45 40, whereas Tech has four receivers that run faster than that time: David Clowney, Justin Harper (6-3 210, So., 4.36), Eddie Royal (5-10 171, So., 4.39), and Josh Hyman (6-0 189, r-So., 4.41). N.C. State has very good receivers with excellent size and experience (3 of the top 4 receivers are seniors), but they lack a deep threat.

In a game that appears to be evenly matched in the trenches with both defenses looking dominant, the ability to make big plays – whether in the passing game, on special teams, or turnovers – will ultimately decide the outcome. Tech appears to have more big-play potential than N.C. State, so I see the Hokies being victorious in a game that may be similar to the Georgia Tech game from last year. Big plays in the fourth quarter will likely determine the winner.