Here’s a short rundown of the PFF grades from the FSU-Wake Forest game. PFF does not allow us us post grades for all the players, so we just cover the high and lowlights. But if you have a question about a specific player, just ask and I’ll be happy to provide that info.

Overall Team Grades:

Top Mark: Despite giving up three sacks, Florida State again did fairly well in pass blocking (71.4). The defense tackled well with its best mark of the year at 76.3.

Low Mark: The offense overall had its worst grade of the year (51.6) and second worse over the last two seasons - 46.5 grade last year vs. Pitt. The rushing grade was abysmal at 41.1, which was the worst mark by FSU since PFF began doing grades in 2013. The low grade was greatly impacted by three fumbles. Only one other time did FSU finish with a sub 50 rushing grade -- 2015 Peach Bowl game vs. Houston (47.0).

Odd: Even with a couple breakdowns in the secondary, the coverage grade was actually decent (71.6).

Passing:

With two interceptions and two fumbles, it was rough outing for McKenzie Milton. He had a career-low 45.0 passing grade and just a 28.1 offensive grade (team low).

Jordan Travis actually completed 5-of-6 nd finished with a 71.5 passing grade (61.8 offensive grade).

Rushing:

Jashaun Corbin – 45.7 rush grade. He was docked because of the early fumble.

Treshaun Ward – 70.3 rush grade

Lawrance Toafili – 58.6 rush grade

Receiving:

It was another uninspiring outing for the Seminoles' receiving corps. Tight end Jordan Wilson was the only one that came in with a solid grade at 73.4.

Pokey Wilson (64.3) made a nice return to the lineup leading the receivers with three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Nobody else among the receivers stood out grades-wise all scoring in the 50s except for redshirt freshman Darion Williamson (68.4).

Blocking:

As noted above, pass-blocking was better than expected. Three starters finished with marks above 73 -- Dillan Gibbons (73.1), Baveon Johnson (82.7) and Brady Scott (75.4). It was a down game pass-blocking wise for Devontay Love-Taylor (58.5) and Darius Washington (42.0).

The line surrendered three sacks and gave up eight pressures on 30 quarterback drop-backs.

Run-blocking was slightly improved from the first two games but still well below average. Darius Washington has the best run-blocking grade for a starting OL this season (64.8). However, the rest of the starters really struggled with Brady Scott (45.8) and Gibbons (43.5) finishing with sub-50 marks.

For the first time I can ever remember, not a single penalty was attributed to the offensive line. Just last week the OL was responsible for seven of FSU’s 11 penalties.

Defense:

Derrick McLendon came off the bench to turn in a team-leading defensive score of 73.2. He had 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB pressure on 41 snaps played. Meiko Dotson came in at No. 2 among the defenders with a 72.8 grade. He also had an excellent tackling grade (81.3). Other notables with above average marks: Robert Cooper (72.2), Jammie Robinson (68.4), Jermaine Johnson (68.9) and Fabian Lovett (69.5).

Starters and major contributors that struggled included Stephen Dix (52.0), DJ Lundy (50.6), Sidney Williams (50.0) and Quashon Fuller (45.3).

Players that tackled well: Jamie Robinson (82.6), R. Green (81.8), J. Jones (81.7), M. Dotson (81.3), J. Johnson (80.1).

As noted at the top, coverage was slightly improved this week. Leading the way were J. Robinson (75.6) and M. Dotson (69.2). Robinson was targeted five times and gave up three catches for 40 yards. Jarrian Jones and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. were really picked on by Wake Forest. Jones (55.9) gave up six catches on seven targets for 83 yards. Brownlee (55.0) surrendered three catches on six targets for 71 yards.

offense for this defense to have faced after JSU. WF players snd scheme are just masters at ball possession, generating first downs and sustaining drives. Time of possession = FSU 21 and WF 39 minutes. Go figure!

Let's see if one of the replies below will be delicate enough to make air!

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Travis isn't the guy to get us going!! but rotating qbs to make travis happy so he can get playing time is stupid, if he wants to leave let him leave but no reason to rotate qbs.

In his most recent presser, Norvell said "I've got all the confidence in the world in what we're doing and how we're doing it," . Am I missing something? I have been a Norvell supporter and not one of those that's been screaming about how he should be fired. I realize it's going to take a lot of time to turn this around. But he can't be serious when he says he's confident in what they are doing and how they are doing it. LOOK AT THE RESULTS THUS FAR! The only thing to be confident in right now is the need for changes to be made.

It’s essential that we do not wait until the end of the season to make changes to address our horrid performance on both sides of the ball. Norvell et al needs to quickly convince our recruits and we fans that what we saw against JSU and Wake in no way represents the true character of this FSU football team.

Demoting Fuller and promoting Shannon to DC is the only coaching change that should be done now, unless we need to replace an assistant if we make Fuller a position coach. Hopefully this would spur the defense to play up to their potential and be trusted to get stops.

An offense that trusts its defense is much more effective. It can play without fear of making a mistake. It also plays without the pressure of feeling they need to score on every possession. Playing under that kind of pressure leads to too many errors and turnovers.

For example, in 2013 JW had a terrific season. But in 2014, when CK’s defense couldn’t tackle, Jameis put too much pressure on himself and he threw lots of interceptions, a tendency that followed him to the Bucs. McKenzie uncharacteristically threw interceptions and fumbled on the goal line, as our defense couldn’t stop Wake.

The fact championship football almost always starts with defense is not accidental.

