FSU offense struggling to find any footing in the post-Jordan Travis era

It is onerous to fathom the Florida State fan base with the ability to love Jordan Travis anymore than they already did.

However contemplating how issues have seemed on the FSU offense because the legendary Seminole quarterback suffered an harm that prematurely ended his taking part in profession with this system, I would say the Seminole trustworthy could possibly discover extra room of their coronary heart for Travis.

As a result of whereas some regression was anticipated contemplating all of the FSU offense misplaced and all Travis introduced, the offensive drop off the cliff has been beautiful.

After FSU surpassed 300 yards of offense in every of the ultimate 27 video games Travis began — it additionally had 400+ yards in 19 of these video games and 500+ yards in eight — the Seminoles have failed to succeed in 300 yards of offense in any of the 5 video games since Travis was injured final 12 months vs. North Alabama.

Whereas just a few of these video games have been in opposition to superb groups in Georgia and Louisville, the opposite three have been in opposition to a foul Florida group and two groups to begin the 2024 season (Boston Faculty and Georgia Tech) that every went 7-6 in 2023.

It was recognized Travis could be missed. However what was not recognized is strictly what number of warts the quarterback could have been overlaying up throughout the offense.

The apparent subject when analyzing the FSU offense with out Travis is his successor at QB. There have been some recognized points with DJ Uiagalelei when FSU took his dedication as a switch. Regardless of an enormous arm, he is had some intermediate accuracy points, struggles to learn defenses and tentativeness to run all through his time at Clemson and Oregon State.

And but, it appeared like he may function a bridge quarterback of types with the expertise round him. Whereas he could not have been a world-beater in 2023 at Oregon State, he did common 219.8 passing yards per recreation, 8.4 passing yards per try and throw 21 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Via two video games at FSU, he is averaging 6.7 yards per try and has only one landing cross together with one interception.

Thoughts you, that landing cross within the third quarter Monday night time snapped a streak of 19 straight quarters with out an FSU passing landing, relationship again to the third quarter of FSU’s win over North Alabama on Nov. 18, 2023.

The combo of an inaccurate quarterback and a large receiver/tight finish room that’s struggling to consistency create separation and likewise coping with a collective case of the drops is a horrific mixture for FSU’s passing recreation.

“There’s not a lot that did click on,” FSU head coach Mike Norvell stated of the passing recreation vs. BC. “We struggled to win one-on-ones early. There have been instances the place we have been giving up, getting stress. There have been instances the place we missed a throw or missed a possibility for a catch, attempting to get some issues to discover a rhythm offensively. We weren’t ready to do this very effectively.”

The offense’s struggles Monday night time prompted a number of “We would like Brock” chants from followers at Doak Campbell Stadium who have been clamoring to see the backup quarterback get an opportunity.

Whereas it isn’t truthful to evaluate Glenn from getting thrown into the deep finish as a real freshman vs. Louisville and Georgia final 12 months because of accidents to the 2 gamers forward of him on the depth chart, his play in these video games (17 for 47 for 194 yards, no TDs, two interceptions) wasn’t precisely encouraging that he is able to take over now.

Whereas Uiagalelei hasn’t been what FSU hoped it was getting in a bridge quarterback, he is removed from the one subject on the offense.

Travis’ absence could also be felt much more severely within the run recreation early this season. Whereas he used his legs much less and fewer as he grew as a passer over his FSU profession, that menace was at all times there.

His 31 dashing touchdowns and 1,910 dashing yards have been each far and away probably the most by an FSU quarterback in program historical past.

It seems that athleticism and playmaking capacity could have led to a extreme overestimation of how FSU’s offensive line would carry out within the run recreation as soon as he left this system.

Via two video games this season, FSU has 119 complete dashing yards and is averaging 2.53 yards per carry. Contemplating PFF says that 96 of FSU’s 155 sack-adjusted dashing yards have come after contact, that speaks to it being extra of an offensive line downside than a operating again downside.

Not having to account practically as significantly for Uiagalelei as a quantity within the operating recreation has completely modified how opposing defenses can scheme in opposition to the FSU offense.

After the operating recreation completely fell flat after an incredible opening drive vs. GT, these struggles carried over in a significant manner vs. BC. FSU’s 21 dashing yards in opposition to the Eagles have been the fewest because the Seminoles had -21 dashing yards vs. Clemson in 2018.

“In terms of the run recreation, it takes everyone. And we have got to have the ability to create house. We have got to have the ability to be on monitor. We have got to make it possible for we’re profiting from all positions doing their half,” Norvell stated. “Individuals are stacking the field. Individuals are squeezing the field. We have got to have the ability to make the most of it out on the perimeter. Had a plan to attempt to have the ability to take what they have been giving us. And clearly we didn’t do a adequate job and put our guys able to realize success in that regards.

“There’s some issues that we have simply received to be higher in our execution. However we have got to seek out methods to have the ability to have success on the bottom. For 2 video games, we positively haven’t been in a position to obtain that to the extent that I used to be anticipating. And, as soon as once more, I’ve received to place guys in a greater place than what we’re doing there offensively, within the run recreation to have the ability to create angles, to create house, to let our guys have an opportunity to have the ability to maintain and excel there on the bottom.”

Even earlier than his time at FSU, Norvell has fairly a robust monitor document of doing a wonderful job of constructing his offense across the strengths of that 12 months’s group. In separate seasons at Memphis, he had a 4,000-yard passer and a number of 1,000-yard rushers on the identical group.

The tip of the 2023 season and the beginning of the 2024 season have drilled dwelling that a lot of Norvell’s offensive success was predicated on what he was in a position to get out of Travis. That, in its personal proper, was remarkably spectacular. He took Travis from a participant who was contemplating quitting soccer or a place change to an ACC Participant of the Yr.

Now, he’d higher discover the brand new identification of this FSU offense in a post-Travis period in a rush or his fame as an offensive guru could also be tarnished.