Every week we break down the result of the previous game. Who really played well for the Seminoles against Syracuse? Which players played poorly? Where did the coaches do well, and when did they screw up?
Read to find out. Note: there are certain schematic and tendency things we do not discuss in these reviews out of respect for our sources, the school and coaching staff.
For other quarters, visit the film review section (All quarters up by tonight).
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| D-D | At | Form | Play | Analysis |
| 2-4 | at Su37 | Start of 2nd quarter, clock 15:00. | ||
| 2-4 | at Su37 | 4-2-5 | Ervin Philips rush left for 16 yards to the FS47, 1ST DOWN SU (Terrance Smith). | Jet sweep again. PJ Williams is in position to drop it for a loss but misses the tackle and allows the runner to turn the corner. |
| 1-10 | at Fs47 | Timeout Syracuse, clock 14:45. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs47 | 3-4 | Prince-Tyson Gulley rush up middle for 6 yards to the FS41 (Reggie Northrup). | Reggie Northrup slow to fill his gap on the zone run and gets caught up in traffic, creating a lane for the back. |
| 2-4 | at Fs41 | 4-2-5 | Prince-Tyson Gulley rush left for loss of 2 yards to the FS43 (Lorenzo Featherston). | Zone read with an arc block, QB gives to the back. Mario Edwards Jr makes a tremendous play from the backside 5 tech position, squeezing the hole out of existence before the back gets there and forcing him back into the arms of Featherston who was blitzing off the edge. |
| 3-6 | at Fs43 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long deep pass complete to Steve Ishmael for 36 yards to the FS7, 1ST DOWN SU. | Pass protection holds up for a few seconds, but Goldman gets free and forces the QB out of the pocket. The Syracuse receiver goes vertical on the scramble drill and the QB heaves it up for him to make a great catch. Pretty good coverage from Williams. Hunter is a tad late on the scene, but really it's just a great (and probably not repeatable) play by the offense. |
| 1-G | at Fs07 | 4-2-5 | Prince-Tyson Gulley rush up middle for 3 yards to the FS4 (Mario Edwards Jr.). | Inside zone. The lane is there but the back makes the inexplicable decision to try and cut around Edwards Jr, slowing the play and allowing the linebackers to rally. |
| 2-G | at Fs04 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long crossing pass incomplete to Josh Parris. | Jet motion to try and get a horizontal stretch on the defense, with the tight end going to the back of the end zone. Ball is behind the tight end, who almost makes a spectacular one handed grab. |
| 3-G | at Fs04 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long pass incomplete to Josh Parris. | Another pick play to the trips side. The tight end is open in the flat but just drops it. |
| 4-G | at Fs04 | Cole Murphy field goal attempt from 21 GOOD, clock 12:52. | ||
| Florida State 10, Syracuse 3 | ||||
| Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:31 | ||||
| Cole Murphy kickoff 64 yards to the FS1, out-of-bounds, FS ball on FS35. | ||||
| 1-10 | at Fs35 | FLORIDA STATE drive start at 12:52. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs35 | 11 Gun Trey | Jameis Winston deep pass incomplete to Rashad Greene (Durell Eskridge). | Bobby Hart gets beaten outside, forcing Jameis to step up and bail the pocket before launching a deep ball to Rashad Greene on a vertical. This is not as bad a decision as it looks initially. Jameis needs to throw it over Shad's outside shoulder to lead him away from the deep middle safety. Instead, he throws it inside making for an easy interception until Greene jars it loose. |
