FSU vs. The Citadel Preview
FSU vs. The Citadel
The Citadel (Home Opener) – September 6th
2013 Record: 5-7
Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense
There should be no nail-biting or cause for concern this Saturday as the ‘Noles kick off their home opener in Tallahassee at 7:30 against FCS opponent The Citadel (0-1-0). Thus far in Jimbo Fisher’s tenure as head coach the Seminoles have outscored FCS competition by a margin of 299-25. This game should serve as an opportunity for the ‘Noles to make some adjustments and see how certain players perform after squeaking by Oklahoma State in Dallas with a 37-31 victory.
History:
The ‘Noles are a perfect 5-0 against The Citadel at home. While FSU has never lost to The Citadel the two teams did play to a 0-0 tie on Oct. 8, 1960. The most recent time these two teams took the field against each other was on Sept. 10, 2005. This game in 2005 saw the largest margin of victory in the overall series, as FSU won 62-10.
Breaking Down the Dogs:
After a 5-7 campaign in 2013, The Citadel saw former head coach Kevin Higgins resign to take an assistant head coaching position at Wake Forest. Following the December 16th resignation, The Citadel hired Mike Houston in January. At the helm, Mike Houston is 0-1-0 coming off a home opener loss to Coastal Carolina. Despite the loss, Houston said in his weekly press conference that he hopes to be competitive against the Seminoles.
Houston went on to state that the game against the Seminoles may be the last “big game” that The Citadel will have scheduled unless he “receives 85 scholarships” for the football program. The Bulldogs rushed for 358 yards in the loss despite QB Aaron Miller going 1-8 with just 19 yards passing.
The Bulldogs relied heavily on their no-huddle triple-option rushing attack as their top two rushers (Tyler Renew & Jake Stenson) tallied 30 carries alone. The Seminoles’ defensive line shouldn’t allow The Citadel to have this type of success running the football early on as long as the ‘Noles play smart football and control the gaps. That said, an entirely new offensive line for the Bulldogs should struggle creating space for the run early and often against the Seminoles’ overpowering defensive line. It’s not all bad news for the Bulldogs though. They will be leaving Tallahassee with a $440,000 check for playing against the ‘Noles in Doak.
Knowing the ‘Noles:
Last Saturday the Seminoles learned that their offensive line will have to improve in a hurry as match-ups with teams like Clemson loom in the distance. On 31 total carries, the Seminoles rushed for just over 100 yards. Karlos Williams was inconsistent against the Pokes as there were moments when he shined, but also times when he seemed to struggle understanding the blocking scheme.
In limited action, Mario Pender dazzled with his speed. Pender rushed for 31 yards on 3 attempts while accounting for a touchdown on the ground. Watch for Pender to get more reps against The Citadel on Saturday. Slot receiver Kermit Whitfield averaged 10 yards a reception as he snagged 3 receptions for 30 yards against the Cowboys. His speed alone will make him a go-to target against the Bulldogs.
Coming off of a one game suspension, Jesus “Bobo” Wilson will be targeted frequently Saturday, as Winston will look to develop better chemistry with his receivers. Bobo will be a critical addition to a young, inexperienced receiving core.
Seminoles Can Write History:
A Florida State victory on Saturday will give the ‘Noles their 18th straight win, which would break the previous school record of 17. This previous record was set in September of 2000 when a Chris Weinke led FSU team beat Maryland 59-7. Also up for grabs is the opportunity for QB Jameis Winston to tie former Heisman Trophy Winner Chris Weinke’s 16-game streak of throwing at least one passing touchdown.
Conclusion
This game really shouldn’t be competitive. Look for the Seminoles to play disciplined football against the over-matched Bulldogs and have this one well in hand before halftime. Fans can look forward to getting a glimpse of how the backups look by the final quarter Saturday night.