- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 409,953
- Reaction score
- 43
The offense raised concerns after Florida State football completed its second scrimmage in the spring.
For offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, it is still a work in progress, or what he described as the unit still developing a foundation.
For starters, FSU was missing guys at the wide receiver position and the offensive line.
Mike Norvell confirmed that Duce Robinson, Squirrell White, LaWayne McCoy, and Jalen Brown were among the receivers unavailable on Saturday.
Up front, the offensive line was just as thin, with Gunnar Hansen and Jacob Rizy out for spring ball and a few more not playing in Saturday's scrimmage.
With the Seminoles banged up in those two positions, it did leave an opportunity for the young players to get snaps as Malzahn continues to focus on installment.
"We're getting there," Malzahn said. "We're growing as an offense. We're a little thin in some areas, and you do your best with that."
Both Norvell and Malzahn expressed the highs and lows of the offense thus far.
On Tony White's defense, for the most part, it had its way with Malzahn's tempo offense. Malzahn tipped his cap to White for how his 3-3-5 defense handled his scheme. The defense committed two turnovers and provided pressure up front.
"Our defense is a challenge," Malzahn said.
"Tony does a super job, like I said last week, but a little unconventional is everything, but they do a lot of different things that put challenges when you're installing offense and all that, but we're growing, and you can tell our quarterbacks every time out is feeling more comfortable."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Malzahn didn't say much about what he saw during the scrimmage. However, what stood out to him were the penalties. The former UCF head coach believed the penalties set the offense back and that they missed opportunities to get in the endzone.
"We hurt ourselves down there on their side of the field a few times, and that probably cost us some points," Malzahn said.
Malzahn also specified the execution of plays while rotating different players may have factored in the penalty calls that set them back a bit, forcing him to settle for a field goal try or no points at all.
"The thing about offense is that it takes 11 guys to execute. If you have one guy, you have 10 to execute," Malzahn said.
"It makes everything, and we're still growing in that area, but just the penalties and things like that. The negative plays are really what stand out to me now."
More: FSU football LB Elijah Herring may be new, but he's 'Mr. Quiet Confidence' in spring practice
On a positive note, Malzahn praised the tight end group. During Saturday's scrimmage and throughout the spring, the tight ends have shown some consistency in making plays in the passing game.
"That group really overall positionwise and they've had a really good spring," Malzahn said.
Randy Pittman stuck out among the four tight ends on Saturday. One of the highlighted plays was the former UCF tight end catching a short pass and breaking a tackle to get more yards after contact. Each tight end all week has shown enough flashes to the point that Malzahn believed that it could be the strength on offense.
"All four of those guys have made plays, and I'm talking about plays to score, come close to scoring, and all that," Malzahn said.
"That's a position right now that I'd say we have a pretty good strength. That's a good room."
More: WATCH: FSU football head coach Mike Norvell talks second spring scrimmage
There were some ups and downs at the quarterback position, but there were a limited number of plays in which the quarterbacks avoided making extended plays. All three quarterbacks, especially Tommy Castellanos, are dual-threats and capable of improvising with their legs.
"Tommy is a handful when let him go live, but that's just the way you have to practice," Malzahn said.
"This time of year, there's always a few plays that he probably would extended, but that's okay. He'll have an opportunity once we get to the season."
Kevin Sperry saw significant snaps as the third option behind Castellanos and Brock Glenn. The freshman QB continues to make strides while adapting to the offense. Malzahn saw the Texas native trending in the position direction.
"Each week, he's gotten better, and I'd say overall, he did some good things today, but he had a practice, I guess it was Thursday, that was ultra-impressive," Malzahn said.
Malzahn is still figuring out his running backs. So far, there have not been many big plays in the backfield. He stated that a mixture of the defense dominating and the offensive line being depleted played a role in the rushing attack being a nonfactor.
"I think the big thing for me is being able to learn about them and play without the ball and protection. " Malzahn said.
"Obviously, you want bigger plays, but the defense had a lot to do with that, and the fact that we're thin right now in some areas, especially up front, has something to do with it, too."
More: FSU football scrimmage takeaways: Disruptive defense steals the show in second scrimmage
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Gus Malzahn believes FSU football is still growing after 2nd scrimmage
Continue reading...
For offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, it is still a work in progress, or what he described as the unit still developing a foundation.
