Monday morning quarterbacking: Florida State 31, NC State 13
NC State hung around, but the inability to generate a consistent offensive attack ended up costing the Wolfpack during their 31-13 loss at Florida State on Saturday.
It’s time for a final look at the contest with some Monday morning quarterbacking.
Key Moment Of The Game
Starting at the Wolfpack 7-yard with 4:26 left in the third quarter and FSU leading 17-6, redshirt sophomore quarterback Bailey Hockman threw two incomplete passes to junior receiver Emeka Emezie (both were catchable throws).
That forced a punt deep in its own territory, and FSU took over with excellent field position at its own 49 with 3:29 left in the quarter. The Pack defense had stood tall time and time again to give the offense a chance. On this possession, it finally broke.
FSU quarterback Alex Hornibrook, a grad transfer from Wisconsin, completed four straight passes totaling 42 yards, including a nine-yarder for a touchdown to Tamorrion Terry with 59 seconds left in the quarter.
Three Things That Worked
1. The pass rush
In FSU’s illustrious history, it has never allowed as many sacks as it did Saturday to NC State. The Pack finished with eight in the game, 3.5 from fifth-year senior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison. FSU was the first team this year to look more downfield in the passing attack rather than throwing quickly, and adding an immobile quarterback provided a nice target for NC State’s variety of blitzes.
2. Containing Cam Akers
Akers came into Saturday averaging 124.8 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. Until he bust through the line for a 41-yard touchdown with 9:13 left in the game in a hurried fourth and one play, he was handled by NC State. His first 16 carries of the game went for just 42 yards and 2.7 yards per rush.
3. Limiting FSU’s explosive start
NC State chose to take the opening kick rather than defer to the second half, presumably out of respect for FSU’s penchant to get off to incredible starts. Florida State had outscored teams 58-9 in the first quarter through its first four games. Yet the Noles led only 3-0 when the first quarter ended Saturday.
Three things That Did Not Work
1. Offense
Fans can choose to blame whomever they want, but it’s a unit-wide issue at this point. Linemen are being whipped on third (and fourth) and short situations. Receivers are dropping key passes that are killing possessions. Running back Zonovan Knight fumbled on a drive well into FSU territory.
The quarterback situation remains in flux, and NC State produced little offense after halftime for the third straight game (the Pack had just one first down in the third quarter Saturday).
2. Allowing big plays
Over a third of FSU’s total yards and 21 of its 31 points came on three plays, all touchdowns that went at least 40 yards.
3. Taking advantage of first-half opportunities
Our tweet at halftime summed it up best:
Position-By-Position Battles
NC State’s offensive line vs. Florida State’s front seven
FSU had two sacks (both in the fourth quarter) and six tackles for loss, while NC State’s running backs averaged 5.2 yards per rush. On the flip side, there were multiple penalties on the offensive line, and it failed on two third and ones and a fourth and one, all running plays. At best, it's a draw.
Florida State’s offensive line vs. NC State’s front seven
A dominating performance by the Wolfpack featured eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss in their best game of the season thus far.
NC State’s wide receivers vs. Florida State’s secondary
For as much heat as NC State’s quarterbacks have taken, the receiving corps also needs to get better. There were too many drops, but on the bright side redshirt freshman Devin Carter had his best game since going into the starting lineup with four catches for 68 yards.
Florida State’s wide receivers vs. NC State’s secondary
While some of the sacks were probably a credit to the Pack’s defensive backs, the duo of Terry and Ontaria Wilson was a challenge that gives the edge to FSU. The two combined for nine receptions for 168 yards and three scores.
Quarterbacks
Hornibrook completed 29 of 40 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns without turning it over, decisively winning the day. NC State left Tallahassee more unsure about the quarterback position than at any point in the past five years.
Running backs
Until the fourth quarter, NC State's young trio of sophomore Ricky Person Jr. and freshmen Zonovan Knight and Jordan Houston was holding its own with Akers. However, Akers' big play and Knight's costly fumble tilts the advantage in FSU's favor. Of concern going forward is the injury to Person.
Tight ends/fullbacks
It was a good game for Pack redshirt junior Cary Angeline, who caught four passes for 56 yards and was one of the best performers on the Pack’s offense.
Special teams
Both teams missed field goals. FSU shanked a punt badly, but NC State was only able to convert it into a field goal. After NCSU gave up a long kickoff return to start the second half, its defense held up nicely to prevent any damage there. Overall it was a draw.
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