Staff Keys to the Game: FSU at Wake Forest

By Joshua Mixon
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Updated: September 29, 2017

Mitch White/FSU athletics

Florida State (0-2, 0-1 ACC) travels to undefeated Wake Forest (4-0, 1-0 ACC) on Saturday looking for its first win of 2017 and its sixth straight victory over the team from Winston-Salem. The Demon Deacons have gotten off to a flying start to the season, rattling off convincing wins over Boston College and Utah State on their way to an unbeaten start.

We asked our staff what the Seminoles need to do on Saturday in order to avoid another disappointing result.

Mike Ferguson, Editor:

1. Don’t beat yourself

It might be a stretch to say that Florida State beat itself last week, but it absolutely did itself no favors. The Seminoles managed just one touchdown in six red zone trips and can’t continue to score just a touchdown per game. FSU will be facing a Wake Forest team that is opportunistic. The Demon Deacons lead the ACC in turnover margin at +5 while the Seminoles have yet to take the ball away in two games. Wake has managed just one touchdown in its last five games against FSU, so Florida State would be best served not to give the Demon Deacons a short field. The last time that FSU fell to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem was 2011 in a 35-30 contest in which the Seminoles committed five turnovers and 13 penalties for 109 yards.

2. Maintain balance

Although the rushing attack was significantly better for Florida State last week against N.C. State than Alabama, it was still sub-par. For freshman quarterback James Blackman to be successful in his first career road start on Saturday, the Seminoles need to find a way to ease his burden with the backfield combination of Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers. Doing that starts up front as FSU will be facing yet another deep talented defensive line, led by senior defensive end Duke Ejiofor. If Blackman continues to be harassed as he was last week against the Wolfpack, there is a real chance that FSU could leave Winston-Salem with a record of 0-3.

Clint Eiland, Lead Writer:Â

1. Dominate the line of scrimmage

Perhaps the most worrying part of the defense during the N.C. State loss was the lack of pressure on quarterback Ryan Finley. He did whatever he wanted in the pocket. FSU has the talent to be the best defensive line in the nation, but it needs to actually play like it.

2. Execute in the red zone

Here’s a stat that should worry FSU fans. Despite giving up almost 500 yards of offense to Appalachian state, Wake Forest only allowed 19 points. That could easily happen to FSU if its red zone execution isn’t corrected. Last week, FSU managed one touchdown in six red zone trips. With Auden Tate’s status uncertain, the task becomes that much more difficult.

3. Get motivated

Florida State is 0-2, unranked for the first since 2011, and everyone is laughing at how far FSU has fallen from where it was supposed to be prior to the season. If that doesn’t get players angry and convince them to compete, then making a bowl game is in jeopardy.

Josh Mixon, Staff Writer:Â

1. Avoid a slow start

The Seminoles have gotten off to a sluggish start in each of their two games thus far – something that cannot happen against Wake Forest. FSU faces another tough defense this week, and falling behind early like it did against N.C. State could spell disaster for a team whose offense ranks dead last in the ACC in both total yards per game and points per game. The Noles must come out of the gates firing and avoid a sloppy start, or they run a real risk of leaving Winston-Salem winless.

2. Force a turnover (or two)Â

FSU also ranks last in the ACC in turnovers forced, with a whopping zero takeaways. Suffice to say, that needs to change. Wake quarterback John Wolford has had his own turnover issues when facing the Noles in the past, but has yet to commit one in 2017. The Demon Deacon defense will likely keep this one close, as it did in 2016, so the Seminoles must force at least one turnover. FSU forced three – two interceptions and a fumble – in last season’s contest.

3. Give. Akers. The. Ball.

Look, it’s not asinine to say that Cam Akers looks far and away like the Seminoles’ best option at running back. While he made two glaring mistakes against N.C. State, he runs with agility and shiftiness that fellow back Jacques Patrick simply does not have. For the Seminole offense to have success, Akers must get the bulk of the carries. Perhaps let Patrick run it on short-yardage situations?

Josh Mixon covers Florida State athletics for The Daily Nole and co-hosts the Giving â€˜Em The Business Podcast on Soundcloud. You can find him on Twitter @joshmixon10.

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