Grading Florida State football: Seminoles offense can't get out of their own way
The search for victory continues.
Florida State football showed improvement from its first two games,, but not enough to beat the No. 25 Memphis Tigers (3-0) Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Tigers defeated the Seminoles 20-12.
It is the first time since 2021 that the Seminoles have fallen to 0-3 to start the season. FSU has dropped its last four games dating back to last season's Orange Bowl defeat to Georgia.
Saturday's game wasn't decided until quarterback DJ Uiagalelei's Hail Mary pass intended for wide receiver Malik Benson was batted down by Julian Barnett near the goal line.
FSU needed a touchdown and two-point conversion to force overtime.
Two of the Seminoles' three losses have been close. But close doesn't count. It feels and looks as if FSU has to relearn how to win in clutch moments.
Here's how the Democrat graded FSU's performance.
Offense: D
FSU's offense remains inconsistent.
Similar to the Labor Day game against Boston College, the offense was almost nonexistent with 67 total yards in the first half.
The mistakes started nearly immediately as running back Roydell Williams fumbled on the second play of the opening series. FSU's offense suffered two turnovers that resulted in 10 early points for Memphis.
Uiagalelei was efficient at times but still struggled, too. He was pressured five times and sacked four by a Tigers defense that blitzed heavily. He also threw an underthrown interception late in the second quarter.
Down 20-12, with a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Uiagalelei was sacked twice as the clock hit a two-minute warning. He moved the Seminoles to the Memphis 37 on their final series, but it wasn't enough.
FSU receivers didn't do the fifth-year senior any favors, either. Three drops in the first half were crucial. Two were on third downs that would have resulted in first downs.
Uiagalelei made his best pass on a 65-yard bomb to Benson that set-up a Williams 4-yard touchdown run. He completed 16 of 30 passes for 201 yards and one interception.
Benson had a career-high five catches for 90 yards.
Defense: C
While the numbers might not show it, this was by far the best performance by FSU's defense.
In the first half, FSU slowed Memphis' run game to a crawl, holding it to minus-1 yard. The Tigers finished with just 65 rushing yards in the game.
The defensive line made its presence felt against record-setting quarterback Seth Henigan with four sacks.
There were a few miscues, but the unit also held the Tigers to a pair of field goals in the red zone.
FSU lost inside linebacker Cam Riley to injury in the first quarter, stretching the unit's depth with Omar Graham Jr and Shawn Murphy unavailable.
Justin Cryer recorded a diving interception late in the third quarter, setting up another score for the Seminoles.
The defense still couldn't do enough to get off the field. Memphis converted 7 of 17 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs.
The defense also needs to work on tackling in space. The Seminoles struggled to wrap up against Memphis tight end Anthony Landphere, who led with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
K.J. Kirkland, who started for injured Shyheim Brown, led the Seminoles with nine tackles and one tackles for loss.
Special Teams: C
FSU's special teams didn't get an A Saturday.
FSU dropped a grade this time due to a muffed fumble on a punt return by freshman receiver Lawayne McCoy. The ball came out when teammate Quindarrius Jones was blocked into McCoy.
Freshman cornerback Edwin Joseph got ejected for targeting halfway through the second quarter.
After FSU made a second-half stop that would set up a 4th-and-8 for Memphis, Kirkland was called for offside as the Tigers lined up to punt. Memphis instead converted a first down on 4th-and-3.
Ryan Fitzgerald is still perfect on field goals. Fitzgerald put FSU on the board with a 54-yarder, his third this season beyond 50. Fitzgerald is 6 of 6 of the season.
Coaches: D
The decision-making of FSU coach Mike Norvell has been interesting, to say the least.
After FSU scored its first touchdown, Norvell decided to go for two and failed. The Seminoles could've trailed 20-10 with an extra point, but instead were down 20-9. If FSU had scored on its final possession of the game, it would have still needed a two-point conversion to force overtime.
Norvell managed the clock well enough with the three timeouts left in the game's final minutes. FSU had one more drive with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
And, of course, fans are probably still wondering what backup quarterback Brock Glenn must do to get an opportunity to jumpstart the offense.
The unit is still not doing enough to translate its success in practice to the game.
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech* (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 28-13
Saturday, Sept. 7: Bye
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 20-12
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal*
Saturday, Sept. 28: at SMU*
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. No. 14 Clemson*
Saturday, Oct. 12: Bye
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 19 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 7 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC (Fubo, Peacock)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida
Saturday, Dec. 6: ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
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: FSU football report card: Grading Seminoles vs Memphis
