FSU Football: 5 Key Observations Over Last Three Games

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:42 p.m. ET

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Nov 5, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher watches his team during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

FSU football is playing its best football of the season in the past three games. We look at five key observations over the last three games.

The FSU football season has certainly not gone how the majority of FSU fans expected given expectations at the beginning of the season.

The ‘Noles can’t win the ACC and will not make the CFB Four Team Playoff, but it’s performing like one of the better teams in the country as of late.

They stand at 7-3, having secured a record 35th consecutive bowl appearance and 40th consecutive winning season.

A lot of people have written off Jimbo Fisher for a number of reasons, but this season could be his best coaching job to date given the early expectations and failures of this team.

We take a look at five key observations from the last three games.

Oct 31, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) celebrates a tackle for a loss against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Passion

The last second 54 yard field goal loss against UNC earlier this season may have been the best thing that could have happen to this FSU defense.

Since that game, they’ve played similarly to what FSU fans came to expect in the preseason, even though they are still without one of its best players in Derwin James.

One of the biggest changes? Defensive passion.

There were lots of video evidence of key FSU players not giving a lot of effort on plays. We’re not talking about schemes or being out of position.

We’re talking about the No. 1 thing they can control when they go out there on the field. We began to see that defensive passion in the very next game post-UNC when the ‘Noles took on Miami.

That passion has no carried over into every game since then with the FSU defense playing markedly better as a unit that’s now the No. 31 ranked defense according to S&P + metrics.

Nov 5, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

FSU Run Game

FSU football has been able to run the ball effectively all year, but several of the earlier defenses the team faced were not very good.

That hasn’t been the case over the past three games as FSU has faced some of the best run defenses in the country.

Over the last three games they have faced Clemson (No. 32), NC State (No. 8), and Boston College (No. 4). In parenthesis is the national ranking for defensive play against the run on standard downs.

FSU ran for 163 yards against Clemson, 165 yards against NC State and 180 yards against Boston College.

The FSU offensive line has caught hell all season (rightfully so) for its pass blocking issues, but we must commend them when it comes to run blocking. However, it doesn’t hurt to have the best running back in college football on your team either.

FSU does face one more team that’s stout against the run, that’s Florida who comes in at No. 12. If the history of this season tells us anything, FSU should be able to run against them as well.

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Auden Tate (18) scores a touchdown against the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Receiving Threats Emerging

All FSU football fans knew who Travis Rudolph was prior to the season beginning. However, there were a couple of wide receivers who we hoped would emerge this season to compliment him.

Senior wide receivers Jesus “Bobo” Wilson and Kermit Whitfield were returning, and along with Rudolph accounted for the majority of the passing offense in 2015.

Both Wilson and Whitfield are quick and shifty but lack the size to make big plays down the field.

Enter Auden Tate and Nyqwan Murray.

Tate has been a factor at times here and there throughout the season, but it’s Murray who emerged when Wilson went down with a season ending injury.

The FSU offense now has shown they have two receivers along with Rudolph that can stretch the field. That’s another reason why the running game has been good against very good run defenses.

Rudolph, Murray and Tate have all had huge games over the past three or four games.

Kermit Whitfield had a good game against Clemson as well, so he’s still capable of being a factor as well.

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) fumbles the ball after being hit by Florida State Seminoles defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) in the third quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Collective Defense

We’ve written about this FSU defense more than any other unit on the team this season. Largely because it was expected to be among the best in the country.

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It turned out to be arguably the worst in FSU history through the first five games.

However, the defense has gotten progressively better as the season has gone. DeMarcus Walker is having another great season at defensive end.

Some young players are contributing like Dontavious Jackson at linebacker and Brian Burns at defensive end.

Derrick Nnadi is creating havoc in the interior and Ermon Lane has stepped in at safety to play admirably considering he just started playing there a few weeks ago.

The FSU defense is now No. 31 in the country according to S&P + metrics. It was No. 76 just a few weeks ago.

Now, some of that is attributed to playing lesser offenses than earlier in the season. However, this defense is dominating teams it should be dominating, so that should count for something as well.

They just held a terrible Boston College offense to three yards per play, which is a full yard and a half under their season average.

Oct 15, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Deondre Francois

Finally, the passing game seems to compliment the FSU running game. It’s probably due to a variety of factors:

Deondre Francois is one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, and among the best freshmen quarterbacks in the country. Francois still holds onto the ball too long at times, but his decision-making process has been good all things considered.

He hasn’t turned the ball over much at all considering the immense pressure he faces due to terrible offensive line play. He is beginning to show that he can consistently become a factor with his legs and the run game as well.

That was evident when Jimbo Fisher used him several times on quarterback designed runs against a stout Boston College front.

He’s shown that he’s mentally and physically as tough as they come.

If he can become a bit more accurate with his passes, there’s no limit to what this young quarterback can do.

Oct 29, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher speaks with the referees during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion

The progress of the FSU football program this season has to be seen in a positive light. It would have been extremely easy for this team to pack it in after losing to Louisville and UNC so early in the year.

It’s a testament to the leadership on this team and the coaching staff for finding new ways to engage them and make progress.

FSU will take on lowly Syracuse on Saturday who will likely be without its starting quarterback Eric Dungey. It’s a game FSU should easily win in preparation for their showdown with rival Florida.

It’ll be another opportunity to win the State of Florida championship (beating Miami and Florida), and make a decent bowl with the opportunity to win 10 games for the fifth consecutive season.