Florida State head coach Mike Norvell met with local Tallahassee media Tuesday to recap Saturday’s win over New Mexico State and preview the week ahead of next Monday night’s ACC opener against No. 19 SMU.
He said that while the film did show a lack of consistent execution on the Seminoles’ end, it reinforced his belief in the potential of this year’s squad.
“I left after watching the film with really an encouraged spirit of what we can do,” Norvell said. “Ultimately, all the issues were correctable
issues. There were things that really kind of uncharacteristic for going from practice to the first game and that sometimes happens when you have guys in maybe a new role, some guys in a new place.”
Norvell added that he was pleased with the win and less pleased with how it was won.
“I want our best to show up. That’s my desire,” he said. “The frustration is I don’t know if our best was put on display. That was the frustration, but I am absolutely ecstatic about the win.”
Much like defensive coordinator Tony White did yesterday, Norvell pointed to the team’s defensive communication, specifically the third down, as a major area of focus.
“Defensively played well minus 3rd down, but 3rd down counts,” Norvell said. “You got to go out there, every situation within a game we’ve got to make sure that we’re owning.”
Speaking on Ashton Daniels’ first start, Norvell said that while the quarterback’s interception was disappointing, he was overall pleased with how the offense was managed.
“He’s got great communication for what he sees and the reasoning of his decisions,” Norvell said. “I was disappointed, he was disappointed in the choice on a rollout of trying to drive the ball and the guy undercut it for the interception, but for the most part, he saw it well.”
Norvell specifically complimented a pair of throws from Daniels.
“He’s able to rip a 40-plus yard gain on a third-and-8 situation to Micahi (Danzy), and that’s in rhythm on time, you could see his preparation,” Norvell said. “The third down to (Jayvan) Boggs there in the fourth quarter is big-time play, for how he progressed his eyes and found the right read.”
The head coach did mention that the starting offensive line is “absolutely” being evaluated, saying “competition is a beautiful thing.”
“There’s definitely gonna be a push this week just to see if that’s gonna be the exact group that’s gonna run out there come Monday night or if there’s going to be adjustments,” he said.
Norvell emphasized how important it was for FSU to quickly course-correct as the Seminoles get ready to take on the No. 12 Mustangs.
“SMU is gonna see some of the issues that were there and Rhett does a great job of trying to exploit your issues that he sees on film,” Norvell said. “We got to make sure that we’re 11 playing as one and just go out there and trust our technique, make sure we’re clean in our communication and alignment, and then go play the game.”
“We know what’s in front of us this week…a team that was a couple of plays away from being in the championship game last year,” he added later. “This is one of the top teams in the ACC conference. This is a team that has big expectations for all that’s in front of them. They were in the playoffs a couple of years ago, [and they are] all focused to this week. I mean, it’s gonna take a great effort on our part. That’s what I fully expect out of this team.”
Florida State plays SMU on Labor Day (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Check out the press conference and a full transcript available below.
Video via Warchant
MIKE NORVELL: Good morning. I’m glad everybody’s here. A little bit different week schedule just with playing Monday night, but excited for a conference opener back in Doak. Gonna be in an electric, electric atmosphere, national TV. This is a championship caliber opponent game all, all part of it here to kick off ACC play and very excited for what’s in front of us the opportunity that’s there coming off the game. It was good to be able to get in. We came in on Sunday watched the film saw some of the good things that we did that allowed us to get a victory, but then also a lot of things that we get to continue to improve upon. As I mentioned in postgame some of the communication elements getting out there first time, playing together there was a few issues that we had, but I was really proud of the guys just the work and the things that we had to get done to win that game, to win by 3 scores finishing it, but ultimately some opportunities that were missed. For us as we go into this week, it is, it’s gonna take all hands on deck, all three phases. A very talented team that we’re playing one that’s, had a lot of success here in recent years very well coached. You got a lot of respect for Rhett (Lashlee) and his staff the job that they do. It’s going to take an incredible week of preparation. It’s gonna, obviously take our guys going out there playing to our capability, I’m excited to see them go out and compete.
