FSU football: Can Noles learn from early success against Tigers in 2018?

FSU football could have some things from last year’s game against Clemson to learn from aside from all the mistakes. Could they learn from their success?

I know FSU football fans have likely erased the 2018 FSU/Clemson game from their memory much like the 2016 FSU/Louisville game.

It’s hard to think of either of those games and remember FSU having any type of success as both teams just obliterated the Noles.

That’s two occasions where I’ve thought FSU had absolutely NO shot at doing anything on either side of the ball.

It’s was like both teams just carved FSU’s defense like they knew what defense was being called beforehand and how to attack it.

However, a small glimmer of hope can be gleaned from last year’s game against Clemson. I know, it’s not exactly the same players for either team.

But its miraculous to think that 2018 FSU football team was actually tied 0-0 with Clemson at the end of the first quarter.

The other crazy thing is a roughing the kicker penalty on fourth and 10 changed that entire game. Instead of kicking a field goal, the penalty gave Clemson a new set of downs and they went in to score a touchdown to begin the onslaught.

Now, let’s be clear, the FSU offense was doing NOTHING whatsoever as they ran 17 plays in the first quarter for FIVE yards.

However, the FSU defense only allowed Clemson to run 17 plays for 77 yards in the first quarter (4.53 ypp) with 41 of those yards coming on one play.

Is that something the FSU defense can look at and make an adjustment for in 2019? It’s possible.

It just seemed once Clemson broke through for that touchdown the team was mentally done. Will that be the case on Saturday if Clemson scores early with relative ease?

The good thing is the FSU offense looks much more capable of moving the ball than last year. If the Noles can keep it close for a quarter like last year there’s a small chance things could get interesting.