FSU football: How does FSU defend QB Max Brown and the UF offense

FSU football will be taking on their arch-rival Florida Gators this Saturday in Ben-Hill Griffin Stadium.

This weekend’s rivalry game between Florida State and Florida will be the 67th time that these teams have met in the series. This game will be very different as both teams will have backup quarterbacks leading their offense. Both Graham Mertz (collarbone) and Jordan Travis (ankle) sustained injuries last weekend.

The Gators will have freshman Max Brown stepping in for the injured Graham Mertz. Brown offers a slightly different skill set than Mertz as he poses more of a running threat to the Seminoles’ defense.

Brown plays baseball for the Gators as well as football, and is a very good athlete. During his senior season in high school, he threw for 2,750 yards and 41 touchdowns with 1,343 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.

I assume the Gators will rely heavily on the running game with Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr carrying the load. Brown will have to use his legs as the Noles will most likely use defensive ends Jared Verse and Patrick Payton to make Brown uncomfortable in the pocket and force him into poor throws.

That front seven will need to slow down Brown’s ability to escape the pocket and make him beat them through the air.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is the most dynamic player on their offense. Shutting him down will be a priority for the Nole’s secondary. Redshirt senior Jarrian Jones will likely be the guy to take Pearsall out of the game as Jones is the highest-graded cornerback in man coverage this season, per PFF.

Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller stated that there is not a lot of film on Brown. As a result, scouting him will be difficult and they may have to look at his high school film to get a feel for his skill set.

Look for the Seminoles to pressure Brown, contain the run, and cruise past the Gators this week as they head into the ACC title game versus Louisville with a 12-0 record.