QUESTION. Coach, when we talked to Tony (White) yesterday, he talked about the 3rd downs and some of the coverages that maybe guys were lined up a little bit further away from the line of scrimmage that he would have liked, if they were a step closer, they’re getting to the quarterback. Is that something you feel you can fix over a week and point to when you said, looking at the film?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, it’s the issues we had were all, I mean, I left after watching the film with really an encouraged spirit of what we can do. Ultimately, all the issues were correctable issues. There were things that really kind of uncharacteristic for going from practice to the first game and that sometimes happens when you have guys in maybe a new role, some guys in a new place, the communication is when you get out there and it’s all rolling, you got to still focus on the basics. That’s, those are things that we’re going to be able to get corrected, obviously, a heightened sense of emphasis. But because ultimately, SMU is gonna see some of the issues that were there and Rhett (Lashlee) does a great job of trying to exploit your issues that he sees on film. We got to make sure that we’re 11 playing as one and just go out there and trust our technique, make sure we’re clean in our communication and alignment, and then go play the game.
QUESTION. That was your first chance to coach Ashton (Daniels) during a game, Was he seeing it the way you were seeing it during the game and then also after you’ve gone back over the film, what are things he needs to work on?
MIKE NORVELL: He’s got great communication for what he sees and the reasoning of his decisions. There was the, I was disappointed, he was disappointed in the choice on a rollout of trying to drive the ball and the guy undercut it for the interception, but for the most part, I, He saw it well. There’s some things that even first game getting out there, a couple of drops that could be cleaner after that, I think would help with timing. There are a couple of route depths that we got to continue to make sure we’re getting to where we need to get to on that. But I mean, as a whole, I thought he did some good things. There’s some things where he had to move and create plays, That I thought he did a good job keeping his eyes down the field. You found the backs when you needed to find the backs, the very first 3rd down, he’s able to rip a 40+ yard gain on a 3rd and 8 situation to Micahi (Danzy), and that’s in rhythm on time, you could see his preparation, the 3rd down to (Jayvan) Boggs there in the 4th quarter is big-time play, for how he progressed his eyes and found the right read. So, I mean, he, There were some really good things that he did and it is game one for him in Doak Campbell Stadium, being a part of this offense, I’m excited to where he’s going to continue to grow to because he showed the capabilities of making some great throws vertically down the field, some of the intermediate, was efficient in how he operated, but obviously a few plays that definitely want to have back, but some great, great areas to grow from.
QUESTION. Building off that with Ashton, Tim (Harris Jr.) said yesterday that his time to throw being about 1-2 seconds higher than (Trey) Hedden’s on Saturday was because they were trying to get some more of those quick game concepts and stuff. But last year when Ashton took Vanderbilt to overtime, top 25 team, he threw for 350 yards. His time to throw was around where Hedden’s was, and it was under 2 seconds when he wasn’t facing pressure because he was getting it out in those quick game concepts. Is that something you guys are going to try to get to more this season instead of just attacking the intermediate areas?
MIKE NORVELL: Ultimately that was a, it’s a lot of good research there. Each game and concepts and what you do in a game plan is going to be unique to every week. There will be times that was a team that, In coverage, what they were running, there’s probably not, there wasn’t as much of just, hey, the immediate quick, throws of what was there. it was a little bit more of the second-level reads or pushing the ball down the field. Ashton was 60% with a good completion percentage, or a good yards to completion, throughout it. There were some real positives in what he did. We were able to run the football, some of the things we’re trying to do offensively, a lot of that was perimeter run. That showed up. There’s sometimes there’s a balance of that where, hey, is it quick? Is it perimeter, what are, where are you, what are you doing to be able to take a little bit of the pressure off in those situations. Yes. If the game plan calls for more quick game, we’ll throw more quick game. If the game plan calls for vertical shots, we’ll do that. Whatever it takes for us to be efficient and effective offensively, that’s what we want to do. you look at the game the other night, yes, we had a touchdown call off the board, due to a tripping penalty, they’re in the red zone. We had a turnover, don’t want that. You had to punt twice, but we only, we had 9 possessions. When you look at efficiency of an offense, some good things. 3rd downs, we’re over 60% on conversion downs. That’s pretty good. And Ashton was a big part of that, in the process. We had a game plan for what we wanted in the first game. Was it a perfect game? Absolutely not. In a lot of areas where we can all continue to grow, to get better, some things in protection that we got to be sharper end as well. But, at the end of the day, like I said, I’m excited about what I’ve seen us be able to do, looking forward to the growth moving forward.
