Beating Florida State

For the Irish to beat Florida State, the plan on the surface is pretty simple - score more points.  To do that, there are several things that are going to have to happen.  Let’s start by limiting the points that the Seminoles put on the board.  The Florida State offense is like the team as a whole - athletic, talented and fast.  It starts and finishes with their 6’5” redshirt junior quarterback E.J. Manuel.  Manuel has great potential because of his physical abilities, but a shoulder injury to Manuel and injuries to other supportive offensive players around him have hamstringed his abilities.  Florida State also lacks a high level running game; it’s enough to keep most defenses honest but not a huge threat.  Notre Dame’s front seven should and need to control the run and force Manuel to rise up to his potential working with his athletic and speedy receivers (although not overly dominant).  The Seminoles will spread the passing attack to multiple receivers who again are not super stars and are also banged up. Junior Willie Haulstead (a leading receiver for FSU last season) has been out all season due to a concussion and senior Bert Reed is hobbled with a hamstring injury.  The Florida State receiving corps will be made up of a junior, along with couple of freshmen and sophomores.  They may be young but they are explosive and talented (averaging 15.6 yards a catch).

At running back Florida State is in distress.  The Seminoles started the season with Ty Jones who did not play well enough to keep his starting role and Jermaine Thomas who also lost time due to ineffectiveness (not that it matters since Thomas is academically ineligible for the game).  Currently Florida State’s running game is being led by two freshmen, Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr., both decent and with potential but I’d take Cierre Wood any day.  I like the Irish defense winning the battle over the Florida State offense.  In what should be a close game, the Irish defense would help the effort by throwing in a turnover, ensuring good field position and stopping the Florida State offense on crucial third downs.  This might very well make the difference between a Notre Dame win and a loss.  Florida State’s offensive line is banged up and young, opening up the opportunity for sacks and hopefully turnovers.  They are, however, BIG across the board. 

Offensively, the Irish will face a defense that is athletic, talented and fast.  The O-line must not only protect the quarterback (whomever it may be at the time), but must get Cierre Wood a 100-yard rushing game.  The quarterbacks need to rotate based on the situation, not based on injury or poor play of the other.  Florida State gets after it on defense; they are aggressive and can get the ball stopped not only at the line of scrimmage but often behind it.  The Notre Dame offense must limit mistakes, this means fa;se starts, fumbles and interceptions.

Overall, this should be a close game.  Do not expect a repeat of last year where Miami was unmotivated.  The Seminoles, just like the Irish, have pride on the line and an opportunity to salvage a relatively disappointing season.  I see Florida State being able to take advantage of offensive mistakes.  The Irish need to play a solid game - no need for anything new - Wood runs, Eifiert and Floyd catch, D-line stuffs the run and Manti tackles.  This should be a very physical game with a lot of emotion, despite not being  a BCS bowl.  This does, however, have some recruiting implications for the uncommitted and undecided.

I read in an article this week “the first team to 20 points should win.”  That may be right.