FSU football is in a prime position to change the program perception as it comes out of its bye week with a game against Virginia Tech.
Fans and the media don’t care about the strength of the schedule, but only if you dismantle who’s on the schedule. Virginia Tech is (2-3) on the season and enters the game as 24-point betting underdogs.
Obviously, they are not a good team and haven’t been for nearly a decade or longer. FSU has a major talent advantage and matches up well with the Hokies, even though the perception is they struggle against mobile quarterbacks, which Virginia possesses.
However, the added context is Virginia Tech’s quarterback isn’t the same as LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Boston College’s QB. Plus, there’s the caveat of most of the FSU team having the flu when they traveled to play Boston College, and that’s evident by looking at the game tape.
FSU’s defensive front hasn’t looked anything like that game in the other three games. The biggest questions for me surround the FSU offense, which’s been stagnant for most of the last five quarters before the bye-week.
FSU coaches did a great job making adjustments after its bye week last year, and I’d expect nothing less this season.
I expect FSU to play well, and here are five things I want to see against the Virginia Tech Hokies.
FSU Defense Three And Outs
The FSU defense hasn’t allowed more than 24 points all season and has been the most consistent unit. They’ve been dominant at times, especially in the second halves against LSU and Clemson.
However, the first halves of those two games left a lot to desire, and they got off to a slow start against Boston College(flu game).
While they haven’t allowed more than 17 points in the first half, and the offense didn’t do much to help them in those two games. The defense could have done a better job getting off the field on third downs and giving the offense more opportunities.
The defense has gotten stops in the first half. They stopped LSU and Clemson on their first possessions, but it wasn’t without allowing at least one first down.
I want to see the FSU defense get some three-and-outs, giving the FSU offense solid field position to play complimentary football and score. FSU made Clemson punt four times and Boston College punt five times.
Can we see more three-and-outs and more than five punts from Virginia Tech on Saturday?
Intermediate Routes/Slot Receivers
When was the last time an FSU slot receiver caught a pass? I’m pretty sure we’d have to go to the Southern Mississippi game.
I understand FSU has some dynamic talent at receiver with Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson. However, the predictable vertical passes to those two guys haven’t been the most efficient plays, and FSU has lived in third and long situations much of the season.
That approach and the inability to establish the run have made the FSU offense stagnant. Jordan Travis did a great job utilizing several options in the passing game last season. He would complete passes to his slot guys underneath and use the middle of the field to open up vertical passes down the field.
That’s been non-existent this season. Winston Wright and Destyn Hill have five receptions combined. Mike Norvell has been great at scheming the tight end up the seams, and hasn’t been used much thus far.
Even if the running game can’t get going, this is still an aspect they can go to to help get more guys involved, while likely having a higher percentage of completing the pass.
I need to see more variation it the passing game Saturday and a higher success rate on early does to avoid third and forever.
FSU Run Game
The inability to run the ball has been frustrating, to say the least. The good news is there’s an explanation.
It’s a combination of the offensive line missing two starters much of the season, running backs not hitting the right hole, and Jordan Travis not keeping the ball on read plays.
We’ve seen Trey Benson look like one of the best running backs in the nation before, so I have to think he’ll get it figured out. Jordan Travis’s running likely depends on how healthy he is, and we’ll see when the starters return on the offensive line.
Nevertheless, Virginia Tech hasn’t been great against the run this season, and I’d like to see the Noles have some semblance of a running back. If it’s inconsistent but shows flashes? I’d take that because we understand the factors affecting it.
I’m not sure how much Jordan Travis will run in this game, and I wouldn’t run him to limit the hits he takes.
My hope is that FSU can build a decent lead and start working on getting it going and leaning on the Virginia Tech defense the way they did LSU in the second half.
Fast Start From Offense
The FSU offense has gotten off to slow starts in three of the first four games, with 17 points the most they’ve scored in the first half, and that was against Boston College.
The FSU defense has gotten stops on the opponent’s first possession in three of the fo
ur games, and the offense has only capitalized with a score once(a touchdown in the LSU game). The offense was supposed to be the strength of this team, but it hasn’t played like it.
The thought was they would be an elite unit score 30 points getting out of bed, but that’s been far from the case. They’ve scored fewer than 30 points in the last two games. It’s about time to finally put it together and put some pressure on opposing teams early in games.
If they have the opportunity to go up 10 or 14 points early, that changes the dynamic for a team like Virginia Tech, which doesn’t have a strong passing attack.
Mike Norvell has a track record of scripting great first drives. Here’s to hoping they do that Saturday afternoon and look like the electric offense we thought they’d be in the preseason.
Starters Resting In The Second Half
FSU football consists of a team of veterans with many underclassmen waiting for their turn in the wings. There’s a reason Virginia Tech is over a three-touchdown betting underdog, so Saturday would be a prime opportunity to get these young players in the game early.
These opportunities will provide valuable game reps for young guys to build depth, establish more team camaraderie, and provide starters with an opportunity to stay fresh for each contest. The thought is by the time they get to the Miami game, many of these young players will have multiple games of experience, and the starters will be primed and ready to go.
Why is this important? The biggest conference threat left, Miami, has a tough stretch of games before coming to Tallahassee.
They play North Carolina and Clemson in back-to-back weeks and play at NC State before traveling to Tallahassee. They likely won’t be able to play many of the young freshmen they bragged about when they were playing the cupcakes on their early schedule.
Those starters won’t be as rested as FSU, and that’s an advantage for the Noles.