QUESTION. With regards to the offensive line, general thoughts of how they performed, when they worked to the second level, do they have to do a better job of locating and finishing?
MIKE NORVELL: That, yes, I mean, there was, I thought New Mexico State did a good job of trying to junk up some of the front and leverages of how they were fitting. We had some times where we weren’t, I’d say in full balance or in power up front where we got, kind of got a little bit caught leaning or maybe not great with our eyes. At times, that’s something that you’ll see just as you get in the game and it starts moving fast, with some different looks. But I also thought there was, I thought they did a really good job in some of the screen game out on the second level, helping spark what became explosive plays. I think there’s good and bad to all of it. I mean, you look at, I think it was Tre, Tre Wisner’s big run. You got (Xavier) Chaplin down there 10-12 yards down the field leading the block that it was a great space block. You could find hits and misses all of it, but yes, as a whole, we want to be better and cleaner. Just to make sure we’re playing with balance and playing with great eyes.
QUESTION. You touched on Rhett Lashlee’s ability to exploit some defenses in your opener, he’s got a quarterback in Kevin Jennings, who’s really good at that. What is it that makes him a challenge when trying to draw up coverages for him?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, he’s just a, I mean, he’s such an explosive player he can move, he can he obviously can get the. Ball out quick. He’s got good skill position guys that are around him and Rhett he’s going to try to attack every area of the field and the vertical passing game, but also sideline to sideline. You really have to, you’ve got to be coordinated in a sense of knowing what you’re trying to take away because you can’t take away everything. And that’s part of, you can sit there and you can always find something that, well, this is, this was an area, this was an issue that showed up. We got to make sure that as we are making adjustments, we’re doing what we’re taking away and then you’ll try to keep them off balance, and where to attack. And if we can do that, you obviously, you got to get you. You got to try to be able to disrupt them from that rhythm because, I mean, they’re going to play fast. It’s one of the fastest playing offenses in the country. They’re going to try to keep you off balance with motions and communication and different things you have to do. And then, obviously, the quarterback, he can make it happen. We, we’ve got to try to keep him, keep him contained, and just not let him be comfortable sitting back there picking you apart.
QUESTION. To go back to the offensive line, there were some guys pushing to make the crack that starting five at the end of camp. Paul Bowling being one that you had mentioned. Is that still a thing that you’re evaluating?
MIKE NORVELL: It absolutely is. That’s something even coming out of the game, there was, there were some good performances. There are some performances that, that, that everybody needs to be better, but this would be a big week of practice, just to make sure that as you get into the game, guys got opportunities and, kind of. I tell them, what you see is where you are. We talked about what we want to be and this is all of it, but it’s just kind of where we are right now. And so what are we doing moving forward, the improvement, the consistency, guys that might, might not have played, it’s your opportunity to go, Show throughout the week that, what you do, the effectiveness and just the consistency of whether it’s your assignments, your responsibility, your eyes, your communication, anything that might be hindering you from cracking that, that lineup, then let’s get it fixed and let’s get better. But competition is a beautiful thing. I know that, we’ve got a competitive group there and there’s definitely gonna be a push this week just to see if that’s gonna be the exact group that’s gonna run out there come Monday night or if there’s going to be adjustments.
QUESTION. You mentioned that it’s the first game in the stadium, the crowd, all that, you expect some degree of miscommunication, things like that. How frustrating is it defensively to have as many as it seemed there were, especially when you guys do get so much time now in the offseason to go through, to prepare for these things?
