Florida State using Georgia film to prep for Gators

Florida called only four pass plays. It ran the ball 60 times, for 418 yards against Georgia. 14 runs went for at least 10 yards. To put that in perspective, Miami's Duke Johnson had just two against Florida State. Three of UF's huge rushes went for 62, 44 and 44 yards. Running was UF's only option, and Florida executed well. But Georgia's defense also didn't come to work.

In the totality of the season, UF's offense is not scary. It's what ultimately got Will Muschamp fired. The attack is better since Treon Harris replaced Jeff Driskel, but not by all that much.

On November 1, however, against Georgia, it was tremendous. And you can guess what film Florida State's players have been shown. "It's a great reference point," Jimbo Fisher said

This is so for a number of reasons. For one, you want to prepare for an offense at its best, and that was far and away Florida's best game on that side of the football.

For another, Georgia is coordinated by Jeremy Pruitt, a guy who may not be loved by all in the locker room, but who is certainly respected, having coached many of the current defenders a year ago. FSU runs almost the same scheme it did last year.

Florida State's message to its players is simple: You know coach Pruitt can coach defense, and his players did not do their jobs, and they made a very substandard Florida offense look good. Look what happened.

Specifically, the play of edge defenders Ray Drew and Leonard Floyd has been pointed out. The ends/outside backers for Georgia did not come to work. And that's what playing Florida's offense is: Work. The Gators may not score many points, but they will grind and be physical. And if the mentality of the defenders, specifically those who are tasked with setting the edge, is not one of discipline and physicality, UF's offense can become a problem.

Luckily for Florida State, its defensive ends Mario Edwards, Jr., and Demarcus Walker are stout players who can take on blocks. They'll need to play well Saturday, because FSU is going to continue to have problems at noseguard and linebacker (FSU lost its starting nose in Week 3, and the linebacking corps has been hobbled by injury). It can't complicate matters with unexpectedly poor edge play.