Watching this game reminded me of...

[hotshot]

Exactly. Cam has a lot to learn from this game himself. You could see how frustrated he was on the sidelines. Especially in the first half, but for much of the game, he played right into the defense's hands. Trying to extend plays when they are going all out to stop the pass, but finding nothing open so ultimately having to throw it away or take a sack. He had so many opportunities to run when the 1st or second read wasn't there, he could have had a 100 yd rushing game or by running he could have forced the D to change up their scheme, thus opening the passing game.

Cam is in what, his 5th year of college ball? If he's still needing to "learn" to recognize defenses, he's not the player we and the NFL scouts think he is. I'm sure he's seen everything they were throwing at him on D last nite, many times.

The OL broke down, receivers were blanketed. He could easily have been sacked another 2-3 times.

As for Cam running more, do we really want that? Also think he's got an eye on not ******** up his NFL Draft status. Understandable.

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Great analogy, @DMoney

 

[Stingarov]

my post doesn't deserve it's own thread but if you told me we beat Florida 41-17, FSU 36-14, & USF 50-15 I'd be pretty pleased, absent any other knowledge.

Especially absent having seen 7, 19, 25 on D lol.

 

[grover]

A lot of you all aren’t going to like what I say but I’ve been consistent in my critique early on. The root is Dawson. Ward is hiding a lot of Dawson’s ineffectiveness as a OC with his Heisman like play. Yesterday was a prime example and a missed opportunity for our TE’s to really be utilized. Forward thinking, some of us have already been talking about finding our next Cam in the portal for next year because Dawson has not developed a starting caliber QB here in the three years he’s been here. Recruiting “toolsy projects” vs legit prospects outside of Luke N. I’m enjoying the moment and the season but on the horizon that biggest issue is OC in my opinion.

Except Dawson has only been our OC since Feb 2023. Which means he’s not responsible for the QB recruiting prior to Nickel. I suppose you could argue he should have gone harder for Bailey vs Judd. But you would also need to concede that he’s bringing in Nickel and Coleman.

I am not always happy with Dawson’s play calling. But I do wonder how much of the strange choices are him vs Cam who calls so many audibles it’s hard to know. I have no idea why we didn’t run more to the perimeter or widen our stances for bigger holes or have better check down options to adjust to FSU’s blitzing or utilize the TEs more. But we didn’t and still won comfortably.

Not sure if it was by design or lack thereof, not sure Dawson v Mario v Cam. I am sure none of us on this site know the facts.

 

[genxcane]

Cam is in what, his 5th year of college ball? If he's still needing to "learn" to recognize defenses, he's not the player we and the NFL scouts think he is. I'm sure he's seen everything they were throwing at him on D last nite, many times.

The OL broke down, receivers were blanketed. He could easily have been sacked another 2-3 times.

As for Cam running more, do we really want that? Also think he's got an eye on not ******** up his NFL Draft status. Understandable.

Agreed. It is a pretty strange thought to come away from a controlled 22 point victory with the idea that you want your franchise to put himself in harms way more often.

If he gets hurt on one of those kinds of plays, this board would crucify him for not playing smart.

 

[305407cane]

The fact that a 1-7 fsu team shut down our passing game which is supposed to be elite is extremely concerning. I just don’t see how this team can beat any of the p4 playoff teams. If Cam goes bonkers maybe but our Superman appeared to have met his kryptonite with that fsu gameplan.

Let’s hope we make some adjustments because I thought that Dawson was mediocre last night calling the game

I don’t think anyone is saying we can. But we gotta show up to the dance and throw our hat in the ring. It’s a process. We won’t have cam ever again tho is the issue. Need to keep building because you’re right. We don’t beat any top 4’s without an otherworldly performance. I don’t include ped state in the top 4. I think they can be had

 

[BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati]

Your thoughts on the multiple sacks of Ward?

I think FSU did a good job of overloading small spaces. Example - the sack Cici let up. FSU blitzed the C gap and the end/tackle hit the B gap. Cici had no help and whiffed on both. I also saw Mark Fletcher whiff on a blitz pickup. McCoy got destroyed by Jackson one time. It happens.

All the teams we’ve played up til last night decided to take away the run and make us beat them with the pass. Last night was the opposite.

 

[CaneTheGaytors]

Except Dawson has only been our OC since Feb 2023. Which means he’s not responsible for the QB recruiting prior to Nickel. I suppose you could argue he should have gone harder for Bailey vs Judd. But you would also need to concede that he’s bringing in Nickel and Coleman.

I am not always happy with Dawson’s play calling. But I do wonder how much of the strange choices are him vs Cam who calls so many audibles it’s hard to know. I have no idea why we didn’t run more to the perimeter or widen our stances for bigger holes or have better check down options to adjust to FSU’s blitzing or utilize the TEs more. But we didn’t and still won comfortably.

Not sure if it was by design or lack thereof, not sure Dawson v Mario v Cam. I am sure none of us on this site know the facts.

This is the one game where I thought we should and could have run more. They couldn’t stop our RB’s. They were consistently playing with only 5 and 6 men in the box, so we were gashing them with our running game.

Last week Louisville had 7 and 8 man fronts and we still ran the ball really well against them, while Cam also destroyed them thru the air. This offense is very versatile and opposing defenses will either have to choose a shootout or death by a thousand cuts.

