Seminoles Must Disrupt SMU Passing Attack For Victory
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The
Florida State Seminoles are 1-0 to start the season for the second consecutive
season.
If they want to be 2-0, they must defeat the offensively talented and No.
19 SMU Mustangs. To do that, history must not repeat itself. Will the 2024
version of Florida State please stand down?
In late
September of that 2024 season, the Seminoles traveled to Dallas to take on the
Mustangs, where they proceeded to chop themselves in the foot with their own
tomahawk. They committed 10 penalties for 79 yards and turned the ball over
three times, courtesy of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and his three interceptions.
Florida
State hung in there in the first half, with the score being just 14-9 at
halftime. However, SMU scored 28 points in the second half.
Despite
three sacks and six tackles for loss, the Seminoles defense still could not
stop SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. Jennings completed 16-of-23 passes for 254
yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. In addition, he completed long
pass plays of 39, 42, 33, and 19 yards in a 42-16 victory by the Mustangs. Two
of his three scoring passes came in the second half. Florida State cannot
afford a repeat of that performance.
To earn what
would be a signature win over a ranked opponent and the No. 2 team in the ACC,
the Seminoles defense must be a disruptive force in the SMU passing attack. Also,
this is SMU’s first game of the season, and it is a conference game on the
road. So, this is a pressure situation for the Mustangs.
The
defensive line must get pressure on Jennings to affect his accuracy and timing
of his passes. Florida State’s defensive secondary must be aggressive in their
coverage assignments and communicate better than they did against the New
Mexico State Aggies. The Seminoles cannot afford to give up any kind of cushion
to the SMU receivers. No soft coverage here. Passes defended are completions
denied. That is the key to stopping the vaunted Mustangs offense.
Key
players to watch in this game on defense for the Seminoles include the Desir
twins, Mandrell and Darryl, on the defensive line. The duo had zero sacks and
zero tackles for loss against New Mexico State. Making their presence felt against
SMU is requested, no demanded.
Linebacker
Chris Jones is as advertised. A transfer from Southern Miss, Jones was second
on the team in tackles against the Aggies with six stops. Cornerback Ja’bril Rawls
had five tackles and one pass breakup against New Mexico State. However, he did
get burned on a fake out route that resulted in a New Mexico State touchdown.
Rawls was named to the Bednarik Award watch list to start the season.
As a +3-point
underdog on their home field, coach Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony
White should have the Florida State defense motivated to play inspired football.
They must corral the Mustangs and get into the facemask (and the psyche) of their
offense at every opportunity, lest they be trampled in a stampede of defeat.
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