FSU football: Was James Blackman affected by long layoff?

FSU football has a dilemma when it comes to its quarterback position. Is James Blackman still the starting QB for Noles?

FSU football coach Willie Taggart announced James Blackman as the starter for the Clemson game last week. He didn’t hesitate when making the announcement, but also said Alex Hornibrook would play in the game.

Both things came to fruition but both players left a lot to be desired from their performances.

Blackman was injured early in the second half of the Louisville game and sat out the NC State game while getting a whole bye week to get fully healthy.

His performance was awful, completing just nine of 23 passes for 66 yards and two interceptions.

I wonder if the long layoff from live competition coupled with having to play against the best defense in the conference had anything to do with his showing?

Prior to that, Blackman was completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and was having his best game of the year against Louisville prior to getting hurt.

However, against Clemson he was sporadic with poor mechanics which results in errant throws. Here’s a prime example below:

This is FSU’s first offensive possession and Blackman stands tall in a clean pocket while delivering a strike to Tamorrion Terry to convert a third and eight for 15 yards. Notice how his feet were set and the throw was on target?

There was a lot of this too against Clemson though. The offensive line just couldn’t give either QB time to make throws on several occasions too as Blackman doesn’t really have a chance here and Abdul Bello barely touches he defensive end:

Here’s one crucial play I’m sure James Blackman wanted back as it likely is a touchdown if he properly set his feet and threw the ball to Cam Akers streaking down the sideline:

If you look closely both of Blackman’s feet are OFF the ground when he makes the throw. He kinda tries to flick it with his wrist and misses badly to a wide open Akers.

Here’s one that absolutely blew my mind because he did everything right except make the throwon target.

James Blackman does a great job of climbing in the pocket and has Tre McKitty WIDE open across the middle of the field and didn’t see him. It would have been a tough throw across his body too though.

However, Tamorrion Terry is wide open and Blackman just completely misses him while throwing on the run. I mean, he doesn’t even allow Terry to get a fingertip on it or anything. It’s a play Terry could have scored a touchdown on had Blackman hit him in stride.

Thoughts

Blackman hasn’t particularly thrown the deep ball well this year, but outside of a few throws has been pretty good when given time. He made some questionable throws against Clemson while under immense pressure which cost him.

However, I wonder just how much of it was him not playing since the Louisville game? I’m not making excuses for the kid, but it’s got to be a tough ask to not play since September 21 and then return on the road against a defense like Clemson.

I think FSU needs to ditch the two quarterback deal and choose either Blackman or Hornibrook. I think I’m going to give Blackman the benefit of the doubt coming back from a knee injury.

However, if he plays the same way against Wake Forest then it’s probably time to see what Jordan Travis can do.