NC State Game Thoughts

We havent done this too often, but Lake City Seminole came so correct with this diary, that we had to bump it up so everyone HAD TO SEE IT ... Good job my man, well thought out, nice delivery ... I'm not sure if I agree with the "...we're now where we thought it would take 2 more years to get to!" .... I can't put that much pressure on "X" just yet. Next year though, no holds barred. Checkout this mans synopsis on Chuck Amato and how he can give that extra added advantage to the Noles this weekend. Again, excellent piece!!

So, just for the hell of it, I took the afternoon off. Here I sit, in my FSU shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops sitting on the porch with a laptop and a cold beer pondering the game tomorrow.

Some quick things to note:

1. I am not one to say I told you so -- normally. I have said all along that whether Drew or Xavier is the best quarterback is almost irrelevant. Who cares how much better Drew may be if he is one-dimensional and predictable by defenses? I have said all season that at least with X in there, if the play breaks down or pocket collapses, he has the option, and can run the ball to make something out of nothing. It makes defenses prepare and change their schemes. Instead of sending all their guys after the QB, someone will have to stay home in case he scrambles out and breaks free. Apparently, Tom O'Brien, head coach of NC State, feels the same way.

Make defenses work and make them think. On a football field, your worst enemy can sometimes be your own brain. Xavier makes defenses sit up and take notice. Let's hope he has a field day with NC State.

2. Chuck Amato. That's right, the former FSU coordinator-turned-NC State head coach-turned-back-to-FSU Coordinator has a huge advantage knowing many of these guys in a way coaches only wish they all knew their opposition. We're talking Bill Belichick type information. Granted, NC State is 1-4, and lingering around the deepest and lowest points of all offensive categories, but I want every advantage. FSU needs to capitalize on every tool they have and bury the Wolfpack early, and bury them deep. This is critical in the development of Xavier and the confidence of the team. Play a game where you whip someone, have a lot of fun doing it, and get the Noles Swagger back.
3. Defense, defense, defense. The Seminoles defense is exceptionally good looking right now, and playing an NC State team that has had their share of problems with turnovers, averaging almost 4 per game. Bowden knows that, Mickey knows that, and I would look for a lot of blitzing and hurries on Evans, who is starting this game. Evans had a great game against FSU last year, getting 3 TD passes en route to beating us. Look for Amato to provide the information to give the defense any extra edge they may need.
4. The crowd at FSU this weekend will be loud. The team, the fans, and the coaches know what this game means to the program, and to Amato. In a way, there is some resolution here. A little payback, if you will. The Seminole fans can smell it in the air, they can feel that feeling again that has been absent for so long. All of a sudden, with a potent and explosive QB at the helm, a defense worthy of a king's ransom, and a coaching staff that is unmatched, we have realized, "Holy crap...we're now where we thought it would take 2 more years to get to!" We are right there, one or two players away from being the team we knew we had and knew we could be. And I don't mean, we need that one or two -- we have them. It's just a matter of getting that confidence back, that swagger, that gut-feeling that you are going to walk up to the other team on the first play of the game, hit them in the mouth and knock them down, and say, "You have 4 quarters of that, Cupcake."

Let's go Noles. Have fun, play hard, and send this Pack home with their tails between their legs.

Lake City Seminole's Prediction

FSU 38 - NCState 10