FSU's Challenging start to the 2024 Season: A Closer Look at Their Struggles
FSU's Challenging start to the 2024 Season: A Closer ...
By Ali Hammad September 10, 2024 20:33
Florida State University (FSU) has been a national powerhouse in college football for decades. It boasts an amazing pedigree of success if they consider its long-standing history, which includes multiple NCAA Division One football FBS championships. Still, the 2024 season has posed a unique obstacle for Florida State, a far cry from its usual dominance. Here is an in-depth look at FSU's rough start to this season, what has led them where they are, and maybe a few ideas for the road ahead.
Overview of the Season
As the 2024 season opens, FSU fans and analysts almost certainly could not have seen this coming. Two games into the season, FSU sits at 0-2 and is all alone in last place in the ACC after placing eighth each of the past two seasons. More notably, this start comes from a team grappling despite expectations of high accomplishment before the year.
- Points allowed per game: 33.0 (118th of 134)
- Scoring Defense: National, 99th points allowed per game (26.0)
- Offense: Total Offense 292.0 yds/gm
- Total Defense: 352.5 Yards Per Game
Those numbers show a team struggling on both sides of the ball to maintain possession and slow down their opponents.
Key Struggles
Uiagalelei's Inconsistency
Through two games, his stat line reads:
- Completions Attempts: 40-69
- Passing Yards: 465
- Completion Percentage: 58.0%
- Touchdowns: 1
- Interceptions: 1
Those numbers aren't terrible, but they're disappointing, given the huge expectations on Uiagalelei and FSU's offense. A 30.77% third down conversion rate shows the team struggles to sustain drives, resulting in an issue with their scoring production.
Rushing Game Woes
The Seminoles have only totaled 119 rushing yards through two games and are only averaging 25 Yards Per Rush, which has not been very productive for the last two weeks. The absence of a traditional running game has also made it easier for opposing defenses to pressure Uiagalelei and disrupt the passing attack.
Defensive Lapses
The group yields 226.5 rushing yards per game. And opponents have taken advantage of the flaw. The inability to come through against the run has applied more pressure on the secondary, which is unrelenting for a defense collectively.
Comparative Analysis
Many other programs have matched early-season struggles, but few have a collapse as severe as FSU. The fact that this is so can be distressing for fans and pundits alike, given the pronounced differential concerning their historical performances or recent successes.
Fan and Media Reactions
There has been a combination of surprise, letdown, and increasing worry among FSU's fan base and some media outlets. Fans, as could be expected from social media sites, have been vocal in their frustration and are demanding changes this instant. Sports commentators have been no less severe and full of second thoughts about everything from player performance to coaching decisions.
Future Outlook
There's still time for Florida State to turn the program around, but this season has arguably already been pretty far off course. However, drastic improvements are required everywhere in all facets of the game. Or it could be bad fortune, and they were late to all the offensive explosion parties, somewhere in between. Here is what this team most needs to do:
- Offensive Consistency: Uiagalelei must return to his rhythm and get the offense back on track by remaining efficient, converting third downs, etc.
- Establish the run: Revitalizing FSU's ground game is important for offensive balance and also takes pressure off an average-at-best passing attack.
- Shore Up the Defense: More so than getting after the passer, fixing a run defense allowing 178.8 yards per game (31st) should be priority No. 1.
- Mental Toughness: Turn the page after early struggles.
- Strategic Shifts: They need to make tactical adjustments to emphasize this group's strengths while minimizing its weaknesses.
The opening to the 2024 season has not gone well for FSU, as they have found their fair share of struggles on both sides of the ball. Fans and analysts have watched the team stumble to a 0-2 start that includes an ugly stat line. Given that there is an entire season to be played, Florida State has a chance to right that wrong.
The next few weeks will be huge for FSU. How they deal with this adversity will shape not only their 2024 moot but could also affect the program's future. With such a storied past, the pressure to turn it around is enormous, and so too, in fairness, would be the potential for instant revival.
As FSU moves on, all eyes will be focused on how Coach Norvell and his players respond to such early adversity as they try to lead the Seminoles back into being one of college football's top team programs. It is a long road back, but no one with the tradition and resources of Florida State should be buried this soon.
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