The Florida State Seminoles looked unprepared in a less than stellar win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday.
Last year's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston struggled.
Appearing uneasy in the pocket, Winston threw two interceptions, forced throws to covered receivers, and opted to run away from pressure frequently instead of going through his progressions and finding receivers.
The highly touted offensive line didn't play up to their potential, and the defensive line and linebackers had trouble stopping the OSU running game.
"We're still a work in progress and have a lot of things we need to work on," Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We have to improve on offense, on defense, and on special teams."
Fisher and his players cited a bad week of practice leading up to the game.
"I saw little chunks of 3 to 4 plays where we were inconsistent, that can't happen," Fisher said. "You don't practice until you do it right, practice until you can't do it wrong."
FSU was a 19-point favorite going into the Advocare Cowboy Classic, but the Cowboys proved to be a far superior opponent than anticipated, keeping the game close throughout.
It was a 43-second stretch late in the fourth quarter where FSU team leaders P.J. Williams, Jameis Winston, and Rashad Greene made game-changing plays to secure a 'Noles victory.
"I thought we made critical plays at critical times in the game," Fisher said.
FSU cornerback P.J. Williams tackled Oklahoma State QB J.W. Walsh, sending him head over heels and causing the football to come loose.
Reacting quickly, Williams (last year's national championship defensive MVP) recovered the fumble and quelled any Cowboy chances of taking the lead.
Two plays later Winston hit No. 1 receiver Greene on a slant across the middle. He proceeded to split two defenders and out run another on his way into the endzone with a game-clinching 50-yard touchdown.
"Rashad's a game-changer," Winston said of his senior receiver. "That's something our team needed, it was a good touchdown, he made a great play and took it to the house."
Florida State did not play their best game. Without the Williams' timely fumble-forcing tackle and recovery, and the subsequent Winston to Greene touchdown, the 'Noles could have been upset in their season opener.
Fisher and his coaching staff will look at film and try to have a better week of practice leading into this week's game versus The Citadel.
"If the process is right, the results will come," Fisher said.
