Seminoles prep for potent Miami backs
TALLAHASSEE — Timmy Jernigan expects no frills from Miami’s offensive attack, and that’s just the way he likes it.
The more physical, the better.
In fact, the Florida State junior nose tackle invites the Hurricanes, or any other team, to run directly at him.
“You can try,” Jernigan said with a grin. “You can try it; peoplearegoingto try it. A lot of offenses, when you’re facing great defenses, they want to test your willpower sometimes and see if you are what the media says you are. I’m pretty sure they’re going to try and come out and run it downour throat.”
No. 7 Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC) visits Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday at 8 p.m. (ABC) with a dynamic rushing attack that is sure to test theNo. 7Seminoles’(7-0, 5-0ACC) defensive front.
The Hurricanes average 214.71 rushing yards per game and are led by sophomore Duke Johnson.
Rushing for 823 yards (6.7 yards per carry) and six touchdowns, Johnson (5-9, 196) is one of the nation’s most explosive backs.
“Whatdoesn’thedowell? We’d have a shorter conversation,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said when asked about Johnson. “The thing about him is that he makes big plays. He’s dynamic. He gets in space. He changes numbers on the scoreboard. Hemakes you miss.”
Complimenting Johnson is sophomore Dallas Crawford (5-10, 196), a bruising back with 291 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns on the year.
“You’re always getting a fresh guy,” Fisher said. “You’re always getting fresh legs, and he’s a big, strong, fast guy.”
Andwithanoffensive line that Jernigan calls one of the best in thecountry, FSU’s de- fense is expecting a physical matchup. Miami’s front five weighs an average of 313.8 pounds.
“They’re one of those teams, they do what they do,” FSU defensive end Christian Jones said. “They’ve got a good offensive line and a good running back, so they’re going to try to pound the ball on us, but we’re going to be ready for it.”
The last team to deploy a similar power approach was Boston College. The Eagles were successful, logging 200 rushing yards and 34 points.
“Sometimes you forget what this game of football is about, especially with the prototypical offenses. Everyone wants to go spread,” FSU defensive back Lamarcus Joyner said. “You forget that at the end of the day, it’s about the trenches.
“We kind of got away from that and [were] able to learn. That Boston College gamewas a big wake-up call. We learned from that to dominate the line of scrimmage.”
During the three games after Boston College — two against ranked teams Clemson and Maryland — FSU has given up an average of 114.6 rushing yards and 31 total points. The starting defense has surrendered just a single touchdown in that span, although the Seminoles have benefited by playing spread- oriented teams, which offers a suitable matchup for the team’s speedy personnel.
FSUplayers are excited to seehowtheystackupduring their second bout of the season against a gritty offensive attack.
“Welookforwardtoit. It’s definitely going to set the tone for us and kind of give us a rebirth,” Jernigan said. “Especially looking ahead to team is like Florida that [is] going to do the same thing, it can give us a real good start.”