FSU football: 5 major takeaways from ‘Noles win over LSU

What a win for No. 8 FSU football over No. 5 LSU Sunday in primetime. I wrote a piece explaining how Mike Norvell had Brian Kelly’s number a few days ago.

The point was when the talent would be equal, Mike Norvell would have a distinct advantage based on the prior matchups, and that point came to fruition in the 45-24 second-half destruction.

FSU outscored LSU 31-7 in the second half, with the lone LSU score happening with FSU reserves in the game and less than two minutes on the clock. There are so many things to talk about in this game.

The FSU defense setting the tone on LSU’s first offensive possession, bowing up on the goal line and forcing a turnover on downs after allowing two huge plays. The FSU offense took their first possession 86 yards on nine plays for the first touchdown in the game.

LSU responded with a touchdown, and then FSU wasted some offensive opportunities to take control in the game.

A lot of folks criticized the defense in the first half, but they were the reason FSU was still in the game at the half.

Here are five major takeaways.

FSU Running Game Helped Change The Game

I felt like FSU got away from the run game too much in the first half, only running 11 rushing plays against 21 pass attempts.

I know they felt they had a matchup advantage against the LSU secondary, but it was like they got out of rhythm.

However, the first drive in the second half saw Mike Norvell get back to establishing the run, and that seemed to open the LSU defense up after that.

Lawrance Toafili was the back who started finding some success first, and Trey Benson finally joined the party after running somewhat timid in the first half.

We also saw Rodney Hill flash on five carries for 29 yards. FSU also used Jordan Travis a little more in the run game, finishing with seven carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. Benson was the leading rusher, 12 carries for 47 yards.

Once they started finding that success, the LSU defense had to pick their poison and couldn’t figure out how to stop the offense. It’s what opposing defenses will have to deal with week-in and week-out.

FSU Secondary Still Has Work To Do

I say this understanding LSU will likely have a top 10 offense at the end of the season. They have excellent wide receivers, and used a lot of quick passes to attempt to negate the pass rush.

Also, the defense had to account for Jayden Daniels running the ball. Daniels finished 22 of 37 for 347 yards, but 75 of those yards came on the final LSU play in garbage time.

He only completed 58 percent of his passes, but LSU receivers were running wide open a few too many times.

FSU got lucky with LSU receivers dropping a couple of passes when they were open. It looked as though they were often confused pre-snap, and LSU did run a ton of bunch sets as the defense ran man-to-man.

LSU receivers made some nice plays under decent coverage too. Look, it was game one, and they have some new players and a new defensive backs coach.

It was a myriad of things affecting their play, but I hope to see them clean up a few things as the games progress.

Refs Were Terrible

I try to avoid blaming the referees in games, but what we witnessed it the first half of that game was ridiculous. FSU got called for six penalties in the first half against zero for LSU. How is that possible? They were holding the FSU defensive line on every play. Check this video below that went uncalled:

LSU didn’t have their first penalty called until after a minute had expired in the third quarter. They only got called for two penalties all night. The refs missed a clear delay of game penalty during one of FSU’s defensive goal line stands.

FSU only got called for one penalty in the second half, so I guess it evened out, but referees picked up flags against FSU and then called a personal foul penalty on FSU? I’m glad we won the game, but they certainly aided a few LSU drives in the first half.

Jordan Travis Overcame Tough First Half

Jordan Travis looked rattled in the first half, almost like he reverted back to 2020 Jordan Travis on a couple of series. He was 14 of 21 in the first half, but made some questionable decisions that almost cost the Noles big time.

He threw a bad interception just one play after LSU had muffed a punt, giving FSU a prime opportunity to seize control int he first half.

He threw another pass under pressure into the middle of the field, and the ball fell just short of a LSU defender, which would have given LSU the ball nearly in the red zone.

However, Jordan Travis regrouped and had a monster second half. He seemed like the poised Jordan Travis we’ve come to love, checking into the right plays and somehow keeping his Heisman hopes alive because I thought those were over after his first half performance. I

mean, that’s not the most important thing, but if he performs the rest of the season like he did in the second half? He’ll receive an invitation to New York at the very least. This next guy might receive one with him.

Keon Coleman Is HIM

What a debut for Keon Coleman in the garnet and gold. We thought adding Keon Coleman from the transfer portal changed the offense in a major way, and Sunday night was a prime example. My guy finished the game with nine receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

He even called his own plays!

He was tough to tackle in the open field, and made the tough 50-50 catches that Mike Norvell likes to create for his playmakers.

The offense is built for a guy like Keon Coleman, and they will look to isolate him on defenders to create those opportunities he took advantage of Sunday night.

He was unreal and overshadowed Johnny Wilson’s 104-yard receiving night(despite his two terrible drops). Man, that was an awesome performance and I can’t wait to see what he does each week.

Defensive Line Was Lights Out

I thought the FSU defensive line was the better unit on the night. They allowed two explosive runs, they limited the LSU run game big-time and beat up Jayden Daniels much of the night, which may have contributed to some of his inaccuracies.

I didn’t think LSU could run the ball from a traditional standpoint, and FSU stood them up time after time, especially near the goal line.

They sacked Jayden Daniels four times and had five tackles for a loss. Not to mention all the times they got held by the LSU offensive line that went uncalled.

I know Jared Verse, Patrick Payton, Braden Fiske, Joshua Farmer, and Fabien Lovett got held at least 10 times that went uncalled. LSU didn’t sack Jordan Travis once all night.

There was no noticeable drop-off when they made substitutions. If these guys can keep this level of play up, it’ll help take some pressure off the secondary(which it did Sunday night).

The defense as a whole, holding that LSU offense to only 17 points before garbage time is a tremendous effort.