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Florida State v. Maryland Highlights & Press Conference Notes

[Note by FSUncensored, The basketball preview will be up around Noon Eastern. ]

Here are some highlights from Pbysh's youtube:

Of note:

  • The wide receiver blocking in this game was very good for the most part.
  • On Lonnie Pryor's long TD option run, the key is how E.J. runs past the 1st defender and then options off the 2nd defender.  That's really tremendous and made the whole play go.  Maryland was just outnumbered at that point!
  • I cannot say enough about Lonnie Pryor.  He needs to have a ton of tomahawks on his helmet!  The kid's blocking and hands are outstanding for a freshman.  Jimbo Fisher was all about this kid in his interview with Jeff Cameron.  Watch the block Pryor throws at the 7 minute mark!
  • We are spoiled by Ponder.  The difference in timing between him and EJ is noticeable.
  • I don't think EJ's issue lofting the ball as much as it is that he's not quite as decisive in his reads and his delivery still needs a bit of work.  There's also an optical illusion at work here.  Because he releases the ball so high, it looks like it is being lofted, but in actuality it is sometimes just coming down because it starts at such a high point.  Be mindful of that. 
  • 2 of the 3 interceptions Manuel threw were actually not his fault.  A receiver or tight end ran the wrong route or was not on the same page with Manuel. 

Some thoughts here:

  • It's really hard to say anything good about a defense that allows one of the worst offenses in the country to have a great day, and with 405+ yards and 37 minutes of possession time, that's what Maryland had.
  • That said, I am very impressed with the progress made by the young defensive tackles, particularly Jacobbi McDaniel (#99 freshman) and Everette Dawkins (#93 soph).  DT coach O'Dell Haggins is making a case to keep his job next year.  I am warming to the idea, but the ultimate call should rest with the new DC.
  • Andrew Carter and I talked about this via Twitter, but the play at 0:29 is becoming very predictable.  We both called it before it happened. 
  • #80 Jarmon Fortson had a noticeable drop in this game, but he also bailed Manuel out a few times.  And his drop wouldn't have happened had Manuel delivered the ball on-time or slightly late rather than way late.  This is a freshman QB, and he is growing.  
  • Throw and catch to the dependable senior #86 Rod Owens at the 1:45 mark is dangerous but also encouraging. 
  • The 2:26 block by Owens #86 on Reed's reverse TD was sensational.  Team work.
  • The move EJ Manuel makes at 4:45 is sick.  Great instincts. 
  • Look at Bert Reed #83's block at 5:05 on the LB #54.  Also, nice use of the pump fake by Manuel.
  • SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL.  IT IS WHAT BAMA DOES.  IT IS WHAT FSU DOES.  IT IS WHAT GOOD TEAMS DO.  And boy did it show at the end of this game  The whole team is composed.  They play urgency but without panic.  I can't tell you how encouraging that is to see from an offense with only two upperclassmen on the field.
  • Kudos to the coaches for not burning the timeouts earlier in the game.  FSU had them when and if they needed them.
  • Manuel's interview is pretty much everything you want.  Fisher has these guys practice their media skills.  Just as Ponder refused to blame Fortson for the drop against Miami even though it was obviously a well-thrown ball, Manuel here will not blame his tight end Reliford for turning the wrong way on two of the three interceptions.
  • And finally, Mickey Andrews is incredibly classy, and FSU couldn't have drawn up a better 25 years.  
  • Look at Fisher's smile at the 6:57 mark. 

0 recs  |  Comment 24 comments |

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Bert

Any chance his chin is made out of steel? He may be our smallest WR (player maybe?), but he plays much bigger than his size would indicate. Man, he showed some serious grit holding onto that ball and taking it on the chops. It’s not just on that play either, he is never afraid of contact. Fun to watch.

Not an alcoholic, just an FSU grad.

by onebarrelrum on Nov 24, 2009 8:28 AM EST reply actions  

Not the smallest

After seeing Givens close up Saturday (some of y’all probably saw me and didn’t know it), 5’ 8" is being nice.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

"But How will I know limits from lies, if I never try."

by geoffissiffoeg on Nov 24, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Two Questions

Can I get your twitter so I can follow? And how did Hudson’s replacement do? Davis, right?

by TimScribble on Nov 24, 2009 8:38 AM EST reply actions  

V.Y. vs. E.J.

