Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Miami coach Randy Shannon assured me on Wednesday that there were no lingering health issues for quarterback Jacory Harris following what initially appeared to be a scary hit by FSU's Greg Reid to Harris' throwing arm on Monday night. It was just like hitting your funny bone, Shannon said -- it tingled for a bit and that was it.

Besides, it's not his quarterback Shannon has to worry about heading into the Sept. 17 home game against Georgia Tech -- it's his defense. The Yellow Jackets racked up 472 rushing yards against Miami last year -- the second most ever allowed by the Hurricanes -- in a 41-23 win. Jonathan Dwyer had 128 yards on just 10 carries -- in the first half. Harris was actually the one bright spot, as he came off the bench to lead the Canes to two scoring drives.

Miami's run defense looked better against Florida State on Monday night, holding the Noles to 110 yards rushing and one touchdown, but Georgia Tech's triple option left the Canes looking dazed and confused last year. This time, though, they've got some extra time to prepare for it -- 10 days.

"It's a big benefit because you get the opportunity to practice more than two to three days on an offense that's unusual to most teams you face throughout the country, a typical run-zone type of scheme, a power game with play action off throwing the football, but this is a threat of a fullback running the ball, the quarterback running the ball, and the option outside," Shannon said. "You have to be sound, and players have to understand what you're trying to get done on defense to prevent big plays from happening."

They can practice all they want, but simulating the speed with which Georgia Tech will execute it will be, well, nearly impossible.

"You never really get a scout team -- in all my years of facing the option, and even when I was a player, it takes about one quarter to really get caught up because the speed of the linemen coming off the football, the quarterback doing a great job," Shannon said. "It's hard to simulate the speed, but you can get an idea."

They'll get some more help tonight by watching Georgia Tech face Clemson on national TV. That's two games the Canes' staff can scout, and they'll need every edge they can get considering it will be the first of back-to-back games against Coastal Division opponents before hosting Oklahoma.

Regardless of how Miami fares against Georgia Tech this year, the Canes have no excuse to not at least look prepared this time.