Matchup: Florida State’s Rushing Defense vs. SMU’s Running Backs
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Last season, the New Mexico State Aggies ranked No. 136 (last in the FBS) in rushing offense, averaging just 77.25 yards per game on the ground. They gained 927 rushing yards and averaged 2.60 yards per carry.
In their Week Zero game against Florida State on Saturday night, it was more of the same. The first level of the Seminoles' defense was like a stone wall. They held the Aggies' rushing attack to net 47 yards rushing, with an average of just two yards per carry. Their leading rusher, James Jones, gained just 28 yards. The longest run of the night for New Mexico State was for 12 yards.
By contrast, the Seminoles gained 217 yards on the ground and scored three rushing touchdowns, with a long run of 52 yards by Ousmane Kromah.
On Labor Day, the SMU Mustangs (0-0) travel to Tallahassee, Florida to battle Florida State (1-0) in the conference opener for both teams. With their returning starters and key contributors, the Mustangs are considered the second-best team in the ACC, behind only Miami. The Florida State defense has a four-quarter head start in live game action. SMU's first game is a conference matchup on the road. Something has got to give.
Last season, SMU ranked No. 95 in rushing offense, as they averaged 133 yards per game. As a team, the Mustangs scored 25 rushing touchdowns and 1,740 yards on the ground. SMU posted nine games in which they scored two or more rushing touchdowns in a game.
To help improve their rushing attack, coach Rhett Lashlee landed talented running back Kendrick Raphael (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) from the transfer portal. A former Cal Bear, Raphael rushed for 943 yards and scored 13 touchdowns (3rd in the ACC) last season.
The SMU offense will live and die by the pass, but Raphael gives the Mustangs an option to keep their offense balanced, mixing up the run and the pass to keep the Seminoles' defense off-balance.
Half of Florida State’s total tackles against New Mexico State were made at the second and third levels of the defense. Rover Ashlynd Barker, linebacker Chris Jones, and cornerback Ja’bril Rawls were the top tacklers for the Seminoles, combining for 19 of their 55 stops.
The Desir twins, Mandrell and Darryll recorded just five tackles between them, with no sacks and no tackles for loss from their defensive line positions. Defensive linemen Rylan Kennedy, Kevin Wynn and Jalen Anderson also combined for just five tackles, and Kennedy and Anderson recorded one sack each.
The Seminoles' defensive line must get better penetration at the point of attack and force more negative yardage plays. Being a disruptive force in defending the run, and putting pressure on SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, will be the key to stopping SMU’s offense and coming away with a victory on Labor Day.
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