MIKE NORVELL: It’s frustrating when you have those, those moments and that’s what gets exploited. I’d say through any year that there’s going to be some of those issues, but that it happened to catch us on, whether it was a leverage that We get the call, get a movement, we got to be in a certain leverage and that we don’t get there. That’s a, that’s a That’s an application issue we, we get double cut, need a deep high post safety to be able to funnel things back to, we don’t get there. And that, those are things that when they get exploited, it’s, there’s a lot of frustration in it that, that shows up. But to be able to, to do the things that we do we’re able to do to come out of it with a win, was it? I think right on our team. That was not, it was not the, the best when it could have been of just consistency of play to center, but defensively played well minus 3rd down, but 3rd down counts. you got to go out there, every situation within a game we’ve got, we’ve got to make sure that we’re owning. I think when you ask a week ago, it’s just, that’s where you want to see confidence in those situations that, man, the application is, is on point, whether it’s a new player, whether it’s some guys that are, That are first game experience just being able to, to apply the things that have been worked on in that moment. And that’s where we will be better. what I like about this group is there’s a, a great deal of ownership in it. this, that’s what you, you go to work you practice we better see it Monday night.
QUESTION. Coach, a win is a win, whether it be 50 points, 17, or 1. Talk a little bit about setting the tone for winning culture, winning games, grinding it out and starting another season.
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, you want, I want our best to show up. That’s my desire. You know, that’s what we talked to the team about the frustration is I don’t know if our best was put on display. That was the frustration, but I am absolutely ecstatic about the win. You win by 3 scores, you can win some by a little, you can win some by a lot. You look back a year ago, we had some really big wins that at the end of the day, nobody talks to you. It’s not you point back to us and say, oh, man, it was great to, it’s about the big picture of are you growing through every experience? Are you growing through every game? That’s the focus. That’s the mentality, whether it would have been a one-point win. I’m gonna celebrate the win because we would do what we need to do to be victorious on that day, but was it the best that we could be? I mean, there’s times in my life that we’ve come up short in games and we’ve been the best. It might have been one of the best performances that we played, that we could have played. But ultimately, if you give everything that you have, you can learn from those experiences. You can grow through those experiences, nobody ever wants to lose a play. Nobody wants to lose a quarter or half ever or a game, but you can learn through all of those experiences, but it still comes down to what you’re putting in, what are you learning through those experiences. That’s what I appreciated about our team. There was a disappointment in some ways of just not being as clean as what we know we could have been or should have been. But at the end of the day, this team is working really hard. They came in and that’s what I loved about Sunday. Right, it was, all right, make the corrections. Let’s go out, got on the practice field, let’s start improving upon them, then we know it’s going to take a great week of work as we start with ACC play to do everything in our power to go get another win.
QUESTION. Coach, with the tight ends, did you use more two tight end sets, adapting on the fly, maybe to keep a little bit more protection back to help out Ashton (Daniels)? Then those tight ends, how did they end up blocking in your view?
MIKE NORVELL: No, I thought they did a really good job, especially blocking. There was some limited opportunities just kind of how things were working through coverage-wise on them that, but they didn’t get as many catches, but I thought their impact in the game was really good. I know on a couple of the big runs, they did an outstanding job creating space. I’m excited about that group. I think all three, Desirrio (Riles), Landen (Thomas) and Chase (Loftin) all played double-digit plays in the game and definitely had some good moments. I’m excited about where that group can continue to grow, it was, a lot of that was game plan going in we were down, limited a couple of receivers there last week and that’s the great thing about, that group is that they can do a variety of things. I mean, it really just kind of all played, we’re excited, I think, get Tae’Shaun Gelsey back this week and to be able to get him back in the fold. We’ll see where things go with Devin (Carter) and all that, but excited about getting some guys back in it.
QUESTION. When we’re, when you’re talking about Ashton, his running ability is a big, unique strength that he has. Didn’t run a ton in that game, I guess didn’t really need to, but as the season goes on, number one, on the read plays, how much of that is a natural read and how much of it is not? How did he do on the zone read and the run read plays? Even coach (Tim) Harris talked about wanting to maybe him be more aggressive running the ball as the season goes on.