| 2-10 | at Fs35 | 10 Gun Trips | Jameis Winston screen pass complete to Travis Rudolph for 15 yards to the 50 yardline, 1ST DOWN FS (Brandon Reddish;Cameron Lynch). | Play action tunnel screen again. Really nice job by Rudolph of hesitating to let Cam Erving maul a defender, then getting upfield. |
| 1-10 | at Fs50 | 10 Pistol Trips | Mario Pender rush up middle for 1 yard to the SU49 (Julian Whigham;Ron Thompson). | With 6 in the box and a corner showing blitz, FSU is severely outnumbered on this run. Jameis needs to check out of this or throw the backside bubble. |
| 2-9 | at Su49 | 10 Gun Trips | Jameis Winston crossing pass complete to Rashad Greene for 44 yards to the SU5, 1ST DOWN FS (Darius Kelly). | It's Rashad's turn to catch the tunnel screen this time and he makes the most of it. Keep running it until they stop it, Jimbo. |
| 1-G | at Su05 | 21 | Mario Pender rush right for 1 yard to the SU4 (Cameron Lynch). | Outside zone play and Hoefeld allows penetration which disrupts Pender's path. From there Pender uses his speed and a spin move to make something out of nothing. |
| 2-G | at Su04 | 21 Pony | Jameis Winston crossing pass complete to Mario Pender for 4 yards to the SU0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:37. | The defense is very concerned with Nick O'Leary's option route and nobody goes with Pender to the flat. Easy touchdown. |
| Roberto Aguayo kick attempt good. | ||||
| Florida State 17, Syracuse 3 | 3 Possessions, 3 scores for the offense. | |||
| Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:15 | ||||
| Roberto Aguayo kickoff 54 yards to the SU11, Ervin Philips return 18 yards to the SU29 (Nate Andrews). | ||||
| 1-10 | at Su29 | SYRACUSE drive start at 10:37. | ||
| 1-10 | at Su29 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long deep pass incomplete to Adrian Flemming. | Fade route vs. PJ Williams in press coverage. Williams is in good trail position and the ball is way off target. |
| 2-10 | at Su29 | 4-2-5 | George Morris rush up middle for 4 yards to the SU33 (Giorgio Newberry). | Zone read. Mario Edwards tosses the tackle like a rag doll, forcing the back inside where Newberry cleans up the play. |
| 3-6 | at Su33 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long rush right for 7 yards to the SU40, 1ST DOWN SU. | Play action left, boot right. Lorenzo Featherston chases and loses contain, allowing the QB to scramble for a first down. |
| 1-10 | at Su40 | 4-2-5 | George Morris rush up middle for 2 yards to the SU42 (Desmond Hollin). | Desmond Hollin initially gives ground to the double team, but then splits it and meets the back in the hole for a short gain. |
| 2-8 | at Su42 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long screen pass incomplete to George Morris. | Syracuse had a play set up here. FSU was blitzing from the slot and Cuse ran a rocket screen to that side. They had two blockers for the two defenders in the area. The back just dropped it. |
| 3-8 | at Su42 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long crossing pass complete to Adrian Flemming for 5 yards to the SU47 (P.J. Williams). | FSU brings a delayed blitz looping around the edge and gets a defender free at the QB, but once again Lorenzo Featherston is undisciplined in his pass rush and there's a huge lane for the QB to escape the pocket and complete a pass, though it is short of the first down. |
| 4-3 | at Su47 | Riley Dixon punt 47 yards to the FS6, fair catch by Rashad Greene. | ||
| Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:13 | Pretty good defense. FSU is not committing the safeties to the run game and is giving up some yards as a result. | |||
| 1-10 | at Fs06 | FLORIDA STATE drive start at 08:24. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs06 | 21 Bunch | Mario Pender rush up middle for 7 yards to the FS13 (Ryan Sloan). | Zone weak and this is just tremendous run blocking. Great push and a huge lane for Pender. He's not touched until he's 5 yards downfield. Jimbo indicated he was hurt on this play but stayed in the game. |
