What to Watch For: FSU at Louisville

Oct 18, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles offensive lineman Cameron Erving (75) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

5.) The Florida State offensive line

Florida State’s offensive line has been inconsistent all year and this is one of those nights that the Seminoles can ill-afford to struggle. Louisville has a lot of defensive talent — Charlie Strong left the cupboard well-stocked before heading to Texas — and that’s going to test FSU up front.

Against Clemson, another team with a good defensive front, the line struggled, allowed lots of pressure and failed to establish a consistent run game. If that happens tonight– watch out.

But while it’s important that Florida State establish a consistent rushing attack, it’s even more vital that the line can pick up blitzes and give Jameis Winston time in pass-pro. The run game is great, and FSU will have to try to make Louisville respect it to make things easier on the receivers, but if Jameis Winston doesn’t have time to throw FSU is essentially drawing dead. FSU can win without a run game if it absolutely has to (it has before) but FSU cannot win if Winston doesn’t have time to pass.

Essentially that means shoring up the middle of the line. Before Ryan Hoefeld, Austin Barron was having the same problem, but this season if a defense sends enough pressure right up the middle it can get to FSU’s quarterback. Louisville isn’t a particularly blitz-heavy team but you can be sure they’ll have keyed into the fact FSU’s interior line can be exploited that way.

If FSU is going to win tonight, it starts up front with a good game from the offensive line.