Louisville

Groundhog Day in Doak Campbell. I say Groundhog Day in Doak Campbell. Another game, another close loss, and another contest that came down to the very last before the home crowd is left to wander weak kneed back to the solace of your postgame tailgate. At least this one did not come down the very final play of the game, as we threw the game deciding pick with 30 seconds remaining. So, much like the opener where we completely lost hope earlier in the contest.  Then we held our breath in disbelief as the Noles refused to fold and somehow found their way back into the game before dashing our desires.

As fans, this season is obviously like no other in our lifetimes. If you can recall 1974, well I am sorry for all the reasons. One, you witnessed an oh for eight start, and two you were part of the lowest moment in FSU football history. We see you President Ford-era Noles, and we are coming for ya. Fortunately, like Paul Revere and the little known William Dawes screamed two centuries before - The Minutemen are Coming! We play the woeful UMass squad in game 7 to hopefully make that eight game ignominious record last forever. 

How about what seems like a schizophrenic effort from our defense. The best half we have played in 8 years was preceded by one of the worst. The Cardinals scored every time they touched the ball in the first 30 minutes. Every...time. In the second stanza, Louisville had one first down, and scored as often as I did in high school. Why you ask? Well, I was really skinny and not as self confident...oh you want to know about FSU. Well, you got a hint from the HC when he said in the postgame press conference that they made some "tweaks to our 3rd down approach". Good call Coach. When you are eating 75 Snickers a day and wonder why you are gaining weight, you may want to ummm, cut down on the Snickers.  Well, the Ville was 9 for 11 on third down in the first half and almost all of them were more than 8 yards where they completed a pass for just over what they needed. In the first half, our crack DC decided to play a maddeningly soft man coverage giving away 8-10 yards on every snap and giving his corners no shot at stopping a short route or a crosser, and they simply took the low hanging biscuits over and over. Our safeties were farther off the ball than the last play at Jax State. Even though we forced third and long on almost every series, the kids were given no shot to succeed. In the second half, we moved Brownlee right up in press man and finally inserted Jay (again why?) at a 5 yard depth. We brought Gant and Robinson in touch with the line and stuffed them in gaps forcing quick throws about every other down.  Bottom line is we stopped playing safe and let the kids play loose and aggressive. Good choice. And a job-saving one.

On offense, it was probably the best game plan we had shown this season that was offset by just a dearth of talent to work with. Starting with the lineman, and our best fat guy has been out for 3 and a half games and did not return this week. This is why we have not had any success running on short downs as the A gap has been closed for business since the first game. Robert Scott came back this week, but was largely ineffective so we became a slanted team running almost exclusively to one side and hoping misdirection and backfield eye candy made their linebackers take some false steps. Well, it worked better than it should have freeing up Corbin for another great game. But in today's football, you are only as good as your quarterback - and ours is simply not good enough. 

We knew that we did not get the 2018 Milton. The problem is that he does not know it and trying not to be cruel to an amazing kid and comeback story, his desire to be that version of himself is not helping this team. He used to be able to avoid any rush, dart around in the backfield until someone was open...or he would take off and easily breeze to a first down with his speed. None of that elusiveness or speed is still with McKenzie. And the 6 first half "sacks" which were mainly him bailing a nonexistent rush too soon and tripping over a yardline, shoestring or just heavy air. His arm strength - which works with wide open guys, is a problem with receivers that are struggling to win one on ones and a coordinator that insists on hash out throws. 

If Jordan is unable to go in the next few weeks, we simply have to find out what we have in Chubba Purdy. How pitifully bad must he be in practice to not get any time with this QB situation. Goodness gracious. I think it is utterly obvious that the only X factor we have on this offense is our running back room. Corbin and Ward need to touch the ball 30 times with half coming through the air for us to compete. That kind of offense should be ok for a young QB with some running ability to keep backers honest. C'mon guys, let's turn the page.

There were two massive game changing plays. One was the ridiculous 15 yard roughing penalty that continued a drive and gave them early points and momentum; and the other was one of two redonk boneheaded plays by Helton on punt returns. The first was when he set up camp 35 yards from the line and then watching a punt roar over his head and bounce on a trampoline for a 74 yard gain. That idiocy flipped the field and strangled the defensive momentum that was building. Then with the game on the line, he sprinted backwards again and fair caught a bullet at the 6 that had no chance of not being a touchback. Combine that with the 3 silly kickoff returns that were stopped inside the 20, a missed extra point and FG, and we can continue to wonder how shortbus this special teams is.

This team showed - again - in the second half that they believe in this staff and each other. Maybe the second half is the kickstart that they need. You get the feeling that when this battleship turns, it will stay in the right direction. C'mon Noles, these eight hour drives make me wish for away games.. Papa needs a win.