With top 35 defenses ahead, will FSU’s offense continue to be explosive?
While FSU has put up some big numbers, it comes with an asterisk: The Seminoles have faced just one scoring defense (Clemson) that is ranked among the top 35 in the FBS. Syracuse, which uses an aggressive, blitzing 3-3-5 defensive alignment to rack up tackles for loss.
TALLAHASSEE — Through struggles in the run game, injuries at receiver, four starting lineups along the offensive line and hits delivered on quarterback Jordan Travis, Florida State’s offense has still found ways to build long drives and is scoring 42.4 points per game (sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision).
The No. 4 Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC) have retained veterans and hit the transfer portal to fill in gaps, assembling a talented roster on offense. And they’ve achieved consistency by scoring 30 or more points in 11 straight games.
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While FSU has put up some big numbers, it comes with an asterisk: The Seminoles have faced just one scoring defense (Clemson) that is ranked among the top 35 in the FBS. While there was a feeling a combination of LSU and Clemson in September would challenge the Seminoles out of the gate, FSU will begin to face far more tougher defenses.
That begins Saturday as FSU plays host to Syracuse, which uses an aggressive, blitzing 3-3-5 defensive alignment to rack up tackles for loss. The Orange are allowing just 19 points per game, although their talent disadvantage and scheme have been exploited in a loss to Clemson (31-14) and at North Carolina (40-7). Syracuse’s 3-3-5 defense is directed by coordinator Rocky Long, who is credited with developing the scheme decades ago.
“Rocky is the inventor of this defense,” FSU offensive coordinator Alex Atkins said. “He knows how there’s nothing you really can show him that he hadn’t seen or had an answer for.”
While lacking in 4-star talent, Syracuse has plenty of veterans on defense who have taken to Long’s scheme. Linebacker Marlowe Wax leads the team with 45 tackles, has forced three fumbles and has an interception. Syracuse has 12 takeaways, including four in a win over Purdue.
“You’re not going to see a team that brings more variations of pressures,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “They can blitz everybody on the field at some point.”
Beginning with Syracuse, FSU will face five schools with top-45 defenses in the next seven games. Not counting a late November game vs. FCS program North Alabama, FSU also will see No. 4 Duke (11.2 points), at No. 45 Wake Forest (21.6), at No. 72 Pittsburgh (26.0), No. 12 Miami (14.6) and finish at No. 18 Florida (16.8). For all of the questions about the strength of various ACC teams, it’s easy to see the Seminoles will be facing some tougher defensive competition down the stretch.
FSU is a win from reaching 6-0 at the midpoint. To be in the running for the ACC championship, and a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Seminoles will likely need to keep the 30-point streak going through November. But if they can do it against this many of the nation’s top 35 defenses? That would be impressive.
Coaches: Mike Norvell, 4th season at FSU, 23-16 (61-31 overall); Dino Babers, 8th season at Syracuse, 40-51 (77-67 overall).
Quick slant: FSU leads the series with Syracuse 13-2, including 7-0 in Tallahassee. … The last Syracuse win came in 2018. … Trey Benson was named the Doak Walker running back of the week for his 200-yard effort in the win over Virginia Tech … This is the first time Syracuse has played in Tallahassee since October 2021, when Ryan Fitzgerald’s field-goal attempt as time expired gave the Seminoles a 33-30 win as FSU avoided an 0-5 start. Since that win over the Orange, the Seminoles are 20-6 while Syracuse is 13-15.
About No. 4 FSU (5-0, 3-0 ACC): Star wide receiver Johnny Wilson left the Va. Tech game last week with an undisclosed injury and is questionable. … The Seminoles’ defense has only given up one touchdown in the second half of the last two games. … Darius Washington is a fixture on the OL, but the only question is where. He filled in at left tackle last week, his 30th career start (he’s also started at right tackle and center).
About Syracuse (4-2, 0-2 ACC): The Orange offense revolves around the run now even more after star tight end Oronde Gadsden Jr. (foot) was lost for the season due to injury. … Syracuse is 47th in rush offense at 174 yards per game. … QB Garrett Shrader is a threat to pass but at 6-foot-4 is a tough runner. He has 29 career rushing touchdowns, which is tied for eighth in the ACC for rushing TDs by a quarterback.
3 things to watch
Avoid mobile QB short-yardage conversions: The Seminoles are in the middle of a three-game stretch where they will be facing taller, thicker and mobile quarterbacks. First up was Tech’s Kyron Drones (6-2, 222 pounds), followed by Shrader and then (potentially) 6-4, 212-pound Riley Leonard of Duke (he has an ankle sprain from the Notre Dame game). The type of physicality these three offer could make third downs and possibly short fourth-down conversions miserable for FSU. The Seminoles have been hit-and-miss on third downs this year, in part due to their own fault (alignment or missed tackles, among them) but often because they are facing mobile quarterbacks — and those guys are just tough to stop with any consistency in modern college football. But as long as FSU is facing bigger bodies at QB, limiting the big runs as well as stopping the tempo with first-down conversions will be the No. 1 key.
Broaden the passing game: Ja’Khi Douglas and Kentron Poitier didn’t catch passes last week against the Hokies. But Poitier was praised by Norvell for his blocking, while Douglas adjusted well to an underthrown ball but dropped it. There’s been a respectable amount of criticism about the variety of passes and pass-catchers in the FSU offense but getting these two back from injury (as well as involving Darion Williamson more) will help FSU open up the playbook. It’s worth mentioning that 10 Seminoles were targeted against Virginia Tech. The Seminoles need to continue to mix in various options, from receivers to tight ends to tailbacks.
Clean up the penalties: Florida State was flagged 12 times for 99 yards (both season highs) against Va. Tech. A number of them were of the pre-snap variety, mental mistakes that need to be corrected. While a number of FSU fans took to social media to air grievances about the calls, and Norvell fielded multiple questions from the media bout it, the Seminoles can play cleaner football.
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium
When: noon ET
TV: ABC; Radio: 660 AM in Orlando; SiriusXM Ch. 136 or 193
Weather: 79 degrees, 10% rain chance
Favorite: FSU 17.5 points