FSU - Jax State Takeaways: An Offensive Identity Emerges

Last week, Seminole fans watched in a stupor of apathy, frustration, and disgust as FSU Football embarrassed themselves on national television against their arch-rival. As D'eriq King effortlessly moved the ball on the Seminole defense like a 13-year-old playing NCAA 14 on Freshman difficulty, FSU fans told themselves this had to be it. That had to be rock bottom.

And then the first quarter against Jacksonville State happened, and thanks to a pick-6 and porous defense, the Seminoles found themselves in a 14-0 hole against an FCS team. So it turns out that trench goes just a little bit deeper...

But here's the good news. Once you actually hit the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up.

Jordan Travis comes in for the overwhelmed true freshman Tate Rodemaker, for what many assumed was another one of those wildcat series we'd all seen in games 1 and 2. Travis would come in, run around a bit, and then we'd take him out and fall back into misery.

But then, Travis did the thing his previous two play-callers never let him do. He uncorked a 41-yard bomb to Keyshawn Helton. He proved, if only for one game, that he can throw a football.

And just like that, the Florida State offense found it's identity. And it's all about the mobility of Jordan Travis.

Jordan Travis had a modest 48 yards rushing. But with the threat of him running at the helm, everything else opened up immediately. FSU's three leading rushers combined for 217 yards rushing and 6.02 yards per carry, and the offense as whole averaged a whopping 7.5 yards per play. A running threat emerging at QB means an extra blocker in the running game and confusion in the secondary. And with that, the whole team is reanimated.

Travis also spits in the face of the previous coaches who were so convinced he couldn't throw a football with a more consistent, and at times explosive, passing performance than we've seen from James Blackman in a long, long, time. Throwing on the run with zip, making plays on time in the screen game, and taking advantage of safeties cheating-up with bombs to Terry and Helton.

Now, I'm not starting the Heisman chants for Jordan Travis anytime soon, but he did something crucial here tonight. He gave the fanbase a much needed win, and gave the team an identity. Zone Read, Bubble Screens, Slants, Scrambles, and Play Action; all predicated on a Spread Option running game opened up thanks to a true dual-threat at the position.

I don't even know if Travis will be our starter by the end of the season. Maybe this all flames out in a few weeks. Maybe he'll look terrible against the Notre Dame defense next week and leave fans mired in frustration again. Maybe the talented freshman Chubba Purdy gets healthy; and with a similar skillset, and possible higher ceiling, supplants him as the year goes on.

But at least for one night, Jordan Travis deserves the honor of being hoisted up as a reason for hope In FSU's quarterback room.

Break the rock Jordan. You earned it!

Florida State 41 - Jacksonville State 24