Fisher highlights run game
FSU wants offense to shine against UNC
TALLAHASSEE — The play call is one Jimbo Fisher says he grew up on and remembers watching former Florida State fullback Dayne Williams use to score 14 of his 15 touchdowns in 1987.
Fisher turned back the clock to call one of his favorite plays, a fullback dive called 34-Wham, allowing his offense to pound the football in for two touchdowns by senior Freddie Stevenson during FSU’s 55-35 win over USF last week.
The play comes in FSU’s short yardage, wedge package sets. It starts with quarterback Deondre Francois being lined up parallel with members of FSU’s offensive line while center Alec Eberle is the lone lineman on top of the football at the line of scrimmage. Two tight ends are in the game to seal off the edges, with defensive tackle Fred Jones in at H-back to steer away any remaining defenders so Stevenson can power himself into the end zone.
“That was a big play for Florida State for years and years and years and it went away,” Fisher said Tuesday. “It’s amazing when things are good and sound, they’ll last forever.”
Florida State pounded USF Staff Writer
with 63 rushes for 478 yards, and with running backs Dalvin Cook and Jacques Patrick getting most of those carries, the timely play call worked to perfection twice thanks to superior blocking across the board.
Fisher’s dedication to the run game was a refreshing sight for the Florida State offense last week. Unlike the first three games of the season during which Fisher’s play-calling was catered to getting his redshirt freshman quarterback comfortable and deceiving defenses focusing on Cook, Fisher needed his players to regain their mojo.
“It’s awesome to know that at any moment, we can run the ball or pick it up and pass it,” Eberle said. “It gives us a good confidence boost and it gives the O-line a confidence boost after all the turmoil and adversity we’ve been through.”
North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said FSU’s Cook, Francois, Patrick and Stevenson form one of the most dynamic rushing attacks his team will face this year. The Seminoles, who were a yard shy of tying a single-game rushing record against USF, hope to impose their will on the Tar Heels during Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. matchup at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Fisher admits 48 carries between two running backs is exceptionally high. Add 15 more designed runs for Francois and Stevenson, and the Seminoles have the tools to control time of possession, keeping opposing offenses off the field and their shaky defense sharp.
“We came out as a team and executed our game plan,” Patrick said. “We’ve been doing that and hopefully we can continue momentum to UNC.”
Fisher will be the first to point out each game has its respective flow catered for certain plays, so whether he aims at pounding the football more often remains to be seen. But with his offense collectively regaining its confidence and rhythm, Fisher could open the playbook once again.
Francois scored on a 35-yard designed run and received praise from Fisher and his teammates for doing a better job of leading the offense. On Cook’s opening 75-yard run, Francois changed the play at the line of scrimmage, setting up FSU’s first big chunk play of the season.
“We know what we are capable of as an offense,” Cook said. “The numbers that we put up when we’re clicking just shows what we can do.”
“We know what we are capable of as an offense. The numbers that we put up when we’re clicking just shows what we can do.” FSU tailback Dalvin Cook