Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU Football: Alabama players give first impression of ‘Noles

By Kelvin Hunt

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 3: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stiff arms Leon McQuay III #22 of the USC Trojans as Porter Gustin #45 of the USC Trojans looks on in the first half during the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 3: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stiff arms Leon McQuay III #22 of the USC Trojans as Porter Gustin #45 of the USC Trojans looks on in the first half during the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

FSU football gets first impression thoughts from Alabama players.

The ‘Noles will start implementing their game plans for Alabama shortly as Alabama is beginning to turn their focus towards FSU football.

The two teams have not played often historically and haven’t met since FSU defeated Alabama in 2007 when the current players on the rosters were around 10 years old.

Nick Saban was still was in his first year at the helm and Bobby Bowden was nearing his run at FSU. It was Jimbo Fisher’s first year at FSU as the offensive coordinator.

READ: Has Jalen Hurts Gotten Better As A Passer?

Fast forward, Saban has turned Alabama into perennial powerhouse that it is, and Fisher is now the head coach at FSU who has them back among the elite programs in college football.

I think each program has mutual respect for one another because the coaches have tremendous respect for the other.

It’s always great to hear other opposing players give their take on your team, and that’s what happened recently with Alabama players giving first impression about this FSU football team via Al.com:

Tide Players Talk

Linebacker Rashaan Evans

“They are a versatile team,” linebacker Rashaan Evans said. “They got athletes all across the board. I’ve been hearing a lot of things about them trying to be a dominate team by competing against people like us, the SEC. I’ve seen the offense more often, since we are preparing to facing them in two weeks, but they have great wide receivers and great running backs. The quarterback, I mean he has a year under his belt, so he’s got a little experience. Just with that I feel like we are going to have a great battle coming up.”

“We have played against teams like Clemson,” Evans said. “They kind of remind me of them. They have great athletes and a great quarterback. I feel if we prepare the right way, we’ll be pretty good.”

“I feel like those guys Jalen and Francois have great poise,” Evans said. “I feel like that’s why they were able to play at such a young age. That’s the No. 1 thing, I would say. Both of those guys have the ability to escape, using their feet. Whenever they need throw, they can make the throws.”

Offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher

“Just watching defensive front, schemes they play with, their personnel,” he said. “They are very talented. Big, strong, fast defense. Very athletic. Going to be tough challenge for us up front.”

Thoughts

All of those are respectable comments, and I’m sure Nick Saban would not allow players who he thought would be disrespectful to give their thoughts to the media.

I’m not sure what Evans was referring to with the SEC comment. I hope he knows FSU has owned Florida just as they have the past half decade, oh and beat Auburn for the national championship in 2013. The same Auburn team that beat Alabama.

What about smoking Ole Miss last year who almost beat Alabama?

Pierschbacher is right, the game is going to be one or lost in the trenches. If FSU can protect Francois, they have the receivers to give that Alabama secondary problems.

Next: Should Jimbo Fisher Run Deondre Francois Against Alabama?

The ‘Noles have to make Jalen Hurts beat them with his arm and take away his running game. If they can do those things and not turn the ball over on offense, the ‘Noles could pull off the upset.

Home/FSU Football