Florida State running back Ousmane Kromah leads the team in rushing (and No. 2 in the ACC), and averages 115 yards per game on the ground. No. 10 Alabama and their suffocating defense allows just 32.50 yards per game. It is the classic paradox: an irresistible force meets an immovable object.
As the Florida State Seminoles (1-1, 0-1 in ACC) continue preparations for their road game with the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0, 1-0 in SEC) on Saturday, coach Mike Norvell and his offensive staff are racking their brains over how best to attack the suffocating Crimson Tide defense.
One matchup that could be top of mind is star running back Ousmane Kromah running the ball through the crimson tidal wave of angry Alabama defenders.
Coming off a bye week, Kromah leads the Seminoles in rushing with 231 yards and two touchdowns, and averages 115 yards per game through the first two games of the season. That is good enough for No. 2 in the ACC.
He is averaging 6.42 yards per carry. Against New Mexico State in Week 0, Kromah rushed for 115 yards, one touchdown, and averaged 8.21 yards per carry. That was good enough for Kromah to make the Pro Football Focus (PFF) Team of the Week for Week 0.
Against SMU in Week 1, Kromah rushed for 116 yards and a score. He averaged 5.27 yards per carry against the Mustangs.
As a team, Florida State has averaged 208 yards per game on the ground, and ranks No. 39 in the FBS in that category. Right now, that is the most productive aspect of the Seminoles offense.
For the Alabama defense, running the football for positive yardage is frowned upon, downright prohibited. They are ranked No.4 in rushing defense nationally, allowing a paltry 32.50 yards per game.
In their first two games, against East Carolina and SEC opponent Kentucky, the Crimson Tide has allowed just 65 yards rushing, and a 1.20 yard per carry average. East Carolina rushed 22 times against the Crimson Tide and gained only two yards (for a 0.09-yard average).
In the Kentucky game, the Crimson Tide allowed the Wildcats to rush for just 63 yards on 32 tries (for a 1.97 average), led by Alabama linebackers Caleb Woodson and Luke Metz. Both received high marks from PFF for their performances: Woodson graded at 80.1, and Metz graded at 86.4. Metz was the highest-graded Alabama defender in Week 2.
Kromah, with his 6-foot-1, 200+pound frame, and by extension, the Florida State offensive line will be challenged at every snap. The offensive line must hold their blocks and open up the running lanes for Kromah to bust through and move the ball downfield for positive yardage.
Make no mistake, the Florida State offense must be a balanced attack running and throwing the football against Alabama. Against this defense, one-dimensional is not the way to be.
But if Kromah cannot leave scorched earth in his wake on his way to the end zone, and the Seminoles are forced to live and die by the forward pass alone, then it could be a long day on Saturday for the Seminoles.
