Florida State needs QB Ashton Daniels to protect the football, make plays, and finally deliver a complete game against Virginia.
It's gameday, and as Florida State (2-2) welcomes Virginia (3-1) to Doak Campbell Stadium, the Seminoles will need Ashton Daniels to be the playmaker they brought him in to be if they're going to beat the Cavaliers.
Daniels has had four games to get comfortable in Mike Norvell's offensive system: two against teams with lesser talent and two against teams with similar or better talent.
In all four games, Daniels has shown flashes of talent and ability but has yet to put together a complete game.
Unfortunately for Norvell, that's not good enough when his job is under scrutiny week after week.
Despite the struggles, Norvell insists that Daniels is growing, developing, and improving.
It’s not just Norvell preaching about his growth; Austin Tucker, FSU's quarterback coach, has uttered the same sentiment.
“He's very confident in himself. He knows who he is and where his foundation is,” Tucker said. “I think it always gets back to him being a consistent person day in and day out with his teammates and the leadership that he shows.”
Now, that improvement must translate to the field. Norvell needs Daniels to be the fifth-year senior and leader, if Florida State hopes to upset Virginia.
Daniels will have to do it against a Virginia defense that ranks 14th nationally in interceptions, averaging 1.5 per game.
That directly targets Daniels' biggest issue this season, as he has already thrown five interceptions through four games. Against a Virginia offense averaging 40.5 points per game, Florida State cannot afford Daniels to turn the ball over, giving the Cavaliers extra possessions to put points on the board.
This cannot be another game where Tucker has to look Daniels in the eyes coming off the field to make sure he understands what went wrong. If Daniels knows what he needs to correct, now is the time to show it.
“But on all of those occasions, when he comes off the field, I get his eyes,” Tucker said. “That's the first thing I'm looking for, and he gives you the eyes of, I know what I did. I know what I need to correct.”
Daniels will have little room for mistakes against a very good Virginia secondary.
Even if he corrects the turnover problems, moving the ball against a Virginia defense that ranks fifth nationally in passing yards allowed per game will be a tall order for a Florida State offense led by Daniels that ranks 66th in passing yards per game.
The pressure will grow on Daniels if he cannot establish a rhythm early in the game, allowing Virginia to load up against the run.
That is the one area Virginia's defense has struggled this season, ranking 49th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game. If Daniels cannot loosen up the front seven and give his running backs room to operate, he may be forced to beat the Cavaliers with his arm, and that's something he has yet to prove he can do consistently.
Daniels should be carrying confidence into the game after completing 66 percent of his passes against Central Arkansas (2-3) for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
In his last two games, he has completed 62 percent of his passes for 601 yards and four touchdowns.
If Daniels rises to the moment, eliminates bad decisions, finds a rhythm early and uses his arm to open up the running game, Florida State will have a chance to pull off the upset.
If he doesn't, the Seminoles could fall to 2-3. With the pressure boiling over, Norvell may have no choice but to turn to one of his backup quarterbacks.