| 2-3 | at Fs13 | 21 | Mario Pender rush up middle for 3 yards to the FS16, fumble forced by Robert Welsh, fumble by Mario Pender recovered by SU John Raymon at FS16. | Inside zone again. Nearly identical fumble to the one by Williams against Wake. The ball is not tight to Pender's rib cage as he's going down and it gets poked out. |
| Drive: 2 plays, 10 yards, TOP 00:39 | ||||
| 1-10 | at Fs16 | SYRACUSE drive start at 07:45. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs16 | 4-2-5 | Prince-Tyson Gulley rush up middle for 6 yards to the FS10 (Mario Edwards Jr.). | Inside zone. Desmond Hollin gets sealed playside, which you absolutely cannot do when you're 2 gapping as he appears to be on this play. Linebackers get caught up in traffic trying to reverse field and the back gets 6 yards. |
| 2-4 | at Fs10 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long pass incomplete to Prince-Tyson Gulley. | Another rub route and the back is open in the flat, but the QB throws it behind him. If he catches it, it's probably 1st and Goal. |
| 3-4 | at Fs10 | 4-2-5 | AJ Long crossing pass incomplete to Prince-Tyson Gulley. | FSU brings a heavy blitz and forces a quick inaccurate throw. Ball is tipped as well. |
| 4-4 | at Fs10 | PENALTY SU false start 5 yards to the FS15. | ||
| 4-9 | at Fs15 | Cole Murphy field goal attempt from 32 GOOD, clock 07:18. | Great sudden change defense. | |
| Florida State 17, Syracuse 6 | ||||
| Drive: 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:27 | ||||
| Cole Murphy kickoff 65 yards to the FS0, touchback. | ||||
| 1-10 | at Fs25 | FLORIDA STATE drive start at 07:18. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs25 | 11 Gun | Jameis Winston pass complete to Nick O'Leary for 9 yards to the FS34 (Julian Whigham;Cameron Lynch). | Option route to 35. If they're not going to bracket him, this throw will be open all day. |
| 2-1 | at Fs34 | 11 Gun Trips | Dalvin Cook rush for 1 yard to the FS35, 1ST DOWN FS (Wayne Williams). | Packaged play. Inside zone with a bubble. Syracuse is showing blitz. Should have thrown the bubble. |
| 1-10 | at Fs35 | 11 Gun Trips | Jameis Winston sideline pass complete to Kermit Whitfield for 13 yards to the FS48, 1ST DOWN FS. | Cam Erving gets beat with an inside swim move and Jameis is forced from the pocket. The Syracuse defense is watching the quarterback and loses track of Whitfield on the drag from the other side of the field. |
| 1-10 | at Fs48 | 11 Gun | PENALTY SU pass interference 15 yards to the SU37, 1ST DOWN FS. | Fade route. DB has his hand over Rashad's shoulder the whole way down the field. |
| 1-10 | at Su37 | 11 Gun | Jameis Winston middle pass complete to Dalvin Cook for 8 yards to the SU29 (Cameron Lynch). | Vertical routes from the tight end and slot receiver void the underneath coverage and the back is wide open in the middle of the field. |
| 2-2 | at Su29 | 11 Gun Trips | Jameis Winston middle pass complete to Nick O'Leary for 8 yards to the SU21, 1ST DOWN FS (Ron Thompson;Marqez Hodge). | Option route to 35. Rinse and repeat. |
| 1-10 | at Su21 | Timeout Syracuse, clock 04:44. | ||
| 1-10 | at Su21 | 21 Pony | Jameis Winston middle pass complete to Nick O'Leary for 21 yards to the SU0, 1ST DOWN FS, TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:38. | Shake route. With the back going to the flat, the safety will be reading smash, so he bites hard when O'Leary fakes to the corner and it's wide open when he comes back to the post. Nice pass pro by Pender. |
| Roberto Aguayo kick attempt good. | ||||
| Florida State 24, Syracuse 6 | 5 possessions, 4 scores, 1 turnover. | |||
| Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:40 | ||||
| Roberto Aguayo kickoff 65 yards to the SU0, touchback. | ||||
