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FSU football: Who gets most of the blame for Saturday’s performance?

By Kelvin Hunt

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 22: A view of a special ribbon decal worn on the back of the helmets of the Florida State players to honor the victims of a shooting at the university library during a game against Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 22, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. Earlier this week a gunman injured three students before officers fatally shot him. Third-ranked Florida State defeated Boston College 20 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 22: A view of a special ribbon decal worn on the back of the helmets of the Florida State players to honor the victims of a shooting at the university library during a game against Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 22, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. Earlier this week a gunman injured three students before officers fatally shot him. Third-ranked Florida State defeated Boston College 20 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Coaches

I think the coaches had the players prepared as the game unfolded in the first few minutes. As I mentioned, the defense was swarming, and the offense scored on their first two possessions.

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football /

Florida State Seminoles Football

However, Mike Norvell may have out-thought himself on FSU’s fourth offensive drive. It was fourth and one from the FSU 34 yard line and he decides to go for it and gets the fourth-down conversion.

It was a risky call to make, but I understand the aggressive nature with them only needing one yard while having a bowling ball for a running back in La’Damian Webb.

A bit later on the same drive, Mike Norvell decides to go four it on fourth down again. They needed one yard, and they are on the Pittsburgh 35 yard line, but Camren McDonald inexplicably gets a false start penalty to make it fourth and five yards.

Norvell decides to go for it anyway, and Jordan Travis is sacked on the play for a seven-yard loss. Pittsburgh gets the ball own the 47-yard line and proceeds to miss a field goal, but it would have been a chance to pin Pittsburgh deep in their territory with an offense that’s not explosive.

FSU punts on their next possession and Pittsburgh scores a touchdown on their next possession to make it a 17-14 game. FSU gets to near mid-field on their next possession and decides to go for it again on fourth and two and gets denied, giving the ball to Pittsburgh at mid-field, and they score a touchdown three plays later to make it 24-14.

I didn’t mind the play to go for it, but the play call was questionable as they gave the ball to Lawrence Toafili while going against arguably the best defensive line in the conference.

I understand Mike Norvell wanting to be aggressive with the way the defense has played the first six games. However, he has to know how this team reacts to adversity by now and giving their offense a short field doesn’t do anyone any favors.

I also believe the decision to put James Blackman in the game to start the second-half was a huge mistake. He said he thought Blackman’s experience could help give the offense a spark in the post-game news conference. However, that was a backward move considering Blackman was benched and replaced by a true freshman earlier in the year.

Of course, Blackman threw a terrible interception, and that was the turnover that broke their backs.

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