I would like to see Purdy when we get to the goal line or on 4 and 1. I think he runs hard like (dare I say) Tebow. He can get us the yard or two when it is short yardage needed.

Where are you on CMN?

Can someone fill me in on why it seems like Dillingham has so much control over the offense? Did I miss something? I thought the offense was Norvell’s baby and Dillingham was acting in a role similar to Randy Sanders, James Coley while Jimbo was here.

@bailey1848

if you get a chance this week can you check on the ol
think scott and smith injuries may be hurting the team more than most realize .. any chance they are back this week

Can we stop with this narrative? Offense had 6 turnovers. 3 of those came after it was already 35-14, and 1 was at the end of the first half on a Hail Mary. The other 2 were bad, but only the first Milton INT gave them a short field.

Yep, Pro's screw up just like our players do!

KC vs. Ravens or Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson

KC led the whole game except when Lamar took one in to go up by 1 point with a couple of minutes left. No problem as Patrick Mahomes marches the Chiefs down the field for an easy FG and the win. And because there is a little bit of time left KC Head Coach Andy Reid decided to run one up the middle in order to get the ball in the center of the field and burn up some time and run the clock down to a few seconds in order to prevent Lamar from pulling off a miracle after the field goal.

BUT, the KC RB carrying the ball didn't wrap it up with both arms and...........

FUMBLED! Ravens run out the clock and win.

(Pro coaches and Pro players screw up too!). LOL! 🤣 😅 😂

That by going under center on 4th and 1 and using the fullback dive or QB keep vs shotgun snap and handoff 6 yards back might be a better alternative. How can 100% of the fan base understand this but the coaches don’t?

Dillingham, Fuller or the Dow?

No changes to depth chart? No changes to coaching staff? No changes to playcalling responsibilities, no changes to QB rotation, or Staring CBs. Why should we think anything different about this weekend or next? Why should team or recruits think different results? This team lacks fundamentals and plays dumb, coaching decisions are worse. We need something to change, players are playing soft and not gang tackling and watching other players try to make plays. Something has to change.

Norvell, Willie Taggart or any other coach who loses the fan base, by his second season.

AVG FSU Football ticket ~ $55
AVG Attendance (decent year) ~ 65,000
Home games Played = 6
Total Ticket Sales ~~ 21.5 million

Concession, Parking Sales ~ 2-3 million
Merchandise Sales (Direct) ~ 2-3 million

Total Sales (on premise) ~ 25 million

That’s based off 65,000 showing up. We’ve had years of 78,000. You think we average 35,000 next year if we go 2-10 this year? So take that 25 million and roughly cut it in half. That’s 12.5 million off the top.

Not to mention booster donations, licensing and branding deals (sponsorships and advertising), etc. gotta believe that’s another 5-10 million right there.

Now these are ballpark numbers, but they don’t come from thin air, and might even be too conservative. At minimum, you are looking at a 20 million dollar windfall. Norvell makes 3.75 million. Everyone points to us paying Taggart, but his situation is mutually exclusive from Norvell’s. We are on the hook no matter the coach.

Even if you hire a coach who does nothing but bring enthusiasm back to the fan base, my guess is FSU can’t afford to waste a whole season. Should be interesting.

We don’t have the money to fire a head coach. So, we should at least give him a year or two to get the kids he wants and the culture.

Not making excuses, bur how much have they hurt us this season? Seems to me we really miss Robert Scott and Smith.

Should we do in season or wait to change them up?

FSU QBs Milton and Travis have thrown more INTs than TDS through 3 games so far.

Touchdowns- 5

Interceptions- 7

I have seen enough of the 2 QBs system. It either works great or it fails miserably. Guess which category we fall into?? Get Travis healthy and use his running ability to your advantage on goal line plays etc.

What does CMN have to do to be forgiven by the fan base for losing that game in that way? I agree with Aslan. This is unforgivable unless you win a national title in the next 3 years.

I know if he goes and rattles off 4 straight wins then everyone will be a lot happier, but I will still be saying "how did they let that happen against Jacksonville State." SIGH.

A 0 in the W column for the year would be worse. If you asked me after JSU if I believed that would happen, even then I would have said no way. Today. I halfway expect it.

3:30 kickoff next weekend against CUSE.

https://theacc.com/news/2021/9/20/acc-announces-football-game-times-networks-for-october-2.aspx

GO NOLES!!!

There is no way around the fact that this is the worst start for FSU football… possibly ever. Expectations coming into the year were low. We are not even meeting those low expectations. However, when I honestly assess the season so far I come to some non-intuitive conclusions:

(1) Almost all of our despair this season is the result of either self-inflicted wounds or bad coaching decisions. Turnovers and penalties can be eliminated. The coaches can figure it out. The team can get better and be competitive even against good teams if we eliminate things that can be eliminated. Now, maybe this coaching staff or these players just don’t do that. I am still a fan of Norvell overall. I am not a fan of either of our coordinators. But the problems are correctable.

(2) The team still looks better physically and athletically than it has in years. Overall, they compete hard and I don’t get the sense that they have cashed it in. If they come out and compete against Louisville then it will be a sign that this staff can at least motivate them.

Bottom line is this, I don’t like what I see in the end results. 0-3 is not pretty optically. But I still like what I see with this team. I think there is a legitimate chance for improvement from both the coaches and the players. This is a character building year. It is years like this that the freshman will look back on when they are seniors and remember how they overcome adversity and how it catapulted them to success by their senior year. I think Norvell will still be here when that happens. This team has nothing to lose for the rest of the season. That creates some opportunities to really build the team. I hope the coaching staff takes advantage of it.