FSU football: 3 offensive improvements needed in second half of season

Intermediate Passing

This is an area that would help a great deal in converting some of those third downs. The only issue is the wide receivers are struggling to win one-on-one matchups, and Jordan Travis is limited as a passer.

Have you noticed you rarely see Jordan Travis attack the intermediate middle of the field in the passing game?

The coaches will chunk it downfield with him, as evident with the pass Keyshawn Helton dropped against Louisville. He’ll attack on designed plays when someone is wide open, like a pass to the walk-on tight end against North Carolina when it was third down near their goal line.

Travis is making one read and getting rid of the ball and using his legs, but that’s going to become more difficult to do as teams make adjustments.

That’s why the intermediate passing game needs to improve to keep the defense honest from crowding the line of scrimmage. Travis has to become more accurate and consistent, and the wide receivers need to stop allowing opposing defensive backs to bully them.

They are playing incredibly soft and need to help their quarterback out by getting open more often. If Tamorrion Terry returns, his ability to stretch the field vertically could help give receivers more room to operate underneath.