FSU Halftime Reaction: Louisville 21 FSU 7

The game between Florida State and Louisville has gone to halftime, here’s some FSU halftime reaction:

Florida State is in another dogfight. Louisville came to play today and — after feeling the Seminoles out in the first quarter — the Cardinals made a statement drive to start the 2nd quarter and haven’t looked back since.

Louisville marched 80 yards in just seven plays and manhandled FSU up front to score its first touchdown of the game early in the second quarter. Michael Dyer looked dynamic at times, but also had several Seminole defenders bounce off of him with poor attempts at tackles. The D-line always looked like it was within striking distance but never seemed to be able to strike. The interior in particular — depleted by injuries to the DT’s and the absence of Terrance Smith — has yielded plenty of yardage for the Cardinals.

More from Chop Chat

Offensively, FSU has looked out of sorts. The run game has been there when the Seminoles have gone to it but FSU has been behind schedule on most drives and hasn’t used it much. Karlos Williams has probably had his best first half of the season but the Seminoles haven’t gone to him much in favor of the pass.

And Jameis Winston is not having a good night. Winston has made a few throws, but has also missed on a handful too. Particularly painful was a deep strike to a wide open Bobo Wilson that was thrown just a couple of yards too long.

And then there were his picks.

Winston has had trouble all season when he’s tried to force the ball to Nick O’Leary. That trend has continued into tonight. He was almost picked off on FSU’s second drive when he threw it to his covered tight end, and then following Louisville’s first touchdown, he threw his first interception when he forced a pass to O’Leary on third and long.

Louisville promptly drove the ball down the field for another touchdown.

Winston then threw another interception — this time on the first play of the very next drive, throwing to a route that Travis Rudolph seemed to give up on — and the Cardinals went and got another touchdown. Just like that.

21-0.

If you’ve broken the glass and hit the panic button– that’s understandable.

The Seminoles were able to get some of it back on their last possession of the half when they drove the ball for a touchdown, but even that looked tenuous– Karlos Williams fumbled the ball into the end zone and Nick O’Leary pounced on it for the TD.

FSU can still get back in this game, but not without a stellar second-half performance from its quarterback. So far Winston has had a horrible game, but if he can come on like he did in the second half two weeks ago at Notre Dame, FSU should be able to score. The defense will have to be stout too.

FSU has given up 21 points, but only seven came from the offense driving the length of the field. The other 14 came off the field position set up by turnovers. If the Seminoles can limit turnovers, make Louisville drive the length of the field and get the offense going– this is still a very winnable game.

If not, bye bye win streak.

Home/FSU Football