Florida State Needs Proper Response vs. Miami to Win

The Florida State Seminoles (3-3) are coming off a demoralizing 44-20 road loss to Louisville. The Seminoles face another huge challenge on the road as they travel to Miami Gardens take on No. 3 Miami (5-0).

The Hurricanes are confident and talented, and have dictated the flow of the game to their opponents this season in the most dominant of ways.

Florida State has to respond in kind. The Seminoles have lost 11 consecutive road games. They must come to Miami with a positive attitude and a deep desire to win this nationally televised, prime-time event.

Coach Mike Norvell spoke about what his team needs to do against the Hurricanes.

“You need to see response,” said Norvell. “You need to see guys that take control of the ebbs and flows that'll be in this game. And there's going to be a time you get hit in the mouth on Saturday. That's going to happen. It's not going to feel good. But you know what you do in that moment. So that's I want to see. They've handled adversity, and shown that they're that they are capable of coming together, the style of play, the discipline in play, the execution in play, through some challenging experiences.”

To the point, Florida State must play like they did in a dominant 38-7 victory over Virginia. In that game against the Cavaliers, the Florida State defense was dominant, as they shut down the Virginia offense: 

The Hurricanes are ranked No. 1 nationally in total offense at 554 yards per game. They have scored an average of 49 points per game (also No. 1 in the country). Miami is also tops in college football in rushing defense at 42 yards per game.

Miami is going to come out swinging and talking trash in an effort to infiltrate the Seminoles football psyche. Florida State should respond in a similar manner, and let the Hurricanes know they will not be intimidated.

Florida State has shown brief flashes that they can take over a game and keep a defense on its heels. In addition to the Virginia game, the Seminoles showed it in the first halves on the road at Alabama and Louisville.

Against the Crimson Tide, Florida State led 21-6 in the first half before a second half collapse in which the defense gave up 44 points and 220 yards rushing in what became a 50-36 defeat.

At Louisville, the Seminoles jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and were on the Louisville 2-yard line on first-and-goal and looking to go up by three touchdowns. But Florida State failed to score. The momentum changed, and Louisville went on to victory.

Florida State needs that kind of play, but for an entire 60 minutes against Miami. And, being one-dimensional against the Hurricanes will not get the job done either. Norvell has to implement a balanced game plan.

Administer a heavy dose of running back Ousmane Kromah, who is hard to bring down, to soften up the Hurricanes defensive line. Also, get the ball to Duce Robinson for some contested catches in the red zone, and some deep balls to Micahi Danzy, who can get behind the Miami secondary with his elite track speed.

If the defense gets punched in the mouth, Florida State needs to throw a haymaker for the knockout. Florida State must stack up negative yardage plays in the form of sacks of Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, and tackles for loss on running back Mark Fletcher.

These are tasks that other opponents have failed to do against the Hurricanes.

However, that is how you respond to a superior opponent as a +21.5-point underdog on the road.

Both sides recognize the significance of this game and the history and tradition of this great rivalry.

It is time for Florida State to want this one more than Miami does and to shock the college football world by winning it.