Through the air? Color Cook impressed. I knew what he could do on his feet. “I think I’ve done a great job of that this season, just taking what they give me”, Cook said. RB James Conner has rushed for an average of 84 yards with two touchdowns during his inspirational return from cancer. Unfortunately for Jackson, he had to carry his team.
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The biggest reasons for Jackson’s big numbers this have been his speed and elusiveness. Louisville had a 21 point lead in the game, but Florida State came back to win, in what was then a program record comeback.
Conversely, the Seminoles could also win this game, lose two or three others down the road, and consider this year a disappointment.
Louisville is off to an explosive start this season, following a crushing 70-14 win over Charlotte with a 62-28 beatdown of Syracuse last weekend, covering as a 17-point road favorite in its fourth consecutive win against the spread. This week, however, Ohio State can make a statement at Oklahoma.
“I think it’s critical”, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said of what the showdown means to the ACC.
Whoever wins this game should be favored, at least for the time being.
Why is James so important? As the contest was played, people mocked the turnovers and the lack of defense, and made ridiculous claims that the loser of Ohio State/Michigan three weeks later was still more worthy of a championship game appearance than an unbeaten Cardinal squad.
Coming off a 10-3 season (nothing to sneeze at obviously) can the Seminoles get back to that vaulted status they achieved when Jameis Winston was dominating the college football world? This Saturday’s game against Florida State will be only Jackson’s 11th college start, and the eight he made a year ago, as a true freshman, didn’t generate anywhere near that kind of hyperbole. Those someones will have to be multiple because James is unique in his ability to handle such a diverse workload. Most often, he would drop back and take a look at the play’s first option. If Florida State dedicates a defender to spying on Jackson, that leaves one less tackler for Radcliff to get through. It won’t be easy. “Our guys have to get the call and be able to line up”.
Over on the Louisville side, they’ve been quite impressive as well. Thomas is a junior, but injuries and suspensions derailed his career prior to this season. Jackson has nearly the ideal ratio of size and speed. Because Louisville’s offensive line struggled to block Florida State’s front four, the Seminoles could keep a linebacker on the second level and drop six into coverage. The Cadets are playing under unusually hard circumstances. The biggest factor for Jackson will be how Louisville does from then on. Arizona State Kalen Ballage was also impressive (against a awful Texas Tech defense) and scored eight touchdowns, tying an NCAA record for most touchdowns in a game. While that may be enough to dominate defenses like Charlotte and Syracuse, the Seminoles will produce a much more hard task for Jackson.
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said he was impressed with Jackson as early as the second day of practice in August of 2015.
“We loved Deondre from the get-go, the first time he threw the football, the way he moved, the dynamics, watching him practice”. The offense also has to decrease their turnovers if they want to take down Alabama’s stronghold defense for the third time.
Lamar Jackson has been a one man wrecking crew this season.
Jackson has been the breakout star of the early 2016 season, but the step up in athleticism and quality from Syracuse’s defense to Florida State’s is, well, substantial.
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Alabama heads to MS with a two-game losing streak against Ole Miss. He threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 226 yards with two more scores. “Breaking long runs like that”.
