The Daily Nole

FSU-Duke: Five Things to Watch

wlpearce.com/FSU athletics

Few would have guessed it coming into the year, but Florida State is facing a must-win on Saturday in Durham — maybe just to make a bowl game. The Seminoles are off to a 1-3 start and will be facing a Duke team that has dropped consecutive games after a 4-0 start.

The contest at Wallace Wade Stadium will be the first between the schools since the teams met for the 2013 ACC title. With kickoff nearing for FSU and Duke, we highlight five things to watch for on Saturday:

1. Daniel Jones
After a red hot start, things have been rough for Duke sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones over the last couple weeks. In losses to Miami and Virginia, Jones is completing just 42 percent of his passes for a grand total of 290 yards in those two games. Jones is a mobile quarterback, which have given FSU some issues this season. If Jones plays poorly for a third week in a row, there will be no upset.

2. James Blackman vs. Duke’s secondary
Florida State freshman quarterback James Blackman has been money in crunch time over the last two weeks. After leading a fourth quarter comeback at Wake Forest two weeks ago, Blackman nearly did likewise last week against the rival Hurricanes. The FSU coaching staff has been extremely conservative with Blackman early in games, but after proving himself late in each of the last two weeks, it’s possible that things could be opened up.

Blackman will be facing a defense that is very opportunistic with 10 interceptions this year, which leads the ACC and ranks second nationally. Cornerbacks Byron Fields and Mark Gilbert each have three interceptions this year. Fields has taken two back the other way and Duke has done so four times as a team. The good news for Blackman against the Blue Devils’ secondary is that they have been susceptible to big plays.

3. Cam Akers
Against a good Miami defense last week, FSU freshman running back Cam Akers proved he was the real deal. The former 5-star prospect finished with 121 yards rushing on 20 carries and added an extra element of burst that the Seminoles don’t necessarily get with talented starter Jacques Patrick. After last week’s performance, expect to see more of Akers against a Duke defense that allows the seventh fewest yards per game on the ground in the country.

4. FSU O-Line vs. Duke D-Line
Another week and another stout defensive front will be in front of the Florida State offensive line. The name to know for the Blue Devils is defensive tackle Mike Ramsay, who leads the team with 4.5 sacks. Freshmen Victor Dimukeje and Drew Crawford have done a good job providing pressure off the edge for a Duke defense that has 19 sacks and ranks seventh nationally against the run.

The challenge for Florida State may be even greater this week with guard Landon Dickerson done for the season. Expected to fill in for Dickerson will be redshirt freshman Josh Ball, who could find himself either at guard or tackle if Derrick Kelly is able to move over. The Seminoles played much better last week against Miami when it came to getting guys blocked, but they have still allowed at least three sacks in every game this season.

5. Turnover Battle
In each of Florida State’s three losses this season, the Seminoles have lost the turnover battle. On Saturday, they’ll be facing a Duke team that is +4 in that department for the season with four defensive touchdowns. The only time FSU has won the turnover battle this season was at Wake Forest and that resulted in the team’s only win. In the fragile state that FSU is in, it cannot be its own worst enemy on Saturday.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

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