On a holiday week we asked our panel one simple question: If you're Jimbo Fisher, what are you scheming on offense and defense to beat the gators?
Wall St. Nole: Offensively you have to continue putting emphasis on reducing turnovers. The Noles did just that last week against BC. Despite playing in a rain storm, the Noles only had one turnover on a questionable no-call.
Field position will be everything in this game so I would have to think the Noles will not be afraid to stay balanced and maybe even put more emphasis on the run game. They definitely like the one-on-one match ups, especially with O'leary. I also don't think Jameis will be afraid to look for Rashad. We all remember Hargreaves getting absolutely owned last year by KB. Let's see if we can do it again.
On the defensive end the Noles were gashed last week between the 30's against a good power run team. This week they may see a lot of the same looks. Power I with double tights is a massive mismatch against our 3-3-5 and 4-2. There were times last week when we crowded the line with some bigger bodies but overall we are reluctant to change out of our base D. I think the difference this week will be the inability to get nickel and dimed. I don't believe UF has that consistency, and I definitely don't think they can go an entire game without a turnover like BC did. So in short, FSU needs to prep better to limit first down yardage on top of getting more physical at the 2nd level. They need to dare Harris to throw and contain the edge and QB draw, which they have done pretty well with all year.
Teddy Hayduk: Offensively, Jimbo has to let Jameis work. He had a very good game last week against BC despite some drops and wet conditions. I wouldn't alter too much of anything. However, as I have said of Jimbo since the beginning of the '13 season, he tends to get a little pass happy at times with Jameis. I would like to see him run or play-action on first down more often to get ahead of the sticks and keep the offense in 3rd and manageable type situations.
Defensively, I would hope that FSU has learned a lot from three games in particular: FSU vs. Auburn 2013, FSU vs. Clemson 2014, and UGA vs. UF 2014. All of these teams used either a multiple qb system or a dual-threat style qb to keep the opposing defense on its heels. Having an extra threat on the field necessitates that a defense adjust accordingly. They will need to make the correct subs at the correct times. Also, if the FSU defense can set the edges better than UGA, and commit to assignment football when they are the target of a ZR, they will ultimately be ok. UF's Matt Jones will definitely get his yards--that we should expect, but this will be a game of attrition. Limit the bleeding by limiting the dozens of little mistakes. Mentally, they will have to stay focused and play like seniors.
Old School Nole: On offense, it's time to go against tendencies. Mix up the patterns. Let's see screens to Cook and Karlos, and creative ways to use forgotten man FB Freddie Stevenson. Call that shovel pass they won't be expecting. In short, emphasis on getting the ball out of Jameis hands quickly, because you know pressure will be fierce — especially because J.W. is a bit of a lame duck on that ankle. Whatever it takes to score more than 30.
Memo to Charles Kelly: All your guys need to do is keep the reptiles from scoring less than 30 (duh). Contain Treon Harris at least as well as you did last week with Tyler Murphy. Limit Jones and Taylor in the first half, til Matthew Thomas can shore up run D when he gets on the field in the second half. Stay flexible. Don't get sucked into packing the box too often because Harris and Driskell showed last week they can actually hit receivers.
Comments? Questions? Kudos?