MIKE NORVELL: That’s based on scheme. I mean, there’s some, there’s times where we’ll have where it’ll be a locked read where you basically know that, hey. Maybe it’s not 1st level, maybe it’s 2nd level, 3rd level of where the read might be. There’s times where, hey, this is a old triple option. This is my read key how, however, it is that we’re telling him that we want him to read that, he has to make that full speed decision. For the most part, I thought he was pretty clean on the reads. There was a couple where you’re like, You understand, that’s why it goes back to the question earlier of his perspective and reasoning, he sees a big, he sees a big picture approach. I definitely think that his running ability can be a positive for us. But, at the end of the day, it’s got to be, has to be there. I don’t, it’s, we’re not gonna sit there and just try to force things that are not there. I don’t want him guessing and just trying to think, well, maybe on this one, you gotta, you gotta trust what you see. You do a lot of film study, you try to prepare for what you’re expecting in the moment, then you got to react to what presents itself. I definitely see him as being a threat and even, there the other night, I thought there was a, there were a couple that we got to grow from and just our conversations of conceptually, just a thought process, but I mean, I thought he was, did a pretty solid job in that.
QUESTION. After just watching the film, if you could talk about the linebackers in general as a group, how they played, but then also I noticed Izayia (Williams) on the bench, it seemed he was at Ernie (Sims’) side every time they talked, every time he was talking to the other linebackers, is his role, do you think it’s gonna develop quickly?
MIKE NORVELL: Oh, absolutely. I mean, he is. He got in a little bit and it was great that he got his kind of first game experience. He missed a little bit of time there in fall camp, but he is. What you saw on the sideline, that’s him every single day, which I love about him. There’s plenty of guys who’ll sit around and talk about what they want to be one day and what they want to look like, then there’s guys that just show up and go to work trying to achieve that. He is definitely one of those guys. I mean, he’s gonna, he’s a sponge. If you don’t see him with Coach Sims, he’s probably going to be with Chris Jones. He is pretty remarkable. Just his maturity, his want to, and he’s a very talented young man. I mean, he’s got great speed, but he’s still learning a lot of things and he’s willing to put in the work to grow in that confidence. I absolutely expect to see more and more as he continues in his process.
QUESTION. Just an availability on Saturday, Chuck Kennon wasn’t dressed for the game as well. I think in the secondary, Jordan Crutchfield came out of the game. Are those two guys projecting for that you’ll think you’ll have available?
MIKE NORVELL: We’ll see where Chuck is. I mean, he’s, he was out in that, in the last game he’s, he’s dealing with nothing major, but he’s working through, working through a slight injury. We’ll continue to see how he progresses with that. Then Jordan came out at this time we, we’re continuing to monitor and evaluate what that’s going to look like for this week, but you’re very hopeful and kind of see where that plays out as the week progresses. It’s good to have a couple of extra days between the game and Monday night. We’ll see how these guys are health-wise.
QUESTION. First drive of the game, you guys get backed up by the false start. You dial up Verts against the cover 3 look and Ashton (Daniels) looks like he has Chase Loftin down the seam there at one point in a window. I’ve seen some quarterbacks hit, but he doesn’t, he doesn’t make the throw, takes the sack. Is that one where you want to see him have a little bit more aggressive and maybe try to find and fire it into that window, or is it a more of a conservative kind of play call with just looking for points on the first drive of the game.
MIKE NORVELL: I mean when, when you looked at how they played it they middle of the corners over the top. Even though there was a bang bang throw potentially in there and that was Duce, that was down the seam, down the seam for the vert, but that would have been probably the initial thought. Being cloudy as he went to work through playing off of it they did, that’s where they ran the little game where he got pressure on them. Glad he protected the football. We’re in field goal range, you never want to take a sack in that situation or you never want to have a negative in that situation, but even there rather, rather a sack and a field goal than force the ball into a tight window that could have jeopardized possession of the ball. Once again, it wasn’t a great play. There are opportunities and things that we can look at, but it’s, those are one of those plays that is kind of, Not good, but finished with the result, getting points on the board.
QUESTION. I feel for most of your career, you’ve had quarterbacks that have been on campus with you for several years. You’ve been able to season them before they go out there and play for you. This is the 3rd year that you guys have had a quarterback that’s only gonna be here for 1 year as a play caller. What’s it like when you have this great ambition to execute your offense, this vision you have, but knowing that a guy doesn’t exactly have the runway of 23 years to pick up on all the nuances that you have?
