Orange Bowl Preview: Defense
Will a depleted FSU defense be able to keep the team in a game against Georgia?
After all the Florida State community has been through the past 27 days, this Orange Bowl game is finally here. I for one am glad we are finally at the point where we can discuss a football game instead of lawsuits, backroom meetings, among other things . Florida State will take on the defending national champions Georgia in a matchup that sounds amazing on paper. Another amazing fact about this game is that Georgia and Florida State haven’t played each other all that much. In fact, the last time they did was 20 years ago in the Sugar Bowl.
Unfortunately, due to this being a non-playoff game, there have been multiple opt outs from both sides. Even more unfortunately, Florida State has been adversely affected by opt outs. FSU will be starting a third string quarterback in this game and a significant portion of their season production will not be playing in this game. However, this is also an opportunity for young players, to shine, and to give the fans a glimpse of the future.
The 2023 iteration of the Georgia Bulldogs on offense are as advertised . Carson Beck doesn’t get enough credit for how good he actually is as a quarterback. Brock Bowers is an absolute stud and in my opinion the next great NFL tight end. Georgia also used the portal effectively to land talented receivers Rara Thomas and Dominic Lovett. Georgia’s running back room isn’t flashy, but they get the tough yards and consistently move the chains. Their offensive line is deep, talented and capable of imposing their will on opponents.
How is Florida State going to even be competitive in this game, much less have a chance to pull an upset? The defense has shown it is absolutely capable of willing our team to victory as the most recent game against Louisville showed. This time around, the defense is going to have to do it without Verse and other significant contributors to that effort against Louisville.
That said, I believe our defense is capable of giving that kind of effort again. Florida State may not have Jared Verse for this game, but they will have arguably the best defensive player in that Louisville game playing against Georgia. Braden Fiske was an absolute beast in that Louisville game and was virtually unblockable. The Orange Bowl will also be the debut of Darrell Jackson. Jackson is arguably the best interior defensive lineman FSU has. After a long season of waiting, he finally gets a chance to show what he can do and I don’t think he’s going to blow it.
Both senior linebackers are expected to play, and that will be another x-factor to Florida State and their competitive chance in this game. Their experience will be essential as they help the younger players know the assignments and lineup correctly, in order to have the best chance of success. Plus we all know both Bethune and Deloach are capable of making plays as evidenced in the ACC championship game and the Clemson game.
The secondary has taken a hit with three senior players choosing to opt out. That said, the defensive back room is one of the deepest areas on FSU’s team. Fentrell Cypress has been one of the best corners in the country this season, and FSU you will need him at his best on Saturday. AZ Thomas has flashed at multiple points in his career so far, and now is the opportunity for him to put it all together. Shyheim Brown has quietly put together a good season. While Kevin Knowles has struggled at times this season, he has been capable of playing at a high-level. Conrad Hussey is another player that has shown potential, but has also made freshman mistakes.
How will FSU manage to have success with a defense that is missing some pivotal pieces? I believe the position group that is most important to success tomorrow is the interior of the defensive line. I believe they can play in such a manner where it can lift up the rest of the defense. I believe Coach Fuller will call a fairly aggressive game to compensate for the loss of Jared Verse. I expect to see some exotic pressures in order to generate havoc and turnovers. If Florida State is able to generate some turnovers, their chances of winning will go up exponentially.
for Florida State to have a shot to win, they will need to hold Georgia to 24 points or less. That won’t be easy but if this Florida State defense has shown anything this year it is that they have thrived in the most impossible of circumstances.