Watching the Titans last night run play action and option looked similar to they play calling we have seen for EJ the last 2 weeks.

Can someone who knows more than me tell me that comparisions of the 2, out of highshchool and future projections?

"It boils down to one of two things: It's either the horses or the jockeys. And we think we have some pretty good horses."

by RaysnNoles on Nov 24, 2009 8:44 AM EST reply actions  

Comparision

It’s still a bit hard since E.J. has only played in two college games so far, and I have no idea how E.J. played in high school. However, I saw V.Y. play a couple times in high school and in college, and he was probably one of the best pure athletes I have ever seen play football in person (Roy Williams being the other).

V.Y.’s strengths were his accuracy as a passer, and that he is a big dude. He may not always look pretty throwing the ball, but he has a knack for putting the ball in the right place. V.Y also has huge legs which gives him a strong base. What makes him such a good runner is his ability to be a little shifty but also break a lot more tackles than you would think.

I think E.J. may have more top end speed than V.Y but he does not have the same bulk and strength yet. I have not seen enough of E.J. to draw firm conclusions on his accuracy, but I firmly believe Jimbo will do an excellent job of developing E.J.’s mechanics (which impacts accuracy).

Ultimately, I think it will still take a few more years to know how the two compare.

Foosball is the devil

by IAHNole on Nov 24, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions  

UMD Screen in the first Vid at 5:30-6:00

on the replay it looks like the slot receiver is running clear past his man. It doesnt look like the lineman have broken the LOS yet either…that play could have been huge if the QB realizes where Mangum is. Or maybe I’m wrong about the lineman at that point (inelligible downfield?). Shouldn’t there be a read in that play where the QB eyes the slot WR until flipping back across the field?

That being said, hats off to Mangum for blowing that play up. Finally.

by Mr. Tito Carlos on Nov 24, 2009 9:14 AM EST reply actions  

I gurantee you that UF runs this play

Good observation.
The slot receiver from the opposite side runs a deep post to an area where the safety has vacated if they play the screen option. I can picture that Nelson guy running that route.

Urban is a very smart coach, he will be targeting Mangum early and often.

by Zach_Nole on Nov 24, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions  

FSUn

I noticed that we did not use many screens (bubble, jailbreak, or runningback) against Maryland. This is usually a big part of our game. Do you have any insight as to why Jimbo stayed away from calling the screens? I understand that the bubble is used to keep the defense from cheating the extra man into the box, so maybe Maryland was playing us honestly, but on a number of presnaps with the DBs playing off and the slot defender creeping inside I thought it would be a perfect time to call the play.

Is this a result of having a freshman in? Ponder usually makes the read and checks to one of three plays at the line. Maybe EJ’s understanding of the defense and playbooks didn’t allow us to check to the bubbles?

by moneyNOLE24 on Nov 24, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions  

Re: EJ

Until watching these replays (was at the game) I thought EJ’s arm was dubious at best strength wise.

But looking at it now he does have some nice passes. Not as much zip on them as Ponder however. He has great instincts running the option. The LP TD was picture perfect option play. He also trusts his wide receivers. Ponder last year did not trust his wideouts and would wait for them to cut or turn around before releasing the ball. EJ lets it go before they make their move. Impressive for a RSFr.

by GrassyNole on Nov 24, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions  

EJ

Has a stronger arm than Ponder its he simply doesnt have as much confidence as Ponder in his reads as of yet. Once he has that confidence its going to be scary scary scary how good this kid can be.

by 21nole24 on Nov 24, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions  

If he does, he hasn't shown it yet.

We will see how his arm ends up but I hope he ends up with the better arm.

by Bud Elliott on Nov 24, 2009 6:13 PM EST up reply actions  

It's funny

you should mention Jimbo’s smile. I felt so lame how happy that made me.

I guess I’m just glad someone else noticed, too.

by NolenRyan on Nov 24, 2009 11:02 AM EST reply actions  

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