Mike Norvell continues to coach for his job each week as the head coach of Florida State. His players have responded to the situation well this year with three wins, including their best performance in over a year against Virginia last weekend. The Noles looked like a polished team with something to play for, and they found an identity on offense in that game. FSU will come to town this weekend with an opportunity to get their season on track and extend their winning streak.
Ashton Daniels is coming
off a career day against UVA last week. He put up five touchdown runs on the day, which is an FSU record. Daniels is a big quarterback at 6-2/225, but he has plenty of speed in the open field. The Noles utilized a lot of zone-read runs against UVA last weekend, and I expect to see the same against the Cards.
Daniels has struggled as a passer this year, but his last two games have been his most efficient. He completed over 63% of his passes while also running for nearly 200 yards on the ground. He has great arm strength, which he showcases on intermediate throws with great pace on the ball. FSU will also take shots down the field throughout the game, and Daniels has been solid on those throws.
The Noles have one of the best backs in the ACC in Ousmane Kromah. The 6-1/216 sophomore looks much bigger on the field, and he runs like a much bigger back with the way he runs through tackles. Kromah also has breakaway speed, which he has shown off multiple times in his career. He has a knack for getting on the edge of defenses and opening it up with his long strides. With Daniels running the ball so well, it will be a genuine challenge for the Cards to slow him down.
Tre Wisner was a big pickup for FSU in the portal, and he is just starting to come into form for them. The backup running back provides a change of pace with his speed and quickness. Wisner has also been good out of the backfield in the passing game this season. The former 1,000-yard rusher at Texas is someone to keep an eye on as Norvell finds ways to incorporate him into the offense.
Louisville hasn’t had much success stopping the pass this year, so finding a way to contain Duce Robinson will be a challenge. Robinson is one of the top receivers in the country, and he is coming off a season where he led the ACC in yards per game. Robinson is 6-6 with deceptive speed and an adept ability to make contested catches. He is also a very physical player who does not shy away from contact, and he can shrug off tacklers after the catch.
Micahi Danzy is arguably the most dynamic receiver Louisville will see this season. The track athlete is one of the fastest players in the country, and Norvell has developed specific plays to get the ball in his hands. He reminds me of Ted Ginn with the way that he can get going as a straight-ahead runner, but he has been more impressive with his ability to run through contact. He will be a player to watch on screen passes this weekend.
The Noles also have a third option in Jayvan Boggs, who has emerged as a really good player who fits very well in this offense. Boggs is the best of both worlds for this offense, as he can be a deep threat down the field while also being able to handle some of the quick-game aspects that Norvell is known for. The Cards will not be getting a break this week from opposing receivers.
The FSU offensive line has been solid this season after they raided the portal to add players who have seemingly fit their system. The run blocking this past weekend against Virginia was outstanding as they got great push on interior runs. This group has also done pretty well to give Daniels time this year, though they have had some instances where quick pressure has forced him to bail from the pocket.