| 1-10 | at Su25 | SYRACUSE drive start at 04:38. | ||
| 1-10 | at Su25 | 4-2-5 | Austin Wilson pass complete to Adonis Ameen-Moore for 8 yards to the SU33 (Terrance Smith). | Interesting play. Double slants to the field. In the boundary, the two receivers fake slant routes then block for the back on the rail route. |
| 2-2 | at Su33 | 4-2-5 | Adonis Ameen-Moore rush left for 5 yards to the SU38, 1ST DOWN SU (Terrance Smith). | Inside zone and Derek Nnadi gets put on roller skates. Gotta anchor better than that. |
| 1-10 | at Su38 | 4-2-5 | Adonis Ameen-Moore rush up middle for 11 yards to the SU49, 1ST DOWN SU (Nate Andrews). | Inside zone again. The Cuse OL is getting excellent push against the Noles young tackles. |
| 1-10 | at Su49 | 4-2-5 | Austin Wilson deep pass complete to Jarrod West for 41 yards to the FS10, 1ST DOWN SU. | Darby covers the fade pretty well, just a great one handed catch. This is the throw that will be there against FSU's defense. It's just a low percentage play. |
| 1-G | at Fs10 | 4-2-5 | PENALTY FS pass interference 5 yards to the FS5, 1ST DOWN SU. | Don't know what happened here. PJ Williams gets beat to the inside then just hugs the WR from behind. Strange play. |
| 1-G | at Fs05 | 4-2-5 | PENALTY SU false start 5 yards to the FS10. | |
| 1-G | at Fs10 | 4-2-5 | Adonis Ameen-Moore rush up middle for 6 yards to the FS4 (Nate Andrews). | DL does a pretty good job not giving ground, but the linebackers are just standing around waiting to get blocked and the Syracuse OL obliges them. |
| 2-G | at Fs04 | 4-2-5 | Adonis Ameen-Moore rush left for loss of 2 yards to the FS6 (Mario Edwards Jr.). | Great block shed by Edwards Jr when the back tries to bounce it backside. Loses his helmet for about the 17th time this half. |
| 3-G | at Fs06 | 4-2-5 | Adonis Ameen-Moore rush up middle for no gain to the FS6 (Eddie Goldman). | Inside zone vs and all out blitz up the middle from FSU. Gotta check out of that play. |
| 4-G | at Fs06 | Timeout Florida State, clock 01:58. | ||
| 4-G | at Fs06 | 4-2-5 | Austin Wilson sideline pass incomplete to Steve Ishmael (P.J. Williams). | Goal line fade and PJ Williams nearly picks it. Hate that play. |
| Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:45 | ||||
| 1-10 | at Fs06 | FLORIDA STATE drive start at 01:53. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs06 | Timeout Florida State, clock 01:53. | ||
| 1-10 | at Fs06 | 22 | Dalvin Cook rush up middle for 11 yards to the FS17, 1ST DOWN FS (Ritchy Desir). | Inside zone and another great lane. The safety just trips Cook up or this might be a 90+ yard TD. |
| 1-10 | at Fs17 | 22 | Dalvin Cook rush up middle for 4 yards to the FS21 (Micah Robinson). | IZ again. Cuse defends it better this time, but Cook makes a nifty cut behind Cam Erving and gets forward for a nice gain on 1st down. |
| 2-6 | at Fs21 | 22 | Dalvin Cook rush up middle for 5 yards to the FS26 (Ritchy Desir). | IZ again. Running when the other team knows you're going to is critical in game situations like this one. You do not want to punt the ball back to Syracuse on your side of the field, especially with them having the ball first in the second half. |
| 3-1 | at Fs26 | 22 | PENALTY FS holding 10 yards to the FS16. | IZ again. Just mashing'em. 35 does have a handful of jersey on this play, but it really didn't affect the play positively or negatively. |
| 3-11 | at Fs16 | End of half, clock 00:00. | ||
| Drive: 3 plays, 10 yards, TOP 01:53 | ||||
| Florida State 24, Syracuse 6 | Very methodical and business-like performance in a road conference game. Offense has scored on every possession other than the fumble and when running out the clock. Defense has given up yards but played well in the red zone and not given up any busts or long touchdowns that would give Syracuse life. |