Florida State struggled offensively once again, scoring fewer than 20 points for the fourth consecutive game in their loss to SMU on Saturday night. The Seminoles initially seemed to find their rhythm by scoring on their opening drive, but they managed to reach the end zone only once in their final 12 possessions, leading to considerable frustration.
Starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had a strong start, completing five of his first six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, after throwing an interception in the second quarter, his performance deteriorated significantly; he completed just seven of his next 24 passes for 126 yards and threw three interceptions.
After a pick-six in the fourth quarter, DJ Uiagalelei was replaced by redshirt freshman Brock Glenn. During the TV broadcast, FSU trainers were seen examining Uiagalelei’s throwing hand, following a prior injury to a finger on his other hand.
Glenn led two scoreless drives, failing to complete any of his four attempts while taking several hard hits. His first appearance of the season did little to suggest that switching quarterbacks would resolve Florida State’s offensive issues.
Post-game, head coach Mike Norvell elaborated on his decision to bring in Glenn during the blowout. “In reality, DJ got hit on the last play, and we’ll see how his hand is. But I was already planning to make a change to give Brock a chance,” Norvell explained. “It’s easy to blame the quarterback, but DJ did some good things too. There were lapses in protection and mistakes from other players that contributed to our struggles.”
Norvell acknowledged that while they faced unexpected challenges, it was clear that SMU executed better than FSU. He expressed disappointment and frustration with the team’s performance over the first five weeks, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board.
When asked about a potential quarterback change for the future, Norvell kept his options open but stressed that the team’s lack of success isn’t solely Uiagalelei’s fault. “I’m considering everything today. If one of the younger quarterbacks shows they can be the best option for this offense… right now, it’s about everyone working together to improve,” he stated. “It’s not just about who’s playing quarterback; we all need to step up.”
Norvell concluded by reiterating that while quarterbacks must perform at a high level, it’s essential for the entire team to support them as well. He emphasized that they need to evaluate their performance moving forward since they are not meeting expectations.
It will be interesting to see if any changes are made when Florida State releases its next depth chart on Sunday.
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