The Florida State Seminoles were able to even their record at 2-2 last Saturday against the Central Arkansas Bears with a 34-7 win. Head coach Mike Norvell acknowledged the victory when speaking about the game on Monday as he took the podium.
"I told the guys, you always celebrate a win," said Norvell. "You constantly are pushing and challenging for best to show up and you look at it, gave up seven points defensively. Offensively with our first offense, we scored on every drive minus the two-minute drive where we had the interception. Some good things that were seen. I thought we were cleaner in our areas of alignment. You know, some of the things we're asking our guys to continue to improve upon, obviously, there's still things that we have
to continue to get better at."
He also mentioned playing a team like the Virginia Cavaliers to began a tough ACC schedule.
"Like I said, a lot of things that we can grow upon, as we get back into ACC play here this week," Norvell said. "Obviously, a huge matchup, one that, we understand and respect this, the team that's coming in, obviously, you had the best record in the ACC last year, it was a team that competed for the conference championship, very talented, very experienced, they do a great job."
Here's everything Norvell said about beating Central Arkansas and gearing up to play Virginia.
On if playing FCS schools is losing its benefit due to not playing a lot of players
On our end, the things that we control, don't allow seven first downs by penalty. You know, those, each, each of those that you sit there and I mean, those are extending drives, those are extending your opportunities, you know, 3rd down, 4th down, you know, that was, that was something that, you know, they had a game, they had a plan to go, you know, to try to, you know, shorten the game, control the clock, you know, they were able to executethat In different ways, we jumped out 24-0, I think they had two drives.
They had one that was a 15-play drive where we had multiple, multiple penalties on, they had two 4th-down conversions in that drive as well. You know, those are the plays that you want to see guys make as well as, you know, just for us to be cleaner in it. I think we'd have put ourselves in a position to play more guys, you know, as when we did get the opportunity there in the foourth quarter, to, start really rolling, rolling the personnel. I think we had three second-half possessions offensively minus the knee out.
They have the ball majority of the 4th quarter, that really hindered more of the repetition of what it would look like for other guys, I mean, it's just the way that that game unfolded was disappointing we didn't get more reps for guys, there were, there were guys that got, you know, did get opportunities, you know, we've got to continue to maximize those when guys, when guys get them, you know, some injuries that have happened, you know, some guys are getting, you know, thrust into action, you know, at different points of the game regardless. It's just that constant push for being prepared and going to make the most of it when you get out there.
On which young players made an impression against Central Arkansas
I thought Karon Maycock really, you know, him and Noah LaVallee both made some really goodplays, you know, when they got out there, I was pleased, you know, Karon's been playing more on special teams. I had a couple of space plays, he's growing in his confidence. Jordan Crutchfield is somebody that we have, was injured, didn't get to play in the Alabama game, but he was able to get back and you see the flashes of him. He'sdone some good things in special teams, just continuing to grow in his confidence and understanding there in the defensive backfield. You're definitely excited.
It's good to see Jasen Lopez get a little bit more extended play there. I mean, our top three receivers have played really well, and those guys are doing a good job of what they're being asked to do. But to see Jasen get out there and get a couple of catches, obviously you had a big return there as in the return game. Definitely excited about his continued growth and things we're asking him to do.
On playing more 12 personnel in the future
We continue to evaluate in each game and the plans of what we're trying to do and how we'retrying to attack. Each game plan is gonna have a different flair to it of what we're doing, but also in regards to how we're utilizing our personnel. We've had some injuries at receivers, that's kind of also thrust a little bit more with utilizing the tight ends and how we've done that.
The Alabama game had a little bit more of a 21 personnel plan going in, but Sam (Singleton Jr.) going down, that kind of adjusted a little bit. Now we're getting a full effect with Tre (Wisner), Amari (Thomas) there with Ous(mane Kromah). We'll see how that kind of all unfolds, hopefully get a couple of those receivers back and we'll be able to have a great mix of what we're asking guys to do.
On preparing Kevin Sperry and Malachi Marshall in case Ashton Daniels goes down
Both those guys, they both got live scrimmage reps. This, it's not in the game, but I mean, theyboth played. They both have had, Kevin (Sperry) played last year, in different situations, live. Obviously, Malachi (Marshall) won a national championship in junior college, doing what he did with his opportunity. As we sit there and go through our preparation towards the season, that's why both of those guys were live in fall camp.
You want to see guys how they respond to different things, how they respond to getting hit. Yes, you'd always love to be able to get more in-game opportunities, but it's the first game, first snap, or 10 weeks into the season, you have to be ready. When your number's called, go out there and perform at a high level. These guys are preparing, putting in a lot of work, I do have a lot of confidence in what they'll do if their number gets called.
On certain players not being available last week
I mean, there was, there was a lot of different factors for guys who were unavailable. Yes, youknow, there's some guys that were unavailable for just things that happened throughout the course of the week or accountability and some guys that were unavailable due to injury. I feel good about where we're trending, you're getting some guys back for this week, we'll see where that progresses throughout the week.
