FSU football: Top 5 observations heading into the bye week
By Kelvin Hunt
Offensive Line Improvement
I know you’re reading this like man they just gave up eight sacks against NC State Saturday night.
It’s true Alex Hornibrook was sacked eight times, but at least half of those were on him holding the ball too long or making bad decisions in the pocket.
Prior to that anomaly Saturday night, FSU was on pace to give up less sacks and tackles for loss than last year and still could have a shot at doing that.
The fact of the matter is the FSU offensive line has improved quite a bit over last year. The Noles actually have a semblance of a running game most of the time.
Cam Akers has 582 rushing yards through five games with seven rushing touchdowns. He only had 706 rushing yards in 12 games last year with six rushing touchdowns.
Some of that is on improvement from Akers as a running back as he has run incredibly hard this year. However, some of that credit has to go to Randy Clements and the offensive line.
They are opening running lanes that simply were not there last year. FSU has a shot at converting third and short this year when they had absolutely NO shot in 2018.
Players that were awful last year can give serviceable snaps in 2019 and the line should get better once Jauan Williams returns from injury.