Florida State will look to even its record and make it eight straight over Miami on Saturday as the 13th-ranked Hurricanes come to town. Miami comes in as a road favorite as it aims for its first victory in the series since winning in Tallahassee in 2009.
While FSU has won seven straight, the last three have come by just a combined 10 points and all three have required a second half rally from the Seminoles. As they look to extend the streak to eight on Saturday, here are five things to watch:
1. James Blackman
After impressing in his first start against N.C. State two weeks ago, true freshman quarterback James Blackman was less successful last week. Blackman didn’t break the 100-yard passing mark until his final throw of the game. Against a Miami team that has speed and can get after the quarterback, Blackman will need to play well on Saturday. Many of the play calls so far for Blackman have been screens and short throws, but the freshman has an arm that allows him to make all the throws. Against a Miami defense that will be looking to stop the run, Blackman must make an effort to stretch the Hurricanes vertically.
2. Miami’s Playmakers
Miami quarterback Malik Rosier has had an excellent start to the 2017 season and one of the biggest reasons is the talent around him. The running back combination of Mark Walton and Travis Homer is one of the best in the ACC as the two have combined to average nearly nine yards per carry this season. The Hurricanes are also talented when it comes to pass-catchers with receivers Ahmmon Richards and Braxton Berrios both capable of stretching a defense. Tight end Chris Herndon is also a reliable target, which will give the Seminoles plenty to account for on Saturday.
3. Auden Tate
As dreadful as the Florida State offense has been this season, it’s scary to think where it might be without junior wide receiver Auden Tate. Tate has 226 yards receiving and three of FSU’s four touchdowns this season, including the game-winner from 40 yards away in last week’s win over Wake Forest. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Tate is a match-up nightmare and will be facing a Miami secondary he can exploit. Tate has been unarguably the receiver that Blackman has been most comfortable with and could be in for a big day on Saturday.
4. The FSU Offensive Line
If Florida State is going to win on Saturday against Miami, the offensive line must play much better. That unit allowed five sacks and 17 tackles for loss last week against Wake Forest and will be facing yet another good defensive front, which includes Chad Thomas, Trent Harris, Kendrick Norton and R.J. McIntosh. The good news for Florida State is that banged up guard Landon Dickerson and tackle Derrick Kelly are expected to play on Saturday.
Miami has 11 sacks through three games and will try to get to Blackman and clog up running lanes for the likes of Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers. Against good defensive lines like Alabama and N.C. State, the Seminoles did hold their own up front, but last week’s effort was abysmal. If FSU gets manhandled as it did a week ago, the winning streak against Miami will not live on.
5. Special Teams
One cannot ignore the importance of special teams in a contest between Florida State and Miami. For all the missed field goals and muffs in years past, the kicking game could play a major role in Saturday’s contest. Last season, FSU preserved a 20-19 victory with a blocked PAT with 1:38 remaining. The touchdown that preceded it was set up by a big punt return from Braxton Berrios.
FSU could not have gotten off to a worse special teams start than it did against Alabama by fumbling a kickoff in addition to having both a punt and field goal blocked. Since then, the Seminoles have been much better on special teams in all aspects. Both teams have good placekickers in Ricky Aguayo for FSU and Michael Badgley for Miami. Berrios remains a dangerous man in the return game for the Hurricanes. Logan Tyler has struggled when it comes to punting for the Seminoles while Miami’s Zach Feagles has yet to allow a return.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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