On if its a week to week thing having Kevin Sperry ahead of Malachi Marshall
I mean, every day matters for them. I think, as you see with Malachi, being here in the summer,he's definitely had an accelerated process of full grasp, every rep, all the things that we're asking him to do just in his preparation and then, obviously, when you go out there and the execution of it as well. Kevin's in that constant push. I feel good that we have two guys in that room that are pushing for that role and constantly competing. It's a good room, a good group, and they will continue to evaluate that throughout each week and who we feel gives us the best opportunity to win if their number's called.
On the failures from Ashton Daniels in two-minute situations in the last two games
Oh, I mean, you know, the Alabama interception was one that scrambling, try to put the ball overthe top, guy made a great, great play. Like I said, then, it was, I mean, You know, you never want to throw a, throw an interception, but it's essentially it was a forty-yard flip a field position, in that, but in that moment that was, that's a, that's a, that's a coin flip type of play, in the, in the interception the other day, I mean, it was a, You know, sees theback coming out, expected the back to keep moving, back sat down, was trying to anticipate the throw to it.
He stops and it goes right to the, right to the, the linebacker who is back behind it. So, it was a, that was a miscommunication part where we can, we can grow, we can learn from it, back, quarterback, he, he really wasn't getting pressure, but he was just trying to, to be quick and anticipating the throw and it's something you learn from. I mean, it's not, never want it to happen, You know, he did a good job earlier in the drive. You know, had two explosives being able to, creating first downs off of, taking the back and the checkdown, get it to him quickly and allowing the back to, to make it happen afterwards.
That was a little bit different look at just how the back had to release and, as he was working, Ashton was anticipating him continue to move, Tre (Wisner) sat down and it was just, one of those things that we have to be better at. You, you don't ever like to see a, a negative play show up, but in that situation, we get to learn from it and continue to apply those lessons as we move forward just so that they don't show up when it's, when everything's on the line.
On Jayvan Boggs adjusting his route on his touchdown against Central Arkansas
No, it was, to be honest with you, it's actually really. They spun their coverage to the front side, front side concept, right? (Jayvan) Boggs running a seven-cut. Corner, I'm assuming was supposed to be the deep 3 player. As Ashton (Daniels) saw it, he saw his progression and as you saw, he stepped up, he actually pointed Boggs deep and that was a good reaction play. I mean, it was something that kind of a scramble, Boggs broke deep, Ashtonput the ball on him. It was a very headsy play by those guys being able to get on the same page and create an explosive.
On the progression of Ashton Daniels since the Alabama game
That was something that I was actually, you know, you sit there and you say, all right, well, youcome out of a game, where were the steps of improvement? Were there is you gotta continue to grow? I thought our intermediate passing game, his progression through certain reads was. It was really good. I was pleased with what I saw from him. You know, the decision-making, get the ball out of his hands, he worked through, sometimes third, fourth part of his progression, but just the efficiency of how his eyes were able to transition, I thought were good. It was, we had limited, limited snaps, limited reps, all those things, but I was pleased with what he put on film throughout that game, yes, still areas to improve upon it, but I thought he did a good job, especially in theintermediate game. How we want to see him continuing to take steps.
On if this is the best he's felt about FSU's offense in years
I think we're progressing. I mean, you know, it's, I think I mentioned last week you get to. You getto see a team an offense the different guys you're just growth they're, Getting a better sense of, the things we do well, the things where, where we can, where I think we have potential can build upon that, each week you're getting to, to see that. But what I like is that we've been able to, find success in a variety of different ways. There's, the explosive,the explosive plays, I think we had 13 of them in the game the other day, I think 11 or 12 against Alabama. I mean, it's, you're seeing that show up, but also just the ability to efficiently run the football has been good.
Still, we had some mistakes the other day just on, on some, some, small IDs, make sure our eyes were where they need to be that we can, that it was, it was probably good, some of the things showed up just for the long, for the long term. I like the way that the guys are approaching, the weeks in practice, the things that we're trying to show them in practice, not just preparing for an opponent, but just having, a big picture confidence that regardless of what's called within the, thecourse of a game, that we can go out there. Amongst a variety of different looks go put ourselves in the best position. I mean, there's times that, they had, they had, a couple of good calls against plays there the other day, we, as long asyou can still find the best option.
It's not always a great option, but it can be a best option. That's where you want to see an offense to be able to, to stay ahead of the chains, to be able to, to not only be, be explosive, but also the efficiency in how you operate. I'm excited about, where I think this group can continue to grow, we're just still, like I said, still getting to know a lot about them, as we're, as we're going through, each week of the season, each week of practice. We got a big challenge, big challenge ahead this week. This is a team that does not give up many explosiveplays. They are, they're quite disruptive in, in how they play. I'm looking forward to seeing our, how our guys, handle the, the challenge that's in front of us.
On figuring out what works and doesn't work defensively mid-season
We want to be aggressive, we wanna attack, we wanna be able to put pressure on opposingoffenses. In a variety of ways. Sometimes that's with blitzes, sometimes with alignments, with techniques, different ways to be the aggressor. Just talking about offensively, you also get a sense of how guys handle the volume of whatyou're putting on them, but also the variations of that.