For starters, FSU was missing guys at the wide receiver position and the offensive line.
Mike Norvell confirmed that Duce Robinson, Squirrell White, LaWayne McCoy, and Jalen Brown were among the receivers unavailable on Saturday.
Up front, the offensive line was just as thin, with Gunnar Hansen and Jacob Rizy out for spring ball and a few more not playing in Saturday's scrimmage.
With the Seminoles banged up in those two positions, it did leave an opportunity for the young players to get snaps as Malzahn continues to focus on installment.
"We're getting there," Malzahn said. "We're growing as an offense. We're a little thin in some areas, and you do your best with that."
Both Norvell and Malzahn expressed the highs and lows of the offense thus far.
On Tony White's defense, for the most part, it had its way with Malzahn's tempo offense. Malzahn tipped his cap to White for how his 3-3-5 defense handled his scheme. The defense committed two turnovers and provided pressure up front.
"Our defense is a challenge," Malzahn said.
"Tony does a super job, like I said last week, but a little unconventional is everything, but they do a lot of different things that put challenges when you're installing offense and all that, but we're growing, and you can tell our quarterbacks every time out is feeling more comfortable."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Penalties hurt FSU football's offense
You must be registered for see images attach
Malzahn didn't say much about what he saw during the scrimmage. However, what stood out to him were the penalties. The former UCF head coach believed the penalties set the offense back and that they missed opportunities to get in the endzone.
"We hurt ourselves down there on their side of the field a few times, and that probably cost us some points," Malzahn said.
Malzahn also specified the execution of plays while rotating different players may have factored in the penalty calls that set them back a bit, forcing him to settle for a field goal try or no points at all.
"The thing about offense is that it takes 11 guys to execute. If you have one guy, you have 10 to execute," Malzahn said.
"It makes everything, and we're still growing in that area, but just the penalties and things like that. The negative plays are really what stand out to me now."
More: FSU football LB Elijah Herring may be new, but he's 'Mr. Quiet Confidence' in spring practice
Tight ends emerge as the strength of FSU football's offense
On a positive note, Malzahn praised the tight end group. During Saturday's scrimmage and throughout the spring, the tight ends have shown some consistency in making plays in the passing game.
"That group really overall positionwise and they've had a really good spring," Malzahn said.
Randy Pittman stuck out among the four tight ends on Saturday. One of the highlighted plays was the former UCF tight end catching a short pass and breaking a tackle to get more yards after contact. Each tight end all week has shown enough flashes to the point that Malzahn believed that it could be the strength on offense.
"All four of those guys have made plays, and I'm talking about plays to score, come close to scoring, and all that," Malzahn said.
"That's a position right now that I'd say we have a pretty good strength. That's a good room."
More: WATCH: FSU football head coach Mike Norvell talks second spring scrimmage
Quarterbacks are progressing well. Running game is still a question for Gus Malzahn
You must be registered for see images attach
There were some ups and downs at the quarterback position, but there were a limited number of plays in which the quarterbacks avoided making extended plays. All three quarterbacks, especially Tommy Castellanos, are dual-threats and capable of improvising with their legs.
"Tommy is a handful when let him go live, but that's just the way you have to practice," Malzahn said.
"This time of year, there's always a few plays that he probably would extended, but that's okay. He'll have an opportunity once we get to the season."
Kevin Sperry saw significant snaps as the third option behind Castellanos and Brock Glenn. The freshman QB continues to make strides while adapting to the offense. Malzahn saw the Texas native trending in the position direction.
"Each week, he's gotten better, and I'd say overall, he did some good things today, but he had a practice, I guess it was Thursday, that was ultra-impressive," Malzahn said.
Malzahn is still figuring out his running backs. So far, there have not been many big plays in the backfield. He stated that a mixture of the defense dominating and the offensive line being depleted played a role in the rushing attack being a nonfactor.
"I think the big thing for me is being able to learn about them and play without the ball and protection. " Malzahn said.
"Obviously, you want bigger plays, but the defense had a lot to do with that, and the fact that we're thin right now in some areas, especially up front, has something to do with it, too."
More: FSU football scrimmage takeaways: Disruptive defense steals the show in second scrimmage
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Gus Malzahn believes FSU football is still growing after 2nd scrimmage
Continue reading...
