FSU football: Why Noles get back on track against Pittsburgh
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football needs a big win against Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon.
Let me preface this FSU football piece by saying everything written is contingent upon Pittsburgh having to play their backup quarterback and not their starter Kenny Pickett.
Pickett has been out the last two games with an ankle injury. He tried to practice Thursday, but it still appears the Panthers will be going with their backup Joey Yellen, who’s taken the majority of the snaps this week.
It’s going to be a tough game for the Noles regardless, but Pittsburgh features arguably the best defensive line the Noles will face all season.
They are excellent against the run, which is what the Noles do best, but Pittsburgh’s offense isn’t the same without Pickett under center.
FSU football fans may ask why the FSU defense will all of a sudden be better than they have in the first six games.
Well, they are coming off a bye week and another week to prepare for an offense that they match up well with. One issue that has haunted FSU’s defense is mobile quarterbacks.
It’s why they were able to have some success against North Carolina and Sam Howell in that upset victory. The lack of a threat of the quarterback running simplifies things for a defense that struggles with multiple threats.
Yellen isn’t mobile, and he’s proven to be inaccurate thus far. Is it possible he comes out and looks like Peyton Manning Saturday afternoon? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least with the way the Noles have looked on defense.
However, I find it unlikely with the Noles coming off the bye week and with extra time to prepare.