Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Florida State

NC STATE (2-2, 1-0) vs. No. 17 FLORIDA STATE (3-1, 1-1)

DATE: Thursday, October 5, 2006

TIME: Kickoff: 7:47 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,583)

RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network: 6:30 p.m. (EDT)

TELEVISION: ESPN

OPPONENTOf Florida State’s three victories this season, only the last one was easy. Due in part to a sputtering rushing game, the Seminoles had close calls with Miami and Troy and lost at home to Clemson. However, against hapless Rice on September 23^rd, FSU was able to run the ball at will. The result was a lopsided 55-7 victory in Tallahassee.

Freshman Antone Smith rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns while veteran Lorenzo Booker added 115 yards and a score. Florida State ran for 287 of its 500 total yards. That was nearly double the 148 rushing yards it recorded in its first three games. The Noles also took advantage of a motivated Greg Carr.

FSU rolled up 280 yards offense by halftime and led 26-7 at the break after Carr hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Drew Weatherford. The 6-6 sophomore wide receiver also caught a 57-yard TD strike in the fourth quarter from back-up quarterback, Xavier Lee.

Carr, who was not a factor during limited action in Florida State's 27-20 loss to Clemson, grabbed five passes for 107 yards and his downfield blocks helped spring two other long gains.

When the Noles can run enough to keep the defense honest and Carr is focused, FSU’s offense is very dangerous.

Weatherford, who last year led all freshmen in passing yards (3,208) and passing touchdowns (18), is completing 61 percent of his throws this season for nearly 180 yards a game. However, that’s far from the ACC lead in passing or total offense. Also, Weatherford has thrown nearly as many interceptions (2) as touchdowns (3).

Backing up Weatherford is Lee. The redshirt sophomore saw limited action in 7 games in 2005 and has completed 5-of-12 passes this season without an interception for 111 yards and a touchdown.  Lee was ranked the nation’s top dual threat quarterback as a high school senior in 2003.

Protecting that duo is an offensive line that contains three first-year starters. Guard Cory Niblock (6-4, 307, Sr.) is the only third-year starter up front. That inexperience could be a reason for the Noles rushing woes. Opponents have also registered 9 sacks.

As usual, FSU has a stable of talented, speedy receivers, but Carr has game-breaking potential. As a freshman last season, he led the ACC in touchdown receptions (9) and topped all Florida State receivers in yards per catch (20.6). This season, Carr has 9 receptions--three for touchdowns.

De’Cody Fagg (6-3, 214, Jr.) leads the Noles in receiving with 15 catches for 189 yards while redshirt senior Chris Davis (9 catches) is the only other wideout to grab a TD pass. An exciting and talented newcomer is tight end Brandon Warren (6-2, 230). The true freshman has 10 receptions for 121 yards.

Thanks to its success on the ground against Rice, the Seminoles are averaging 109 rushing yards a game. Antone Smith (5-9, 188, So.), rated as the top high school runningback in the nation in 2004, leads FSU’s ground attack with 203 yards, 2 touchdowns and a 5.3 yard per carry average. Next, veteran Lorenzo Booker (5-11, 195) has 175 yards and a score. He has also caught 10 passes.

When the Seminoles get close to the goal line they give the ball to Joe Surratt. The 254 pound junior fullback leads the team with 5 touchdowns. Surratt is one reason FSU is so good in the red zone. Florida State is No. 2 in the ACC in red zone offense, scoring 14-of-15 times inside their opponents 20-yard line including 10 touchdowns.

While the offense has had some problems rushing this season, the FSU defense has had no trouble against the run. The Noles are No. 4 in the ACC in rushing defense, holding opponents to a paltry 73 yards a game.

The defensive line is anchored by redshirt junior Andre Fluellen (6-4, 286) one of three second-year starters up front. The Sporting News ranked Fluellen as the sixth-best defensive tackle in the nation. However, the line took a hit when JUCO transfer, Paul Griffin, the starting nose guard, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the win over Troy.

Buster Davis (5-10, 246), one of only two senior starters on defense, is the Noles leading tackler. The middle linebacker has 35 stops including 2 sacks. Outside linebacker, Geno Hayes (6-2, 211) has also played well and leads the team in tackles for loss (6).

True freshman linebacker, Marcus Ball, who had 10 tackles against Troy, will miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament against Rice. The knee injury to starting strong safety Anthony Houllis will likely keep him out of the lineup for the rest of the season, too. However, that’s not the only bad news for the Noles. The secondary will be without its best cover corner against NC State. Redshirt sophomore Tony Carter will be out two to four weeks after spraining his left knee against Rice. Sophomore Michael Ray Garvin will replace him.

FSU will be breaking in a new starter at the other cornerback position. According to published reports redshirt freshman Jamie Robinson will start in place of junior J.R. Bryant who started the last 10 games.

Usually very strong, the Seminoles kicking game is near the bottom of the ACC in net punting (33.4), kickoff returns (16.0) and punt returns (5.2). Garvin and Booker are the primary kick returners while Davis is the only FSU player with significant punt return experience.

Sophomore Graham Gano has dropped 8 of his 17 punts inside the 20-yard line and is averaging 37.8 yards per attempt. Gary Cismesia, a junior, has been very accurate converting on 6 of 7 field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder.

 

NOTES:  A Wolfpack win would give NC State its fourth victory over the Seminoles in the last 6 meetings...FSU is allowing 181 passing yards a game, but opponents have thrown for only 3 touchdowns...NC State has allowed only one touchdown pass this season...The Wolfpack is No.2 in the ACC in sacks with 12...FSU has 7 quarterback sacks...The Wolfpack had only one turnover in its victory over then No. 20 Boston College. State is last in the ACC in turnover margin (-7) and has lost the football an ACC-leading 11 times...Opponents have scored 27 points off Wolfpack turnovers, accounting for 36 percent of the total points allowed by NC State this season...Andre Brown needs 53 rushing yards for 1,000 in his career....Wolfpack kicker, John Deraney, has never missed an extra point kick in his college career (71-71) and drilled a career-long 54 yard field goal at Southern Miss... Wolfpack linebacker, Pat Lowry, is averaging 9.8 tackles a game to lead the ACC...Defensive end, Raymond Brooks, is No.10 in the ACC in tackles for loss (5)...In 10 of the Pack’s 14 home losses under Chuck Amato, the score was decided by single digits... Redshirt sophomore Daniel Evans will start his second college game at quarterback for the Wolfpack. He was 15-31-1 passing for 179 yards and the game-winning 34-yard touchdown pass to John Dunlap...The Pack has allowed only 6 sacks, fifth-best in the ACC.

 

INJURIES--NC State: WR Darrell Blackman-Questionable, MCL sprain; LB James Martin-Out, wrist surgery. Florida State NG Paul Griffin-Out, knee; SS Anthony Houllis-Out, knee; LB Marcus Ball-Out, knee; CB Tony Carter-Out, knee sprain.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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