’Noles eager to bounce back with key win
TALLAHASSEE — After blazing past Florida State standout safety Derwin James, NC State receiver Jakobi Meyers punctuated a 71-yard touchdown in last week’s contest with an exuberant front flip into the end zone at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Following FSU’s wireto-wire loss, NC State standout defensive end Bradley Chubb spit on the Seminoles’ logo midfield before hugging his coach and celebrating the victory before walking back to the locker room.
The Seminoles were disrespected on their home field during the 27-21 defeat, turning in a lackluster performance and allowing the Wolfpack to win their first game in Tallahassee since 2005 and first in the series since 2012.
As Florida State (0-2) prepares to face Wake Forest (4-0) today for a mustwin game, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher insists the Seminoles are not using NC State’s actions as motivation.
“That doesn’t bother our guys,” Fisher said after Thursday’s practice. “What the other team does doesn’t affect you. You go and play. … That has nothing to do with us. That’s what they do. We don’t pay attention to that stuff.”
The winless Seminoles hope to make a statement against the undefeated Demon Deacons, a team they have beaten five consecutive times and seven out of the past eight matchups in the series.
Earlier this week, FSU offensive lineman Cole Minshew said the Seminoles hope to “win by a lot” to “show everyone we’re not some scrub team.”
The slow start has also altered the perspective of the Wake Forest game for James, who admitted he took a bad angle in open space against Meyers during a play that could have made a difference last week.
“Going into the season, we didn’t think it was going to be like this,” James said of FSU’s first 0-2 start since 1989. “I feel like this is an important game and a key game we need to win.”
Added Minshew: “I feel like we need to bounce back. We need to show the world what we can really do.”
Florida State’s difficulty in the red zone (only two touchdowns in eight trips), its inability to get the running game going in averaging one of the lowest outputs nationally (72 yards per game), and a talented defense that seemed to regress after its stellar performance in the Alabama opener are among several reasons the Seminoles have struggled.
The Seminoles are also incorporating a true freshman quarterback into the offense as James Blackman, who completed 22 of 38 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown in his debut as a starter last week, will make his first start on the road.
Fisher said the Seminoles have used crowd noise in practice this week to help Blackman with his silent counts at the line of scrimmage.
As for any advice Fisher had for his rookie quarterback, Fisher just told him to be ready for some “mean things” he might hear from the stands but approach the contest as if it were a home game in Doak Campbell Stadium.
“Even when I played, I never understood that I really didn’t,” Fisher said of the difference between playing at home or away. “I always liked playing on the road as much as I liked playing at home.”
While the Seminoles are hungry for their first victory,
NO. 21 UF VS. VANDERBILT, NOON Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ESPN 81 degrees, 20 percent rain chance orlandosentinel.com/gators; @osgators on Twitter. Wake Forest surely is not taking Florida State lightly.
Wake coach Dave Clawson praised FSU’s program earlier this week and said he has no doubt Fisher’s team can regroup. He just hopes it happens after the Seminoles face his Demon Deacons.
“You know how good they are and how good they will be. When this season’s over, this Florida State team, they’re going to win a lot of games,” Clawson said. “They’re really good, really talented.
“I don’t look at their record. I know who they’ve played, and I know what they’re capable of. Again, this is a premier program. When this year’s done, they’re still going to be right there.”
UF coach Jim McElwain is 9-1 during one-possession games at UF, including two wins against Vanderbilt. The Commodores will face their third consecutive ranked foe. The Gators are favored by nine points.
The Gators have pulled out a pair of last-minute wins and will seek a quick start and sustained effort. McElwain will look to establish the run game against Vanderbilt, which allowed 496 rushing yards during a 59-0 loss to Alabama. If UF can, it would loosen up the the Commodores’ SEC-leading pass defense for new starter Luke Del Rio.
Vanderbilt averages just 21 points, last in the SEC. QB Kyle Shurmur will look to exploit UF’s young secondary. He has completed 63.1 percent of his throws, with eight touchdowns and just one interception. UF’s pass defense ranks 10th in the SEC after finishing second in the nation to Michigan in 2016.
1. Struggling attacks. The Gators are 13th and the Commodores 14th in the 14-team SEC in total offense.
2. Vanderbilt tailback Ralph Webb. The Gainesville native has rushed for 311 yards in three meetings with UF. But he has just 169 yards on 64 carries in 2017.
3. UF punt coverage. Johnny Townsend leads the nation with a 50.8-yard punting average, but the Gators are third from last in punting yards allowed.