Nolecast: Looking back at Clemson

After rewatching Florida State’s loss to Clemson, our Bud Elliott and Ingram Smith are back for a more in-depth conversation about what FSU fans can take away from the defeat in Death Valley.

While you’re certainly disappointed with the result, the guys discuss how this was better than last year’s home debacle against the Tigers. If nothing else, the Seminoles stayed together, encouraging each other and playing hard throughout, and not committing selfish, embarrassing penalties with the game out of hand.

But more specific analysis of the game begins with the offense and poor quarterback play from both James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook. Yes, they were facing Clemson’s top-10 SP+ defense, but they underperformed regardless. And still, so much comes back to the Seminoles’ ineptitude up front on the OL— even if it has improved from last year.

As far as the defense goes, we asked Willie Taggart about FSU’s problems defending off-tackle runs, and he was less than forthright, as this has certainly been an issue for he Seminoles. And while Dontavious Jackson has rebounded, the rest of the linebackers are a liability. But the DBs improved with permitting far fewer free runners.

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