FSU football: 3 things to improve going into Southern Miss game

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Staying Out of Second and Third and Long Situations

Again, this likely had a lot to do with FSU playing one of the better front seven units in the nation in LSU. The Tigers only had four tackles for a loss, but it was a combination of playing LSU, the penalties, and lack of execution that put the Noles in second and third and long situations much too often.

FSU often overcame those situations, going 9 of 14 on third down, which is elite. However, I’d like to see them find more consistent success on early downs like the run below:

I think they’ll be able to do that against most defenses on the schedule, and I hope to see that Saturday night against Southern Mississippi.

The running game didn’t get going until the second half, but it was good to see Trey Benson, Lawrance Toafili, and Rodney Hill running with physicality late in the game.