For eight long months, we have been relegated to talking season for Florida Football. Coming off a 5-7 campaign, we have tried to keep our expectations for the Gators realistic and, at times, get accused of being too pessimistic.
But we would rather be honest to ourselves than lie to the masses, and one huge lie involving the Neighbors to the West just got exposed for everyone to see.
Florida Football: Honesty Is The Best Policy
DJ Uiagalelei was the big headline for FSU all offseason, but their defensive line was supposed to be the strength of their defense. On3 ranked FSU's defensive line as the 9th best in the country, and Pete Thamel of ESPN went as far as to state that FSU has the best defensive line in the country. Jim Nagy, currently the director for the Senior Bow, also shared similar sentiments.
Here’s our @CollegeGameDay hit from Dublin, where we dive into Florida State’s defensive line. Multiple NFL scouts told ESPN they expect FSU to have the country’s best starting defensive line this year. pic.twitter.com/t6EelLTGSj
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 24, 2024
Most programs that lose Top-40 draft picks like Jared Verse and @seniorbowl star Braden Fiske would have a major drop-off the next year but Florida State isn't most programs.@FSUFootball staffers we've spoke with conceded they won't have same proven DL depth this year but… pic.twitter.com/Uya4Pbrvz9
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Bud Elliott of 247 claimed that no one on Florida's defensive line would start on FSU's defensive line.
None of Florida defensive line would start at FSU.
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) August 24, 2024
This is where we here at Hail Florida Hail are going to point out that prior to FSU's opener against Georgia Tech, we raised questions about the Seminole defense.
"FSU fans have tried all offseason to write off their beat down from Georgia since they didn't have their starters, but here is a fun fact:
Based on the depth chart FSU put out ahead of this game, six of their eleven starters for Georgia Tech took at least 20 snaps in the Orange Bowl.
Of the other five starters on Saturday, four of the five had PFF grades under 70 in 2023, with three having grades under 60."
So, who was right?
Oh, it was us.
On FSU's first defense drive, they showed less resistance upfront than Bishop Sycamore. As the game progressed, Georgia Tech was able to run straight through the heart of what was supposed to be the best defensive line in the country.
And on the game's final drive, Tech was able to milk the clock all the way the zero and kick a game winning field goal because the vaunted FSU defense couldn't get a stop.
FSU spent all offseason telling anyone who would listen how they were robbed, and Kirk Herbstreit hates babies.
Maybe they should have spent the offseason getting a better defensive line because they now leave Ireland with two distinctions:
- They have the most losses in the country
- They failed to become the first college football team suing to leave its current conference to win in Ireland
Weird stat: no college football team suing to leave its current conference has won its season opener in Ireland
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 24, 2024