FSU football: Cam Akers needs the ball against Louisville
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football has one of the better running backs in then nation with Cam Akers. It’s time for the offense to lean on him for success.
It was a shame FSU football needed to run Cam Akers 36 times against Louisiana-Monroe to get the overtime victory.
However, the move paid off and helped the Noles avoid one of the most embarrassing losses of all time.
I found it interesting Cam Akers only touched the ball 21 times against Virginia. He had eight carries in the first half and 10 in the second half while catching three passes for nine yards and a touchdown.
Was that enough? I know Willie Taggart said he wanted Akers to get around 25 carries per game leading into the Virginia game.
Akers averaged 4.3 ypc and had 78 yards on 18 carries. I don’t recall him getting stopped behind the line often if at all, and the FSU offensive line did a decent job of opening up holes against a good defense.
The Louisville game is must-win no doubt about it. I was concerned that Akers wasn’t on the field during some crucial moments during the Virginia game.
That can’t happen against Louisville as they should get a steady diet of Cam Akers who struggled against the Cardinals last year(along with the offensive line). Kendal Briles said they need to get the ball to Cam Akers more too in his interview with media Tuesday.
If the offense has to revert back to 2015 and ride Cam Akers the way they rode Dalvin Cook so be it. If Louisville decides to stack the box against the run they should find ways to get him the ball in the passing game.
FSU has to get the ball into the hands of its playmakers. Players like Akers, Keyshawn Helton and Tamorrion Terry should be the focal points offensively because good things happen when they get the ball.
Helton had a touchdown on five receptions for 34 yards against Virginia. Terry didn’t have his best game but would have surpassed 100 yards receiving and scored a touchdown if James Blackman didn’t overthrow him on a pass in the fourth quarter.
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It all starts with Akers though and he needs to get the ball as much as possible against Louisville to help give this offense and identity while finding success.