FSU Halftime Reaction: FSU 28 GT 21

The ACC Championship Game between the Florida State Seminoles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is at the half, here’s some FSU Halftime Reaction:

Georgia Tech’s offense has been absolutely unstoppable against FSU’s defense so far tonight. There’s no way around that. So far the Seminoles have had no answer for the Yellow Jackets on defense. Up until Tech’s final drive of the half, FSU had not even come close to solving this option attack.

That in turn has put the Florida State offense behind the eight ball. The Seminoles went three-and-out on their first possession and have been playing catch-up ever since.

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The Yellow Jackets drove the ball down the field and scored on each of their first three possessions. Tech didn’t even have to throw a pass until well into the second quarter– on its third possession. FSU’s defense has just looked completely clueless early on in this one. Charles Kelly might make great adjustments, but it’s hard to look at this performance and try to pretend this defense was well prepared. Georgia Tech has run it right down FSU’s throat since the opening gun.

Part of the problem was the loss of Eddie Goldman on the first drive. He’s a talented DT and FSU could ill-afford to lose anymore depth on it’s D-line.

But the whole defense has played poorly thus far. Tackles have been missed. Players can’t get off blocks. Eye discipline is lacking. It’s not a matter of bad effort, but mismatched personnel and inexperienced guys not playing within the system.

It couldn’t come at a worse time either because FSU’s offense has been lethal. After the ‘Noles went three-and-out Jameis Winston and Dalvin Cook have had little issue driving and scoring on the Tech defense. Winston found Nick O’Leary for FSU’s first score, Dalvin Cook gained every yard on FSU’s second scoring drive and then a DB slipping left Rashad Greene wide open for FSU’s third touchdown of the game.

Where fans gained a little hope was in the final five minutes of the half. After Greene’s first TD, FSU was able to force Georgia Tech to punt — the first time all night — and Winston and the Florida State offense wasted little time getting down into scoring range, capping a 75-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Greene to take a 28-21 lead.

Florida State’s still got a long ways to go. Tech gets the ball to start the half and FSU’s defense has only been able to get the Yellow Jackets off the field once today.

But, and this is big, Jameis Winston looks like he did a year ago. Jameis Winston looks good. He looks like his old, Heisman-winning self tonight.

Jimbo Fisher said Winston had his best week of practice this week– many scoffed.

Nobody’s scoffing now. Winston has thrown for 222 yards and three touchdowns and FSU has already gained 321 total yards. Either team could still win this game, and FSU’s defense needs to turn it on in the second half.

But with Winston on and playing like this, you have to like FSU’s chances in the second half.