Situational football is killing Florida State

FSU is a significantly better football staff than they had been final 12 months. That’s a tricky tablet to swallow after three straight losses however I don’t care. The stats, details, and movie says that this is a significantly better football staff than the 2021 Seminoles.

Where FSU is missing is within the “situational football” division. Situational football is precisely the way it sounds. Football performs in key conditions that you just rep over and over as a result of these are the largest, game-defining moments of the sport. 4th and purpose down 7, 4th and a couple of in your opponents’ 31 yard line. Not giving up 10 yards on 2nd and 12 close to the crimson zone and final however not actually not the least the all-important “middle eight” often known as the final 4 minutes of the primary half and the primary 4 minutes of the second half of football.

It’s often the time interval when good groups which are enjoying catch-up shut the hole or when good groups which have a lead widen the hole and step on the necks of their lesser opponents. Clemson’s actually good at it and thus far FSU in 2022 has been horrible at it. The final time Florida State outplayed a staff within the center eight was in opposition to Boston College. Wake Forest beat them in it and Clemson embarrassed them in it. 17 factors in two minutes of sport time for Clemson blew the sport extensive open and all of it occurred within the center eight.

That’s how shut video games change into blowouts and missed alternatives.

FSU has suffered some key accidents within the trenches and the secondary however accidents aren’t why you’re not taking the examine down on 4th and a couple of once you’ve obtained Clemson on the ropes. Injuries additionally aren’t why you’re dropping TDs up 17-3 in opposition to NC State. Injuries aren’t why you don’t set the sting on 2nd and 16 on a toss play that ought to result in third and 12 finally ends up at third and 1. Situational football is ensuring you get factors once you’re up 7-0 over Clemson and also you’ve obtained 1st and 10 on the 50.

This bye week is an opportunity for FSU to do two actually vital issues.

1. Get more healthy. FSU hasn’t shut down Fabien Lovett for the season so I’ve to imagine that he’s near returning.
2. Really emphasize situational football. There are too many conditions the place FSU gamers each offensively and defensively want to make the massive play as a substitute of proper the play.
3. Trust your teammates to do their job. Too many gamers peaking within the backfield as a substitute of setting the sting or enjoying excessive the best way they’re presupposed to.

A very robust begin to the season has been dampened by the hardest a part of the schedule and its pure to really feel badly about that however the reality is FSU isn’t that far off from the place they need to be. The frustrations that boiled over the Clemson sport are actually concerning the frustrations precipitated from the missed alternatives vs. Wake Forest and NC State.

Take a web page from Usher and get a deal with on these Situations and the ‘Noles might be superb on the again half of the schedule.