Florida State’s passing game showed signs of progress Saturday, but tougher ACC competition will reveal if the improvement is real.
Florida State’s (2-2) passing game is showing signs that it may be taking the next step, but doing so against Central Arkansas (2-3) doesn't erase the questions the Seminoles entered the game with.
The Seminoles’ passing game looks to be finally taking a step forward after putting up 238 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-7 win over the Bears. But against an FCS opponent, the real test will come against stronger competition as they enter ACC play.
The passing game has totaled 615 yards and four touchdowns combined in the Alabama (4-0) and Central Arkansas games, a drastic difference from the Seminoles’ opening two games, when the offense recorded just 327 combined yards and two touchdowns.
Against Alabama, Duce Robinson stepped up with six receptions on nine targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. Robinson, who led the Seminoles with 1,081 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 56 receptions a year ago, finally looked like the receiver Florida State expected to get back this season against the Crimson Tide.
Against Central Arkansas, Robinson didn’t make the same impact, finishing with two catches on three targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. But he didn’t have to. Jayvan Boggs stepped up and took over the game, pulling in six catches on six targets for 122 yards and a touchdown.
“I liked the game that I had,” Boggs said. “I’m not really satisfied; I always want more.”
As a freshman, Boggs appeared in eight games with four starts, recording 103 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. He became the first true freshman wide receiver to start a season opener for the Seminoles since 1992. This season, Boggs has already more than doubled his production from last season with 240 yards on 12 receptions and a touchdown.
Regardless of who is coaching Florida State in the future, Boggs appears to be one of the players the Seminoles will not want to lose.
The Noles Receivers Flip the Script on Explosive Play.
For a change in the passing game, Florida State was making the explosive plays. The Seminoles recorded seven pass plays of 15 or more yards against Central Arkansas, totalling 181 yards, with two resulting in touchdowns.
The first came in the first half on second-and-9 from the UCA 29-yard line, when Ashton Daniels connected with Duce Robinson for a 29-yard touchdown. The second came in the third quarter on second-and-10 from the UCA 34-yard line. Daniels found Boggs deep down the left side for a 34-yard touchdown pass.
In total, six wide receivers made catches in the game. Along with Robinson and Boggs, Jasen Lopez had two for 18 yards, Micahi Danzy had two for 15 yards, while Ousmane Kromah and Quintrevion Wisner had one each for 19 and 12 yards, respectively.
Virginia (3-1) and Louisville(2-2) are up next, and both games look far more winnable than they did just a week ago. That gives Mike Norvell two opportunities to show that what the Seminoles have been working on in practice is translating to the field. With an improved passing game, the Noles may take advantage of the opportunities this time and pull off the upset in either one or both of the next two games.
“It’s fully loaded with opportunities,” Norvell said. “It comes down to us.”
While the receivers and Ashton Daniels appear to be finding a rhythm, interceptions remain a problem. Daniels threw another pick Saturday, bringing his season total to six touchdowns and five interceptions.
If Florida State can continue improving in the passing game while limiting turnovers, the Seminoles may finally be able to turn opportunities into wins. The next two weeks will reveal whether the passing game is truly taking a step forward and becoming a part of the offense FSU can count on, or whether it remains a work in progress.
