Florida State was able to control the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide with its offense being very effective. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos was able to make timely throws and use his feet (led the team with 78 rushing yards), and several other runners contributed to 230 yards on the ground for the game.
One would say FSU could have scored close to 50 points had they made a few more third-down conversions. Nonetheless, they have another opportunity against East Texas A&M to have another good day. The Lions are fresh off allowing 400 yards and 42 points to the SMU Mustangs.
Here are five offensive keys for the Seminoles to keep their offensive momentum going.
Get off to a fast start
Castellanos led the Seminoles to touchdowns on their first two possessions against Alabama last week which led to a 10-point lead at halftime. There’s no need for Florida State to play around with East Texas A&M. Get points up early and often and force the Lions to be one dimensional in their attack.
Continue rushing the ball well
In addition to Castellanos, redshirt freshman wide receiver Micahi Danzy had an explosive 32-yard run for a touchdown, and true freshman running back Ousmane Kromah showed great flashes. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is known for having balance on his units and East Texas A&M gave up 140 to SMU. The Seminoles need to take advantage.
Allow Castellanos to keep using his entire skill set
It was a beautiful thing to watch as Castellanos was operating comfortably on Malzahn’s system which is tailor-made for his skill set. The Lions don’t have a good defense so Castellanos should be able to double whatever he wants and continue building chemistry with the entire unit.
Get the ball to Jaylin Lucas and Micahi Danzy
One thing that was missing from Florida State’s offense in 2024 was explosive plays. Lucas and his 64-yard catch plus the aforementioned touchdown run for Danzy were the two most exciting plays for FSU in Week 1, and it showed the potential of how they can put up points quickly. They need to keep feeding these two hungry playmakers.
Take deep shots down the field in the passing game
Castellanos was able to hit wide receiver Squirrel White for a 40-yard gain on their opening possession that led to a touchdown and Florida State never looked back. They didn’t take a lot of shots down the field besides that. So, with guys like White and Danzy who are speedsters, and Duce Robinson’s ability to use his 6-foot-6 frame, FSU should dial up several more shots downfield in this one.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Offensive keys for Florida State vs. East Texas A&M
Reporting by Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire / FSU Wire
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