The Florida State Seminoles are set to return to play this week after a much-needed BYE week. Following a disappointing 1-5 start, expectations for the team are at an all-time low, marking their worst beginning to a season in nearly 50 years. However, the arrival of Brock Glenn, stepping in for DJ Uiagalelei due to a hand injury, seems to have injected new life into the team.
As the Seminoles enter the toughest part of their schedule, their chances of qualifying for a bowl game are slim, as they can only afford one more loss. This week’s matchup against the Duke Blue Devils is crucial if they hope to continue playing into December.
First-year Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden at Florida State in 1998 and 1999—during which time he made two national championship appearances—addressed the upcoming game, noting his team’s goal of achieving their first-ever win over FSU.
Diaz opened his press conference by highlighting the noticeable change in energy he observed in his team during their first practice after their own BYE week. He expressed his belief that Florida State would likely experience a similar boost.
“If you closed your eyes during our practices yesterday and today, you would have heard a distinct difference after the bye week. It’s not that we practiced poorly before, but there’s definitely a renewed energy and enthusiasm among our players. This came at a crucial time, allowing them to recharge in mid-October,” Diaz said, as reported by Duke Athletics.
“Of course, Florida State is in the same position, so I imagine they’ve had a similar boost in their practices. I watched several closely contested games this past Saturday that were decided by just a few plays, and I expect a similar scenario on Friday night,” he added.
Scouting is a key aspect of football, with teams striving for any advantage. Diaz mentioned that his coaching staff engaged in self-scouting earlier in the week, with the offensive coaches analyzing the defense and vice versa. While this is an unconventional approach, he emphasized its value after their first loss of the season to Georgia Tech.
“On Monday, we had our offensive staff review all of our defensive plays, while the defensive staff did the same for our offense, giving feedback as if we were preparing to face each other. You always see yourself from a different perspective, and it’s essential to be aware of your reality. You need to understand what you do well, where you struggle, and how to improve those areas while enhancing your strengths. It provided us with a great opportunity for reflection,” Diaz said.
Despite the offensive difficulties Florida State has encountered this season, their defense has remained relatively strong, allowing fewer than 24 points in four of their six games, even when put in tough situations due to turnovers. Coaches have noted that the Seminoles’ defense poses a significant threat to opposing passing games, a sentiment echoed by Diaz as he discussed the challenges facing Duke’s offensive line and passing attack.
“You must minimize obvious passing situations. This will be the most talented group of pass rushers we’ve faced all year. Our line has done well in the first half of the season in protecting our quarterback, but they haven’t seen a unit like Florida State’s, which excels in press man coverage with its defensive line,” Diaz said.
“With the quarterback dropping back to pass and waiting for a receiver to break open, the odds of winning one-on-one matchups against their four defensive linemen are slim. We need to find ways to keep our quarterback protected. I believe that will be the key—whichever offense best supports their quarterback through run screens will have an advantage; both teams are excellent in the screen game,” Diaz added.
The Seminoles and Blue Devils will meet on Friday, October 18th, marking their 23rd all-time matchup. Florida State has won all previous 22 games, but could this be the year Duke finally breaks that streak? Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM EST, and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
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