FSU Halftime Reaction: FSU 13 Wake Forest 3

The game between the Florida State Seminoles and Wake Forest Demon Deacons is at the half, here’s some FSU halftime reaction.

Those looking for FSU to get off to a quick start against Wake Forest are probably disappointed right now. FSU’s defense had little trouble stopping the Demon Deacons on their first possession, but a couple of turnovers set Wake up with great starting field position on its next two drives and the Demon Deacons were able to capitalize with a field goal at the end of the first quarter to go up 3-0.

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Now, granted, 3-0 doesn’t seem like much to get bent out of shape about (it’s not), but Wake’s offense is incompetent at a level that deserves special recognition. There’s no team speed on this offense. The play-calling is unimaginative. Left to its own devices, Wake likely would have struggled to drive the length of the field and even get into field goal range. But FSU more or less gift-wrapped three points for the Wake offense with its early turnovers and at the end of the first quarter — despite having negative rushing yards — Wake was ahead.

Hopefully the rest of the country was watching Alabama-Ole Miss.

Realistically though, FSU’s defense is playing fine. Aside from being saddled with poor field position, the defensive front looks fierce and Wake doesn’t have nearly enough time to even try passing vertically. The Seminoles don’t need to leave a safety high, they could probably get away leaving the box loaded all afternoon. As long as the Deacons don’t wind up with the ball deep in Florida State territory, they’re not likely to find the end zone today.

Lorenzo Featherston — making his first career start — has also been a revelation. A week after flashing in the second half against NC State, Featherston has been on the Wake side of the line of scrimmage so much today that he should probably have to pay them rent. In the first quarter alone Featherstone racked up 5 tackles, 2.5 TFL’s and a fumble recovery. With Featherston at one end and Mario Edwards back, FSU’s front looks as good as it has all season.

Although, some of that is due to Wake’s overmatched offensive line getting whipped too.

Offensively, FSU looks out of sorts.

Its first two drives ended in turnovers on the Florida State side of the 50. Roberto Aguayo kicked his first field goal in two weeks after the Seminoles’ third drive stalled out around the 25. And penalties felled FSU’s fourth drive after it got across midfield.

It wasn’t until FSU’s fifth possession — which came late in the 2nd quarter thanks to Wake’s deliberately slow pace of play — when things finally clicked. Jameis Winston came alive on a couple of throws and then kept it himself for the ‘Noles first TD down by the goal-line to make it 10-3.

After a great kickoff and three quick timeouts, FSU got the ball back for its sixth possession of the game with just :32 seconds to go and worked into position for its second field goal of the day.

All in all though, FSU has not looked sharp. Give credit to the Wake defense for some of that, but the Seminoles have also committed their fair share of silly mistakes. Florida State should pull away in the second half, but given Wake’s clock-bleeding strategy, it’s not likely that the Seminoles see more than six or seven possessions, tops.

Statistical Leaders:

Passing: Jameis Winston (10/20, 105, INT)
Rushing: Karlos Williams (9-46)
Receiving: Rashad Greene (3-33)

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