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Mike Norvell on Florida State's loss to GA Tech: 'I don't believe that was our best game'

peter holland jr., tallahassee democrat
·4 min read

Florida State football took an extra day in Dublin, Ireland, to revisit its upset loss to Georgia Tech last weekend. The Seminoles reflected on their way home before returning to practice the next day as they start the year 0-1.

On Wednesday's press conference, Mike Norvell rehashed the disappointing loss to Georgia Tech and expressed how sickening it was to him how the team performed.

First, during his introduction, he took ownership of the lack of preparation against the Yellow Jackets.

"Obviously,  I take total responsibility and ownership for that,” Norvell said.

“I think that when you go back and see the game, obviously, it's my job to have the team prepared and to go and play to the best of our ability, and  I don't believe that was our best. You could sit there and look at a lot of different factors."

Mike Norvell believed FSU's offense lacked 'explosive plays'

One of the factors Norvell mentioned was the lack of explosiveness on offense.

As Norvell pointed out, outside of the opening scoring drive in the first quarter, nothing went right for all seven possessions despite scoring four of those seven.

"When you look at offensively, we really lacked the explosive play," Norvell said. We showed up with a couple of big runs and decent passes, but we just missed that explosive play when we had seven possessions in the game, which really, you've got to make every play count."

The offense only put up 291 yards, including 98 yards on the ground.

On a positive note, Norvell thought the offense played cleanly by avoiding mental errors such as turnovers.

He then talked about the final scoring drive led by quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. On fourth down, he executed two deep ball throws, which led to a Roydell Williams touchdown that tied the game at 21.

In his FSU debut, Uiagalelei completed 19 of his 27 passes for 193 yards. Senior receiver Ja'Khi Douglas led with four catches for 55 yards. Malik Benson also had four catches for 39 yards.

"I thought DJ did a great job," Norvell said.

"The receivers answer the call. You'll be able to find a way to finish in the end zone. It was big, but ultimately, I've got to do a better job of getting the ball to our playmakers and making sure that you were given those opportunities and still being able to maintain the balance that we have or that we desire."

Mike Norvell wants FSU defense to tackle better. 'It takes everyone'

The biggest disappointment for Norvell defensively was poor tackling and failure to stop the run.

It starts up front, which is supposedly to be the strength on defense.

Norvell credited Georgia Tech's offensive line for its physicality against FSU's defensive line. He was disappointed by the execution from his D-line group, including All-ACC performers Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer, who both totaled two tackles.

"I thought their front did a good job of neutralizing our defensive front, which we've got to have more production out of that group," Norvell said.

"I mean, you're one of the best groups on this team for a lot of different reasons. I mean, that's something that we're going to continue to work and build."

FSU allowed 190 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. FSU has had issues against mobile quarterbacks in the past, and not finding an answer to Georgia Tech's Haynes King wasn't any different.

FSU now must face another mobile quarterback, Thomas Castellanos of Boston College, in its home opener on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium. For Norvell, it will take a collective effort for the defense bounce back against the Eagles.

"It takes everybody," Norvell said. "

"This week we're gonna play another running quarterback and say it's gonna take all hats. If you're forced into the fit, we have to make sure we're on point and in position to play with our eyes, you know, running through tackles and making sure that we're getting guys on the ground."

FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times

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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's Mike Norvell takes accountability after GA Tech loss