After an open date, Florida State will resume ACC play on Saturday as it travels to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest. The Seminoles handled the Demon Deacons 43-3 in Tallahassee last season, but Wake Forest looks to be improving under second-year head coach Dave Clawson. FSU comes in 3-0 while Wake Forest is an even 2-2. To look further into the match-up, each member of the Noled Out staff breaks down the contest with a segment we call “Five Things:”
1. On Wake Forest
Mike Ferguson: At 2-2, Wake Forest is far from where head coach Dave Clawson would like, but it is improving. The Demon Deacons have played well on defense this year and feature a passing attack that has attempted more passes than any other team in the ACC. Wake Forest isn’t a team that is rich in talent, but it is one that plays hard and has been in every game so far this season.
Clint Eiland: The Demon Deacons have become a perennial ACC cellar dweller, and the 2015 season does not seem to be countering that trend. Dave Clawson is in his second year as head coach and thankfully, has been given a lot of time to try and build up Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are not looking for a certain win total — they’re looking for improvement. The defense is surprisingly stout with a group of experienced linebackers and defensive linemen, but the offense is still struggling to move the ball. Wake is ranked 97th in points-per-game with 24.8 and 37th in fewest points allowed per game.
Jon Marchant: Florida State travels to play Wake Forest this Saturday. The Demon Deacons are 2-2 with their losses coming on the road against Syracuse in Week 2 and last week at home versus Indiana. In short, no offense to our conference brethren, but Wake Forest isn’t a good football team. Starting quarterback John Wolford missed the Indiana game with an ankle injury and in his place, true freshman dual-threat Kendall Hinton threw 46 times and ran it 22 times. The problem with that is Hinton only averaged 5.3 yards-per-attempt on 19 completions and only managed to gain 57 yards rushing for a paltry 2.6 yards-per-carry against the Hoosiers. Wake Forest averages 41 passes a game — one of the highest rates in FBS play this year. Wolford’s status against FSU is still up in the air, so if Hinton starts this game could get uglier than usual as he’s certain to have never seen a defense comparable to Florida State’s in both athletic talent and quality. The Seminoles are only allowing 4.3 yards per pass attempt this year so if Wake Forest doesn’t commit to running the ball more and shortening the game, it could lose by 50. Football Outsider’s S&P+ metric has Wake Forest as the 90th best offense and 82nd best defense in the FBS.
2. Players to Watch for FSU
Ferguson: Facing a pass-happy Wake Forest offense this week, I’m really looking forward to watching the young FSU pass-rushers try and get after the quarterback, namely Josh Sweat. Sweat has been a pleasant surprise coming off a knee injury as a high school senior. Chris Casher could also return this week for the Seminoles and sophomore Lorenzo Featherston could make his season debut.
Eiland: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Wake Forest is not a running team. Its offensive line has been unable to create holes for the running backs, which has Wake ranked 108th nationally in rushing yards-per-game. This means Wake will go to the air, where quarterback John Wolford, who is questionable for Saturday, has averaged 300 yards passing per game. Ramsey has played excellent all year and this might be the first game where fans get to see his true ability in pass coverage. Even if he doesn’t nab an interception, his impact will almost certainly be felt by the opposing offense.
Marchant: All eyes should again be on FSU quarterback Everett Golson. He is missing routine run checks and wide open receivers in the passing game. He won’t have to run against Wake Forest for FSU to win, so this should be a passing scrimmage. He must improve and lead a more explosive passing attack or the ceiling for this team will remain simply just to make a run at an ACC title berth.
3. Biggest Concern for FSU
Ferguson: Don’t discount the weather in this one. With a hurricane potentially headed toward the Carolinas, the Seminoles could be forced onto another wet field as they were against South Florida. Wet weather is hardly a passing game’s best friend and with the meat of the schedule coming up, quarterback Everett Golson could certainly use this contest as an opportunity to right some things in the facet of the offense.
Eiland: Balancing the offensive attack is still on top of FSU’s “To Do List” this season. Besides the opening drive against Boston College, the passing attack was stumped and the run game was having trouble with running back Dalvin Cook being banged up. Mario Pender will be out with a collapsed lung, so it’s time to see what Jacques Patrick and Johnathan Vickers are capable of against a solid run defense. If Everett Golson can’t force Wake Forest to respect the passing game, the offense will struggle yet again.
Marchant: The passing game aside, injuries are the biggest concern. FSU should win this game easily and the meat of the schedule is coming up with Miami on deck first. The ‘Noles have been very lucky to stay pretty healthy so far and that needs to continue.
4. X-Factor for FSU
Ferguson: For Florida State this week, I see freshman running back Jacques Patrick as an X-factor. A highly-touted power back out of Orlando, Patrick shined as an early enrollee in the FSU spring game. Patrick has been stuck behind star Dalvin Cook and backup Mario Pender, but with Pender out with a collapsed lung, Patrick could get his first meaningful action as a Seminole.
Eiland: A strong pass defense will give FSU the ability to steam roll Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons’ offense has been woeful for the past two years, with their passing game being the lone bright spot for the team. A rainy game with an injured quarterback seems to point toward the FSU defense potentially pitching another shutout.
Marchant: The X-factor for this game is Lamarcus Brutus. Designated a career backup early in his time at FSU, he has emerged and not just earned, but locked down a starting safety spot. He’s played well, showing good range and ball skills. If Wake Forest continues to stick to the pass, “Beebo” may find himself having a career-day in this one. It’s also worth pointing out another unheralded emerging play-maker for this defense and that’s sophomore linebacker Ro’Derrick Hoskins.
5. FSU Wins If…
Ferguson: The last time Wake Forest beat Florida State was in Winston-Salem in 2011. In that game, the Seminoles turned the ball over five times and committed more than 100 yards in penalties, with many keeping Wake drives alive. If FSU avoids doing what it did in its last defeat at the hands of the Demon Deacons, it’s hard not to see the Seminoles leaving BB&T Field 4-0.
Eiland: …it can establish the run as seen against Texas State and South Florida. It doesn’t have to be especially dominant, but it needs to be enough to score a couple of touchdowns or at least drive down the field. There’s serious doubts about whether Wake Forest will even be able to get past midfield, so a decent offense will be enough to put the game away and probably early.
Marchant: Florida State will win if it can continue to do what its done to this point. That’s play good defense and avoid costly turnovers on offense. Even if it’s not enough to beat some of the better opponents coming up, it’s still good enough to beat Wake Forest.
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