Florida State was held to a season-low 10 points on Saturday, losing by two touchdowns to Clemson to fall to 4-5 (1-5 ACC) on the season.
The Seminoles were unable to convert on multiple red zone opportunities,
kept off the scoreboard by self-inflicted slip-ups ranging from turnovers to dropped balls to personal fouls.
FSU, after starting off the year 3-0, will now have to win at least two more of its next three games to secure bowl eligibility, starting with the Seminoles’ final home game of the season next week against Virginia Tech.
What is there to take away from yet another ACC loss for FSU? The Tomahawk Nation staff breaks it down below.
How much were FSU’s offensive struggles self-inflicted?
- evenflow58: 80%. Clemson has players but FSU can’t do anything right.
- Jordan Silversmith: I would say a combination. Sure, the drops and penalties were a killer and never let the plane get off the ground. But, the coaching staff gave up on Castellanos midway through the game and started running a smoke-and-mirrors offense. That is not self-inflicted, that is just what the team is.
- NoleThruandThru: Comically so, to the point it almost looked intentional. But I maintain my stance that ever since the lawsuit, FSU (and Clemson) is being treated differently by the league and officiating. Tonight’s missed calls were egregious. The only thing more maddening is knowing that Mike is too damn nice to do anything about it.
- Tim Alumbaugh: I’d say 70% players, 15% coaching, 5% Clemson defense, 5% Refs. The plays were there but drops and overthrows were aplenty during the first half. Tommy can’t stop trying to do hero ball but FSU coaches are making no adjustments. Clemson bringing the house? Better send your receivers on go routes. The officiating got shaky in the second half, but honestly, FSU’s offense just stunk.
- FrankDNole: 100%.
- Perry Kostidakis: I’d say putting it at anything less than 80% would be generous. While Clemson did get pressure on Castellanos to force some of his missed throws, more often than not the reason that FSU was unable to put up points despite outgaining the Tigers was an ill-timed drop, penalty or various other slip-up. It felt like a repeat of the Stanford game, somehow with even fewer points.
Did Florida State’s defense do enough to earn the win?
- evenflow58: Not really. They were certainly the better unit but they weren’t good by any means.
- Jordan Silversmith: Outside of the opening drive, for sure. They bent but did not break. They slowed down a dominant Clemson passing attack sans the flea flicker. We are starting to see improvements from the start of the season. The problem is that the offense capitulated.
- NoleThruandThru: If there was a silver lining, it was some of the defense, but this is also the worst team Clemson has had in a long time. The Desirs play their hearts out. Even a semi-competent offense could’ve taken advantage.
- Tim Alumbaugh: Yes. FSU should have scored in the 30s.
- FrankDNole: Yes, they held Clemson to 24 points and kept it close enough for the offense to give FSU a chance to win this game.
- Perry Kostidakis: Absolutely — only giving up two touchdowns to a team that last week put up five while playing behind because the offense couldn’t hold up its end was an impressive showing, even against a Clemson team down on its luck.
Who stood out to you, despite the loss?
- evenflow58: Kromah and Duece. FSU feeds Duece a good amount but for some reason just seems to ignore Kromah. Why they don’t feed him more is another question in a long line of questions.
- Jordan Silversmith: Wow, this is a tough question. The Desir brothers made a ton of plays and I liked the game from Barker. Offensively, #0 is a guy. Besides that, not sure anyone stood out.
- NoleThruandThru: Duce Robinson will be fun to watch in the NFL next year. Lawayne McCoy has definitely improved.
- Tim Alumbaugh: Duce. He’s unguardable and needs even more targets. The OL won’t get credit because Tommy skipped plenty, but they did well. The running backs had solid moments in limited opportunities. The Desir twins had a few moments.
- FrankDNole: Duce. Duce will play in the NFL and will succeed if he stays healthy. He’s got the goods.
- Perry Kostidakis: The young talent on the team — the Desirs, Kromah — and Duce Robinson have repeatedly been bright spots over the course of this 1-5 skid, and if you have any priorities on retention, those are your top guys.
When did FSU officially lose the game?
- evenflow58: A few years ago. FSU doesn’t recruit well enough nor does it develop well enough to beat a team as bad as Clemson. FSU needs the opponent to collapse in on itself as Wake did to have a shot at winning the game.
- Jordan Silversmith: Once they gave up the two-point conversion. You knew that if the game was close FSU would not be smart situationally, but more likely, they were not ready to play.
- NoleThruandThru: Before it started. They weren’t ready to play. This team is outstanding at finding ways to lose, no matter how bad the opponent is. The depth of this roster is atrocious.
- Tim Alumbaugh: 12/8/2019
- FrankDNole: When Pittman dropped the ball. Mike made a hero or bum call. He should have been a hero if Pittman catches it, but because he did not catch it, Mike will be called a bum for going for it.
- Perry Kostidakis: I’m with Frank — that series featured multiple drops, proving to me that this game with a player’s problem. The team has made sure to emphasize that each loss is on them, not the coaching staff, and they did everything to prove that right.
Do you think FSU can secure bowl eligibility this season?
- evenflow58: No. FSU has to beat VT and either NC State or UF on the road. There’s nothing about this team that suggests they can win any of those games, never mind two of them.
- Jordan Silversmith: Considering they cannot win on the road or string any stretch of competent play together, no.
- NoleThruandThru: I’ll be surprised if it happens. But then, I’ve become so apathetic since the snub that surprise is probably too strong a word. Go Noles, forever and always, but sheesh.
- Tim Alumbaugh: Yes. But will anyone care? That’s the better question.
- FrankDNole: Absolutely. FSU could possibly win the remaining 3 games.
- Perry Kostidakis: You would think, given that two of those games (Virginia Tech, Florida) feature matchups against teams that have fired head coaches, but FSU has already lost to one team led by a man who straight up said he’s in for one year and that’s it (Stanford) and still has yet to win a game on the road. It’s doable, but after failing to take advantage of a prime opportunity to secure a bit of pride back with a rivalry win and once again underperforming, it feels more and more likely that the Seminoles are once again heading towards a losing season.
