Uncorrected Week Zero Issues Doom Seminoles vs. SMU
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A prime-time
matchup on ESPN, between Florida State and SMU on Monday, suffered a delayed
kickoff due to a power outage that shut down the stadium lights at Doak
Campbell Stadium.
After a 1 hour, 45-minute delay to sort out the electrical
issues, enough lights came back on to the joy of fans who remained in the stands.
The two
teams retook the field, more than ready and anxious for battle. However, once toe
met leather, it was lights’ out of a different sort for the Seminoles.
First
Half
After forcing
an SMU turnover, a three and out on their first offensive possession for
Florida State was a bad omen.
The demons
of miscommunication in the pass defense of the Seminoles manifested themselves
on just the second offensive possession of SMU, with a 50-yard strike by
quarterback Kevin Jennings to a wide-open Jalen Cooper for an early 7-0 lead.
Florida
State answered with a touchdown drive of their own, capped off with a scoring
run by quarterback Ashton Daniels to tie the game at 7-7.
After a
missed field goal by SMU, the Seminoles gave the ball right back on fourth down
with a toss sweep that was gobbled up for a loss by the gang-tackling SMU
defense in Florida State territory.
SMU scored
on their next two possessions to take a 17-10 lead at halftime.
Takeaways
Florida
State did not correct any of the issues from week zero against New Mexico
State, especially in their pass defense. Jennings shredded the Seminoles’ defensive backs for 224 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 74 percent of his
passes (12-of-19). SMU gained 328 yards of total offense on the Florida State
defense, and is 5-of-8 on third down conversions in the first 30 minutes. SMU
is as advertised.
Coach Mike
Norvell was not creative in his play-calling, and Daniels was terrible throwing
the football: 52 passing yards, zero touchdowns through the air. It appears
that some of that growth experienced during the spring and summer has been
stunted. The Seminoles were 0-for-6 on third down conversions.
The
Seminoles gained just 165 total yards, led by the rushing attack of 113 yards.
Running back Ousmane Kromah was the leading rusher in the first half for Florida
State with 69 yards on eight carries (8.6-yard average). Florida State receiver
Duce Robinson had just two targets and one catch for 15 yards, and no
touchdowns.
Florida
State got the ball first to start the third quarter.
Second
Half
Florida State’s
first possession resulted in a punt. On the ensuing drive, Jennings threw an
interception in the end zone. The drive stalled for Florida State, and they lined
up to punt the ball. Daniel Hughes kicked the ball away and SMU fumbled the
punt, and it was recovered by the Seminoles.
On the
drive, Florida State drove down to the red zone of SMU. But a series of running
plays that gained little yardage did not result in a touchdown, and they went for it
on fourth down and two yards to go at the SMU nine-yard line. That brought out
the boo birds from the Florida State faithful. Daniels threw a short pass to
get a first down. On first and goal, Kromah ran the ball in for a score, and
the extra point was good to tie the game at 17-17.
In the fourth
quarter, Florida State could not convert on third down once again and punted
the ball away to the Mustangs. On third down and six yards to go, Jennings,
under heavy duress, completed a pass to receiver Yannick Smith, and Smith broke
free for 79 yards and a touchdown, aided by poor tackling by the Florida State
defensive secondary. The Mustangs increased their lead to 24-17.
Seemingly
abandoning the passing game for most of the game, Daniels connected with
running back Sam Singleton Jr. for 39 yards and a touchdown to tie the game
again at 24-24.
On the
ensuing drive, soft coverage once again by the Florida State pass defense allowed
Jennings to connect on several pass plays to move the chains and put the
Mustangs in scoring position with 2:00 left in the game. Moving the ball and
eating up the clock, they got down to the five-yard line.
On fourth
down, SMU kicked the go-ahead field goal to take a 27-24 lead, and left 0:21
seconds on the clock for Florida State to try and go 75 yards for a score. Four
straight incompletions by Daniels ended the game and handed the Seminoles (1-1)
their first loss of the season. SMU (1-0) escapes Tallahassee with a 3-point
win for their first win of the season.
Takeaways
The
Florida State defensive secondary clearly has issues with coverage assignments
and tackling, giving up big yardage pass plays of 79, 64, and 50 yards that all
went for touchdowns. Ashton Daniels cannot throw the football, and coach Mike
Norvell knows it. The Seminoles ran the ball 45 times and attempted only 23
passes. Daniels was 12-of-23 for 125 yards and a touchdown, and added 71 yards
on the ground and another score. Kromah is a workhorse and rushed for 116 yards
and a touchdown, the second straight week he gained over 100 yards rushing.
The
Florida State defense, while they flushed Jennings out of the pocket, recorded
zero sacks and only four tackles for loss. Jennings picked apart the Seminoles
secondary and finished with a 72 percent completion rate, 430 yards passing
and two touchdowns.
Florida State
has a bye week coming up this weekend as they try to regroup and focus on their
road contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sep. 19.
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