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Florida State football vs. Miami report card: Shutting down Cam Ward wasn't good enough
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- Florida State football vs. Miami report card: Shutting down Cam Ward wasn't good enough
Florida State football's losing woes put its season at 1-7 after it 36-14 loss to its ACC foe, Miami Hurricanes , on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
It is the first time since 1975 that FSU has fallen to 1-7, and no matter how the season goes for the rest of the year, Mike Norvell will not escape a losing record.
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It will be Norvell's third losing season in his five-year tenure at FSU.
The Hurricanes snapped their three-game losing streak against the Seminoles and remain undefeated. They improve to 8-0 on the season and continue to stockpile wins to contend in the College Football Playoffs.
FSU's offense tried to hang around with the Hurricanes and prepared well against its star quarterback, Cam Ward, who was held a season-low 208 yards and no touchdown, but there was nothing to show for it on the board.
Here are the grades on FSU's performance.
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Offense: F
The offense didn't show much explosiveness all game.
Miami took advantage of FSU's struggling offensive line by putting a ton of pressure on FSU's quarterbacks, Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek.
Both completed 11 of their 32 passes combined for 115 passing yards.
"Those guys are going to get better, and I'm very excited about both of them," Norvell said. "I appreciate their approach to operating and what we're doing, and just trying to help put them in the best position."
Kromenhoek showed some spark on offense in the second quarter, including a 42-yard run on fourth-and-1 that set up FSU's first scoring drive that would lead to a Caziah Holmes touchdown.
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Kromenhoek became FSU's top rusher with 71 yards on 11 attempts because of the big run play. With the loss of Kam Davis , the running game wasn't much of a factor.
The true freshman kept showing potential as he continued to get comfortable with the game's speed. However, he still struggled under pressure and missed some open throws.
"He's doing a really good job, He's learning a lot in each of those games," Norvell said.
"Situations and scenarios that show up are going to be monumental for him and his future, and when he went in, obviously, he was able to create some things with his legs."
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"He drove us down, able to get in the end zone, and then we wanted to continue to you to give him a few series and opportunities there."
Miami would sack him three times. Glenn finished the game in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown pass to Malik Benson with 18 seconds left to play.
Benson saw the progression he saw in Glenn and Kromenhoek and liked how they handled the offense differently.
"Obviously, the game didn't go how we wanted it to go, but you just see Improvement by both of the guys, like Luke stepping up as a freshman and Brock just keeping this calm and things like that," Benson said.
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Defense: C-
FSU's defense frustrated Ward the entire game, and he was even frustrated enough to throw a tablet on the ground when he was on the sideline.
FSU's defense put enough pressure on Ward and got him ground, finishing with four sacks. Two were from blitzing plays involving linebacker Omar Graham Jr. and DB Edwin Joseph.
The defense kept the Seminoles in the game. The secondary covered Miami's receivers well, including their go-target, Xavier Restrepo , who had only 24 yards and four catches.
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" I don't really like moral victories," Graham said.
"We should have won the game. We should have been there for our offense. The offense doesn't score, and we win the game, so I mean, that's cool, but I feel like we should have been better in all phases."
While the Seminoles have been solid in containing the Heisman-contending quarterback by not allowing him a passing touchdown all night, they struggled against run-on third-down stops.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Wide receiver Isaiah Horton #2 of the Miami Hurricanes rushes after a reception ahead of defensive back Kevin Knowles II #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Miami was 7 of 9 in third-down conversion in the first half and 8 of 14 the whole game. Because Miami continued to extend drives, FSU's defense couldn't get off the field, dominating in time of possession.
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Mark Fletcher Jr. and Damien Martinez scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, and FSU trailed 14-0. Martinez led the Hurricanes with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Fletcher added 71 more on the ground. Miami produced 445 yards of total offense. FSU's defense were penalized six for 50 yards. Two of them were illegal substitutions, which Norvell called bad communication.
"We had a couple of third downs where we had to get off the field, and we didn't get off the field because of a couple of penalties and misfits," Graham said. "I feel like we just got to be better at that."
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Special Teams: B
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
FSU's special teams, for the most part, get a high grade just for showing. There wasn't anything that stood out in particular from the special teams unit.
Two of the three punts from senior Alex Mastromanno went over 50 yards, with 56 being the longest. Samuel Singleton Jr. made two 20-plus yard runs on a kickoff return to put the Seminoles in decent field position.
There were game-changing plays like blocked kicks or punts. For that, Miami's kicker, Alejandro Borregales, was 3 for 3 in field goals. Ryan Fitzgerald didn't attempt a field in four of the last five games.
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Coaches: D
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell looks on from field against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Norvell's game plan was aggressive despite the limitation of his offense. He will make bold decisions by going for it on fourth down. The Seminoles went 4 of 7 in fourth-down conversions.
Norvell's decision to stick with Kromenhoek for most of the game was the right call, and it gave him the chance to investigate the freshman quarterback as he gained more game experience.
The defense wasn't great, but it did enough to allow FSU to generate points, which they failed to do all year. Norvell was frustrated by the lack of defensive communication, which would lead to illegal substitution penalties.
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FSU's offense remains below average, averaging only 14 points and having yet to produce a 300-yard performance.
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FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
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Saturday, Aug. 24:vs. Georgia Tech * (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
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Monday, Sept. 2:vs. Boston College * | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 28-13
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Saturday, Sept. 7:Bye
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Saturday, Sept. 14:vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 20-12
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Saturday, Oct. 12:Bye
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Saturday, Nov. 2:vs. North Carolina *
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Saturday, Nov. 9:at No. 11 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC ( Fubo , Peacock )
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Saturday, Nov. 16:Bye
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Saturday, Nov. 23:vs. Charleston Southern
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Saturday, Nov. 30:vs. Florida
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Saturday, Dec. 6:ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
* = ACC
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Grades: FSU football can't produce enough plays to stop Miami
