BYU Highlights........On to USF

USF Game Update

Senior QB Matt Grothe has torn his ACL agianst Charleston Southern last week and is out for the season. He had started 41 straight games and is a very good QB. Best wishes to him.

RS FR B.J.Daniels and true freshman Evan Landi will be required to play QB for USF.

Noles need to work harder this week to ensure that an unknown doesn't come in and guide USF to a win.

Now That Was FSU Football!

The Florida State Seminoles traveled to Provo Utah to face the very good #7 BYU Cougars. What ensued was a beating behind the wood shed as FSU dominated every facet of the game. A FSU victory was predicted on this blog of FSU 31 and BYU 21, but everything I thought would happen just happened better than imagined.

Keys to the Game

FSU had 49 rushing attempts, 33 of those attempts went to RBs.
FSU had 313 yards rushing "BAM" to quote Emeril.
FSU averaged 6.4 yards per carry
FSU converted 80% of its third downs

FSU had 0 turnovers
BYU had 5 turnovers

Special Teams were consistent. We had a missed extra point and a missed field goal but #18 Hopkins never lost his composure and made all the other extra points. He also made two field goals. His biggest impact was continually booting the ball near the back or completely out of the back of the endzone so BYU had no return opportunities at all.

Fundamentally these are the main factor to the reason FSU destroyed BYU.......now on to some game balls and their are many to pass around.

Offense

1st Game Ball goes to the O-Line. They were magnificent. Datko, Hudson, McMahon, Spurlock, and Sanders.

2nd Game Ball goes to Ponder. He was 21 out of 26 for 195 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 11 carries for 77 yards and a TD. His toughness and determination were key to this win.

3rd Game Ball goes to Fortson. He lead FSU in receiving with 6 receptions for 62 yard and a TD. He only dropped one pass and he was interfered with on that play.

4th Game Ball goes to Ty Jones. he had 12 Carries for 108 yards and a TD. He was not going down on the first hit.

Every single player that played an offensive play really deserves a game ball but these were some of the standouts.

Defense

1st Game ball goes to Greg Reid. He had an INT for a TD were a much bigger TE pushed him and he held on and made the play. I think since they both contacted each other and it was within 5 yards the refs let it go and Reid made the play. He is 175 pounds of guts and determination.

2nd Game Ball goes to Dionte Allen. He actually covered their WRs and made tackles. In all actuality the DBs were tremendous this game. FSU was all over their WRs but they were making some great plays.

3rd Game Ball goes to Mister Alexander. He made the sack, if I am not mistaken on the 4th down attempt by BYU which truly sealed the game.

The defense was superb flying to the ball and causing turnovers. Job well done.

I was a little disappointed and some unsportsman-like-conduct penalties late in the game by the Offense but all in all a truly wonderful showing by the NOLES.


To quote Jimbo Fisher...."We have crossed the line and their is no going back."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Catching Some ACC Action

I watched the GT @ Miami game tonight and that game made me feel better about my BYU prediction. FSU was a catch away from beating Miami and now FSU is an after thought. As Lee Corso would say "NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!"

Why did Miami dominate Georgia Tech? The answer is very simple. Jacory Harris is getting all the press right now and rightfully so. He is looking really good, but true winning football is pounding the rock down your opponents throat and stopping the the rock from being pounded down yours.

UM had 39 rushing attempts
UM had 184 yards rushing
UM averaged 4.7 yards per carry
UM converted 61% of its third downs

Folks that is winning football.

Defensively Miami shot through the gaps quickly and did not over run the play. They were causing havoc in the GT Backfield disrupting the timing of the option.

Clemson pretty much stopped the GT Option after getting down by 24 points and Miami dominated them. Has the ACC learned how to deal with the GT Option? Time will tell.

BYU Prediction (SOD Game)

It has been nothing but doomsday for the Seminoles since the loss to Miami. Panic has spread throughout Seminole nation after squeaking out a win against 1-AA Jacksonville State and the Pollsters show no love for the Noles at 1-1.

There was a players only meeting following the JSU win, and from the character I have personally seen, this was more than likely effective. They are holding themselves accountable.

Jimbo recognizes the lack of running game and vows to fix that and he has added, "we are healthier now at the RB position since Jermaine Thomas has rested following a minor injury in the Miami Game."

Coach Trickett is on the OL like poop in a dirty diaper. They cannot talk until they block.

Defense is making adjustments: #10 Nick Moody is now the Rover over Korey Mangum. #5Greg Reid is more involved with the base defense. # 36 Dakota Watson is being used at DE.....He is forth in the Nation in Sacks with 4.5.

BYU against Oklahoma

33 Rushing Attempts
28 Yards Rushing
.8 Yards per carry
47% Third Down conversions
329 passing yards.
OU couldn't get BYU off the field. While BYU's rushing numbers were laughable they had enough attempts to keep the OU Defense honest. FSU must make 3rd down stops and I think that FSU will keep BYU's 3rd down % to around 35 which will be good.

BYU against Tulane (These stats are what FSU should have done with JSU)

45Rushing Attempts
206 Yards Rushing
4.6 Yards per carry
66% Third Down conversions
These won't be the numbers they get on FSU, but this shows they know fundamental winning football.

With the adjustments that FSU has made on Defense coupled with having time to prepare and remember JSU runs the same defense as BYU so FSU will not be shocked.

I expect that Jimbo and Trickett have made the necessary adjustments to improve the rushing game and with Ponder performing like an ALL-ACC Candidate FSU should be fine in this department.

FSU 31 BYU 21

It Aint Rocket Science!

You want to know why we lost to Miami and struggled against JSU a Div 1-AA School......well I will learn ya.

2008 Season Rushing Statistics:

FSU Averaged 37 rushing attempts per game.
FSU averaged 179.1 yards per game.
FSU Averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
FSU's 3rd down conversion percentage was 46.2%


The Miami Game

FSU had 30 rushing attempts.
FSU had 110 yards.
FSU Averaged 3.7 yards per carry.
FSU's 3rd down conversion percentage was 40%


The JSU Game

FSU had 26 rushing attempts.
FSU had 78 yards.
FSU Averaged 3.0 yards per carry.
FSU's 3rd down conversion percentage was 36%

It is always about running the football. It is the most fundamental aspect of winning football. Running the football keeps the clock running. It keeps the other team's offense off the field. With the other teams offense off the field it sure makes your Defense real good.

Class dismissed!

Never Miss a Noles Game Again!

Justin TV is an Internet site that you can watch the Seminoles live even if they are not being broadcasted locally.

http://www.justin.tv/

I have the site on my links part of the blog.