Also, Cam did what he had to do to get us the victory. He wasn’t forcing plays that weren’t there. That’s the mark of a smart and winning QB. That’s part of what made Joe Montana and Tim Brady great, they took what the defense gave them.

The OL will definitely have to work on their pass protection and blitz pickup and recognition this week, since Manolo loves to blitz. If we can shore that part up, we can definitely put a hurting on his defense.

 

[hotshot]

I think FSU did a good job of overloading small spaces. Example - the sack Cici let up. FSU blitzed the C gap and the end/tackle hit the B gap. Cici had no help and whiffed on both. I also saw Mark Fletcher whiff on a blitz pickup. McCoy got destroyed by Jackson one time. It happens.

All the teams we’ve played up til last night decided to take away the run and make us beat them with the pass. Last night was the opposite.

Agree. Their CBs were good too. Wish ours covered that well consistently.

 

[tsimonitis]

Can someone put Mario’s face in here

 

[BigDikDaddyFromCincinnati]

Agree. Their CBs were good too. Wish ours covered that well consistently.

I hit “post reply” and immediately thought of their corner play after the fact. They did a nice job covering JG and X. I’ll take the four sacks if it means we average 6+ per carry all night.

Plus I’m not the one absorbing the sacks (pause).

 

[MizCane]

You better believe Manny will mimick the blitzing FSU had success with. The question is do they have as good personnel on the back end to do it.
Dawson and the O have a little work to do this week to clean up and prepare for what FSU showed the rest of our schedule how to limit our passing game.

 

[tsimonitis]

Loved the win! Can someone please explain the 2 point conversion try in the 4th quarter? It was meaningless

 

[gabednconfused]

good analogy. Extremely boring, but productive game. Same as a GSP fight

 

[Lazarre]

We beat FSU like how every other team beat FSU. Like it or not.. we did what we were supposed to do.

 

[dk72]

Cam is in what, his 5th year of college ball? If he's still needing to "learn" to recognize defenses, he's not the player we and the NFL scouts think he is. I'm sure he's seen everything they were throwing at him on D last nite, many times.

The OL broke down, receivers were blanketed. He could easily have been sacked another 2-3 times.

As for Cam running more, do we really want that? Also think he's got an eye on not ******** up his NFL Draft status. Understandable.

Its not learning to recognize defenses, its the good and bad of having a QB that is supremely confident that he can do anything no matter what is thrown at him. Mahomes had similar tendencies, but has matured a bit over the years to learn to take what's there. Even then, you'll never completely remove that aspect from someone with that personality and style, nor should you want to. But tempering it to help increase his efficiency is important

 

[hotshot]

I think FSU did a good job of overloading small spaces. Example - the sack Cici let up. FSU blitzed the C gap and the end/tackle hit the B gap. Cici had no help and whiffed on both. I also saw Mark Fletcher whiff on a blitz pickup. McCoy got destroyed by Jackson one time. It happens.

All the teams we’ve played up til last night decided to take away the run and make us beat them with the pass. Last night was the opposite.

Fletcher needs a little more focus on ball security. Second game in a row he's fumbled (luckily, we got this last one back).

 

[Stats02]

This was a frustrating game to watch at times, especially after watching how the first series played out by both our offense and defense. However, after waking up this morning, I feel pretty good about the win.

Yes, we still have issues on defense and the dumb *** penalties need to stop. FSU made a few plays here and there, but nothing came easy for them on offense. I realize their qb's are awful.

Not to bash on Kiko too much, but he was responsible for at least 3 of their longer plays. The first scramble by Kromenhoek on 3rd and 10, he broke Kikos's ankles. Th fluke 42 yard run on 4th and 1, Kiko looked like he had him for a second, but his effort was terrible. Bissanthe also guilty. Looked like he didn't realize Kromenhoek had the ball. The 27 yard pass to Williams on FSU's last drive was Kiko's man. He just struggles in pass coverage

 

[dk72]

I think FSU did a good job of overloading small spaces. Example - the sack Cici let up. FSU blitzed the C gap and the end/tackle hit the B gap. Cici had no help and whiffed on both. I also saw Mark Fletcher whiff on a blitz pickup. McCoy got destroyed by Jackson one time. It happens.

All the teams we’ve played up til last night decided to take away the run and make us beat them with the pass. Last night was the opposite.

Exactly...and the fact that we have the ability to dominate on offense in any way...passing heavy, rushing heavy, or balanced is something to be very happy about.

 

[dk72]

This was a frustrating game to watch at times, especially after watching how the first series played out by both our offense and defense. However, after waking up this morning, I feel pretty good about the win.

Yes, we still have issues on defense and the dumb *** penalties need to stop. FSU made a few plays here and there, but nothing came easy for them on offense. I realize their qb's are awful.

Not to bash on Kiko too much, but he was responsible for at least 3 of their longer plays. The first scramble by Kromenhoek on 3rd and 10, he broke Kikos's ankles. Th fluke 42 yard run on 4th and 1, Kiko looked like he had him for a second, but his effort was terrible. Bissanthe also guilty. Looked like he didn't realize Kromenhoek had the ball. The 27 yard pass to Williams on FSU's last drive was Kiko's man. He just struggles in pass coverage

Oddly, Kiko actually looked good in coverage a number of times, while poor against the run