MIKE NORVELL: I mean, it changes even with guys that that we’re one-year guys. I mean, everybody had to start at some point we saw different guys execute at different phases, whether it was Taylor Kelly’s first year at Arizona State, we had an extremely productive year in year one. You saw Riley Ferguson first year at Memphis, he led us to a championship game, are extremely productive in that year as well. I mean, Brady (White), all, all the guys that have, there has to be a one year and for what that, What I like about Ashton is he has a lot of experience of playing the position. He’s got 20 plus starts, it’s, there’s good and bad in it. you could sit there and you could take, the game and, he’s, it’s not like he’s coming in trying to figure out, it’s just the language, it’s eyes, it’s the things of us, being able to work together and That’s why even when he comes to the sideline, my first question, what do you see? Because I want to see if, if what he has seen matches up to expectation there’s some things that are in his control, some things that are out of his control, just making sure that he’s seeing things the right way. obviously, we got, great communication, I’m excited for where he’s going to continue to grow. In this offense, with the guys that are around him, the decisions that he makes. I mean, those are all things that, it’s fun, it’s fun coaching him because, you’re sitting there having a, he’s a next-level conversation. I think that, that quarterback, that quarterback room is really, they’re embracing that. I think Coach (Austin) Tucker is doing a really nice job with them. I mean, we had meetings this morning and even just hearing, obviously Ashton, but even those other guys in the room, just their understanding of. This offense some of the different, finer, details of how we can get through progressions or how we could potentially, have a check here or there. I mean, they’re, they’re, they’re picking it up quick. I’m excited you want to be a part of a, of a group that, hey, I want Saturday night to be the worst that we play all year. I’m sure everybody wants that, right? you want to see progression, you want to see growth, you want to see guys that, as, as we get a better sense of these guys in-game action all playing together, it’s not just one person, this is a, it’s about 11 guys and what can we do putting them all together. There’s some, there’s some guys who wanted, to get even more involved, than what they were last week because of things that we’ve seen or things that they did. I’m, I’m looking forward to the seasons, as it continues to unfold.
QUESTION. In that sentiment about wanting Saturday night to be the worst you play all year, I think the next 5 FBS opponents y’all play right now are all ranked. How does that help the focus of a football team that maybe didn’t play its best on Saturday night, Saturday night to know, OK, we don’t have a couple of cupcakes. We’ve got real teams and real games coming up quickly. We’ve got to get better.
MIKE NORVELL: There’s no misconception in that. We know what’s in front of us this week. That’s what I told him, man, this is a team that was a couple of plays away from being in the championship game last year. They were, this is one of the top teams in the ACC conference. This is a team that has big expectations for all that’s in front of them. They were in the playoffs a couple of years ago, this, all focused to this week. I mean, it’s gonna take a great effort on our part. That’s what I fully expect out of this team. The schedule is the schedule. We know we got a great schedule with very competitive opponents, but right now it all comes down to this one and don’t really need a whole lot of motivational speech for what’s in front of us Monday night. I feel that with our guys, but it’s time to go show it.
QUESTION. After the last couple of seasons haven’t gone the way you guys hoped, how impressed were you by the crowd Saturday, Monday nights can be tough sometimes for the crowd because out of town fans and things like that, if they have to be at work. How bad do you need that again this week?
MIKE NORVELL: It’s an incredible, incredible atmosphere. I think I mentioned maybe on the show last night, we had a lot of great recruits there. Another great group here, Monday night, but it is, you talk about just the energy, the atmosphere. You come out of the tunnel, it was awesome. It’s one of the greatest places in college football and all of sports to be able to have the experience of playing the game of football. It is truly special, Monday night, as much as any game that we’ve had. We need to, and it needs to be rocking. Obviously, this is SMU’s first trip here. I want to remember just the experience of what this atmosphere is, ultimately we got to make a great impact to make it as uncomfortable as possible for him and then we got to go do our job on the field