When you find your things that are presented, that guys, that easily clicks, they understand and are confident in the different, whether it's communication leverages, the ways that you're going to adapt to regardless of what it is that you might see, then you wanna build upon those things. We're gonna have our menu of things that we work, it might be a lot of different presentations of how we get to it, but that's something that we're gonna continue to build upon as we see these guys work, perform, then grow through the things we're asking them to do.
On the importance of beating Virginia
Every game has a lot of weight on it. It's you, you go and put everything you have to go be successful in this one. You know, it's, that's our focus. Regardless of what's behind it, you know, it still comes down to this game.
On the challenge of stopping the run this season
In terms of somebody, you know, that's coming at you and their plan of attack of what they'veshown to do. I mean, this is, you know, we've got to rise up and we got to play at a very high level. You know, this, I think our guys, you know, defensively understand that. They understand the, when you see a team that, that has shown the explosive capabilities, quarterback has been extremely efficient, just in how he's operated, what he's done,you're the running threat of what they, what they can do.
The different formations, different formations, different schemes, outside zone, inside zone, being able to have good balance of their plan of attack, but this is a, it's gonna be a big, it's gonna be a big test. We have to play much better in eliminating some of the leaky, the leaky yards that are there. I think that's something that even just with our technique, can be improved upon and you see the issues that show up and they're all correctable issues.
It's just, as you're doing that, it's a constant repetition, the building of confidence, sometimes you guys get caught up thinking, That, hey, I've got, I've gotta take care of you, these multiple issues or responsibilities, man, just do your job. You got to trust the guy next to you to be where he's supposed to be, then there's been times where a guy was maybe a little bit looser in his technique and you make a play.
You think, oh, well, I can, I can just do that again. Well, as you try it, maybe the next time you open up something, and it hits in a different place, that's, you gotta, you gotta stay true to your, to, to where you're supposed to be, stay true to what you're supposed to do, when the ball finds you, man, you go, you gotta, you gotta make the, make the play and make the most of the opportunity. But, that's something that I, I, and I really feel that that, Understanding through the experiences is there and now it's just the continued, the continued work of getting it corrected and going out there and playing our best ball.
On what he's seen from Paul Bowling and Nate Pabst over the last two games
I think that they're doing well. I think Paul is, he played 12 games last year, played against bigteams, played at a high level. I think as he's transition here, he's getting more and more confident in what we're asking him to do. He was limited last week in practice, the first part of it, he was able to do what he needed to do to be able to get the start and to play how he played throughout this game, but I think you'll see him continue to getbetter. Nate is a guy, he's played at a really high level. In all honesty, it probably was not his best game, had some really good plays in it, but he'd probably be the first to tell you that he wants more out of himself, but I've been he's a guy that is a great leader on our team.
I think he's one of our best players on offense, a guy that I've got high expectations for as the season continues just to be all of it. I love his approach. I love his mindset. I think everybody's settling in. You would, with where that is, but still with the constant competition with Chimdia (Nwaiwu), with the some of the guys that other tackles that we have, guys that are pushing there to be ready if their number's called. I'm looking forward to that continued growth.
On if Ashton Daniels has similar athletic abilities to West Virginia's quarterback who had a big game against Virginia last week
They were able to create some explosive plays on the perimeter as well. I thought they had a goodplan of attack. There were some plays that the quarterback just got in space and made people miss and had some explosive plays that he kind of created on his own. This is a team that does a good job. They're not going to beat themselves. They're gonna make sure that if you have a plan of attack, they're gonna usually have a pretty soundadjustment to it.
As I said earlier, when you get your one on one opportunities, that's what this game's gonna come down to. You even look back to our game last year, there's some one on ones that we won and then there were a few opportunities where we didn't capitalize in those situations and it cost us in what was a double overtime game. This is a well-coached defense. It's one that they've got good players, they've got a good understanding of what they're being asked to do.
Whether it's a space play, whether it's a block up front, whether it's outside in a route, you find yourself in the one on one, you got to go make the play against this defense because if not, they're gonna force you to have to grind it out. When you look at what they've been able to do creating takeaways, and you look at some of the things that they've been able to accomplish, it definitely presents some challenges.
On the play of Charles Lester last week
I mean, obviously with Q(uindarrius Jones) being unavailable, that was an opportunity. Nehemiah(Chandler) got the start, him and Ja’Bril (Rawls). I thought those guys did all that. We've been able to get some good sense of where they are here early in the season, but then as the game progressed, seeing guys like Charles being able to go in, I liked the way that he played in the game the other day. It was probably a good confidence builder forhim. He's had, he got banged up in the, he had one play in Alabama game and kind of tweaked his, he got injured or banged up on that play.
So it's limited just overall rep count. But he's a guy that we want to see continue to grow throughout the course of the season. He's one that I've been really pleased with his work ethic, his focus, his continued investment into improvement. As you get out there and you start making some plays, now that confidence continues to build. I thought that was a good game for him to go out and make some good plays, show physicality, show the toughness that's needed, and if his number's called here this week, I know he'll be ready.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Everything Mike Norvell said after beating Central Arkansas
