Staff Keys to the Game for FSU vs. Alabama

Florida State enters Saturday night’s Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game as 7-point underdogs, with most picking Alabama to emerge victorious. The Crimson Tide have not lost a season opener in over a decade, and Nick Saban’s program traditionally handles its opening opponent quite handily.

However, the Seminoles boast more than enough talent to pull off the upset on Saturday. FSU is undefeated against the SEC since 2013, winning games against Auburn, Florida, and the Seminoles’ 2016 opening opponent in Ole Miss. Jimbo Fisher enters 2017 with a 9-1 record against SEC opponents.

For this impressive streak to continue, the Seminoles must be on their absolute A-game come Saturday night. So, we asked our staff to give their keys to an FSU victory. Lead writer Clint Eiland, editor Mike Ferguson and contributor Josh Mixon weigh in:

Clint Eiland:

1. Force Jalen Hurts to beat you with his arm.

Hurts can certainly make teams pay if they don’t keep track of him on the read-option and designed run plays. But his actual passing skills leave much to be desired. He isn’t particularly accurate and he struggles with consistency.

2. Don’t give Alabama extra opportunities.

Turnovers need to be at an absolute minimum if FSU wants to maintain confidence against Alabama. The Orange Bowl last year was an example of how terrible miscues (fumbling a punt, throwing a pick-6) can nearly cost you a game. A defender making a great play is one thing. Coughing up the ball out of nowhere is a separate issue.

3. Don’t get in an early deficit.

Florida State currently has a reputation for orchestrating near miraculous comebacks in games where it looks dead in the water. That works against teams like Ole Miss or Miami. It probably won’t work against a team as deep as Alabama, who has great talent as far down as its third string. FSU needs to make it easier for itself and not get into an early hole.

Mike Ferguson:

1. Avoid being dominated by Alabama’s defensive front.

The Florida State offensive line holding its own against Alabama for me is the single biggest key for FSU. The offensive front for the Seminoles was a much better run blocking unit than a pass protecting one. Against an Alabama defense that was the best in the country against the run last season, FSU will need to keep Deondre Francois upright.

2. No cheap or easy points for Alabama.

Alabama has so much talent that it doesn’t always need to be on offense to score points. More than any team in the nation, the Crimson Tide finds ways to score on defense and special teams. Minkah Fitzpatrick himself has four career touchdowns. For FSU to have a chance on Saturday, it cannot allow Alabama to get cheap points. The Seminoles gave up non-offensive touchdowns in each of their final two games last season against Florida and Michigan. Both resulted in wins, but turnovers and special teams breakdowns against Alabama will almost assuredly bring a different result.

Josh Mixon:

1. Establish the run.

Florida State will not win this game if it fails to establish the run game early. Jeremy Pruitt’s defense lost a decent amount of experience at the end of 2016, but the Crimson Tide remain absolutely loaded in the secondary. Establishing the run with Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers will be vital in avoiding obvious passing situations, which could be huge when facing an Alabama defense that specializes in creating turnovers.

2. Make Alabama one-dimensional. 

Jalen Hurts struggled with the deep ball in 2016, so eliminating the Crimson Tide’s rushing attack will make the job a bit easier for safety Derwin James and FSU’s experienced secondary. While limiting the talented trio of Bo Scarbrough, Najee Harris and Damien Harris is a tough task, it’s a mandatory one on Saturday night.

3. Receivers must win 1-on-1 battles.

FSU’s offensive line vs. Alabama’s defensive line is garnering the most attention, but Saturday night’s contest will be won outside the tackles. Alabama loves to isolate its cornerbacks in man coverage, so Auden Tate, Nyqwan Murray and Keith Gavin must consistently win 1-on-1 battles for the Seminole offense to move the ball. If Alabama can stack the box and isolate its corners with little punishment, the FSU offense will struggle mightily on Saturday.