Florida State
hopes a fast start can provide some breathing room against Clemson on Saturday.
Correspondent
TALLAHASSEE — Fast starts have not exactly been Florida State’s specialty this season.
FSU has been so plagued by slow starts that the Seminoles have not scored a first-quarter touchdown against a Power 5 opponent this season. In fact, FSU had its first score of the season against an FBS opponent during its most recent win over Wake Forest.
“We’ve got to be better as a whole offense and put ourselves in better situations. We’ve got to go execute whatever play he calls,” FSU running back Dalvin Cook said when asked who is at fault for the team’s slow starts. “It’s a group effort. We’ve got to do better as a group.”
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is quick to defend his group, though, pointing out how close the offense has been to breaking through early on multiple occasions. The Seminoles scored only three field goals in the first quarters of games against Power 5 teams this season.
“We’re moving the football for the most part except for Wake [Forest.] Wake was the first time we had a three-and-out,” Fisher said. “You want to finish drives, which we usually did pretty good around here over the years early in the game. We’ve just got to relax and make the plays, just let the plays come to you and don't overpressure yourself or try to do too much. Just play the play.”
Fisher is not wrong. Through seven games, the Seminoles are averaging 6.29 yards per play, 28th in the FBS. In the first quarter, that number is actually above the season average at 6.71 yards per play, which is skewed rather heavily by a 250-yard first quarter against USF.
The points, however, are another story.
During the first quarters of the six games this season against FBS opponents this season, FSU has put up a total of 37 points, averaging 6.17 points per quarter. However, 28 of those points came against a USF team that has a plethora of defensive issues. In conference play, the Seminoles have managed only six first-quarter points in the first four games and, at the half of their ACC games, have trailed by a combined margin of 72-30.
Against a team as talented as No. 3 Clemson, which visits Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday, a slow start of this magnitude may create an insurmountable deficit.
“Clemson is a very good team,” Florida State left guard Kareem Are said. “We have to come out fast. We can’t allow them to gain any confidence, allow them to get off to a hot start. We have to come out with that fire.”
Added Fisher: “You need to get out of the blocks, you need to get confidence, whether it's offense or defense. Both sides get off the ball to a good start. Anytime you play a big opponent, if you can get that lead quickly, it makes a big difference.”
For Florida State, the goal seems clear. But the jury is still out on whether this team can execute it.
Although FSU is coming off a bye week, Clemson brings in a top-10 defense, which could make the yards and points hard to come by if compounded by FSU’s habitual struggles early in games.
Luckily for the Seminoles, they will have the home-field advantage, a potential difference-maker in a matchup. Clemson has not won a game in Tallahassee since 2006.
“I think it’ll be a great atmosphere. But it’s always good when you’re home, and you want to score early, and set a precedent in the game and put pressure on your opponent,” Fisher said. “I think our fans and our team will respond no matter what but it would be very nice for us to get off to a good start and establish ourselves.”