Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got in a short one for today:

🎾 Jamie Connel Co-Champion at ITA Southeast Regional Championships 🎾
FSU’s Jamie Connel claimed the co-champion title at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships. Alongside Corey Craig, Connel has now qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship, adding another accolade to FSU’s tennis legacy.

🏈 Digging into PFF Grades: Mistakes Overshadow Defensive Efforts 🏈
Despite a strong defensive performance, Florida State’s football team crumbled under the weight of offensive mistakes and turnovers. We break down the latest PFF grades and analyze how the defense stood out while the offense faltered.

👐 FSU’s Drop Struggles Reach New Lows 👐
The Seminoles lead the nation in dropped passes, and their inability to secure the football continues to haunt them. We examine how this widespread issue has become a systemic problem under coach Mike Norvell’s tenure.

🏈 Unraveled and Unfocused: Myriad of Mistakes Hit Harder After Bye Week 🏈
Florida State’s first-ever loss to Duke raised even more questions about coaching, discipline, and quarterback decisions. The bye week did little to prepare the team as turnovers, penalties, and uninspired play-calling led to another frustrating defeat.

🎾 Jamie Connel Co-Champion at ITA Southeast Regional Championships 🎾

Florida State’s Jamie Connel was named singles co-champion at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships, marking a significant achievement for the Seminoles tennis program. Alongside Corey Craig, FSU has now secured two automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Singles Championship.

🏆 Connel’s Road to Victory 🏆

Connel, the No. 7 seed in the tournament, had an impressive run:

• First Two Rounds: Dominated with straight-set victories.

• Third Round: Battled back after dropping the first set, winning a second set tiebreak and cruising in the third set, 6-2.

• Quarterfinals: Overcame No. 14 Thomas Paulsell of Georgia in a tough three-set match, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

• Semifinals: Connel punched his ticket to the 2024 NCAA Singles Championship with a commanding win over No. 43 Martin Katz of Miami, dropping just five games.

• Finals: The match was abandoned, and Connel shared the title with Miguel Perez Pena of Georgia.

🎾 Additional FSU Highlights 🎾

• Alex Bulte pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating No. 58 Antonio Prat of Miami in three sets.

• Azariah Rusher also secured a hard-fought victory in the first round.

The Seminoles also made their mark in the doubles tournament, with Youcef Rihane and Bulte securing a tiebreak win in the first round, and Joshua Dous-Karpenschif and Erik Schiessl advancing with an 8-4 victory.

While both doubles pairings fell in the round of 16, their performances showed promise for future competition.

Full details here.

🏈 Digging into PFF Grades: Mistakes Overshadow Defensive Efforts 🏈

Florida State’s woes continued Saturday night in Durham as they fell 23-16 to Duke, marking the Seminoles’ first loss to the Blue Devils in program history. Despite outgaining Duke by 111 yards, a series of costly mistakes doomed FSU. Turnovers, dropped passes, and penalties, particularly a stretch of three consecutive turnovers in the first half, proved insurmountable. This mistake-filled performance dropped FSU to 1-6 on the season, with the offense struggling yet again.

📊 Team and Player Breakdown 📊

The Seminoles’ defense, however, showed signs of life, holding Duke to just 3.1 yards per rush and only 70 passing yards. Despite the offensive woes, Adam Fuller’s unit was a bright spot, especially in coverage, as the secondary broke up eight passes.

Highlights:

• Offense: A season-low PFF grade of 56.0 reflects the struggles, with numerous drops and an inability to protect the quarterback effectively.

• Defense: PFF’s best defensive grade of the season at 82.6 highlighted solid play, particularly in run defense (86.6) and coverage (83.7).

 Player Performances:

• Luke Kromenhoek: Despite a small sample size, Kromenhoek’s limited action (3-of-7 passing) earned a surprising 90.5 PFF grade, largely due to well-placed passes that were dropped by receivers.

• Brock Glenn: Glenn’s difficult night, marked by two interceptions and a fumble, saw him graded at 32.4.

• Top Offensive Player: Darius Washington, with an 82.9 PFF grade, was the bright spot on a struggling offensive line.

• Defensive Standouts: Cam Riley (80.4), Justin Cryer (76.9), and Darrell Jackson Jr. (75.8) led the way defensively, with Fentrell Cypress (77.6) and Azareye’h Thomas (74.1) performing well in coverage.

PFF grades and rankings showcase a defensive unit improving each week, but the offense continues to struggle, highlighted by a 51.4 receiving grade and a 55.9 rushing grade. With FSU ranked 129th in total offense and scoring, change is needed fast.

Read more here.

👐 FSU’s Drop Struggles Reach New Lows 👐

Florida State’s receiving issues have hit rock bottom, with the Seminoles leading the nation in dropped passes. A staggering Drop Rate of 10.5% ranks them 132nd nationally, making FSU the worst team among Power Four programs when it comes to catching the football. The Seminoles have dropped the ball 22 times in 7 games, accounting for a minimum of 290 lost passing yards this season.

🔻 Costly Drops at Duke 🔻

FSU’s dropping issues were on full display in Friday’s loss to Duke, with three critical drops in the first half that directly affected the Seminoles’ chances to put points on the board.

1. Malik Benson’s Drop
   A perfectly placed pass from Brock Glenn to Benson could’ve been a huge gain, but instead, the drop led to a 3rd-and-long situation, resulting in a pick-six on the next play.

2. Kentron Poitier’s End Zone Drop
   Freshman QB Luke Kromenhoek came in to relieve Glenn and threw a perfect pass to fifth-year senior Kentron Poitier, but the veteran couldn’t haul it in for what should have been a game-changing touchdown.

3. Hykeem Williams’ Missed Opportunity
   Kromenhoek was hit as he threw another promising pass, this time to five-star recruit Hykeem Williams. Despite the opportunity, Williams short-armed the pass, and the ball hit the turf as FSU's sideline frustration boiled over.

FSU coach Mike Norvell expressed his disappointment after the game:
“It does change the game. Those are opportunities that you have to go and make them. Especially going against a defense that brings so much pressure. When you’re on rhythm, you’ve got to go make those plays.”

📉 A Longstanding Issue 📉

This isn’t just a 2024 problem. Under Norvell, FSU has struggled with drops year after year:

• National Drop Rate since 2020: 112th (6.4%)

  • Wide Receivers: 89th (5.9%)

  • Tight Ends: 97th (6.7%)

  • Running Backs: 95th (7.7%)

Drops have been widespread across all position groups, with tight ends and running backs playing a significant role. Norvell acknowledged the issue is a combination of technique and concentration, and the coaching staff is drilling it, but the problem persists.

As Norvell put it, “We’ve got to have better.”

More details here.

🏈 Unraveled and Unfocused: Myriad of Mistakes Hit Harder After Bye Week 🏈

The bye week was supposed to be an opportunity for Florida State to correct its course, but instead, it further exposed the team’s glaring weaknesses. In their first-ever loss to Duke, the Seminoles (1-6, 1-5 ACC) delivered a performance marred by turnovers, penalties, and poor decision-making.

💥 Self-Inflicted Wounds 💥

• FSU committed four turnovers, including three consecutive on back-to-back plays — a first in FBS this season. That excludes a blocked field goal.

• The Seminoles also racked up nine penalties for costly yardage, continually shooting themselves in the foot.

• Offensively, FSU had three critical drives inside Duke territory in the second half but came away with just three points in a one-possession game.

Despite outgaining Duke by 111 yards, Florida State’s undisciplined play continued to undermine its efforts. The Seminoles allowed 11 tackles for loss, went just 2-for-14 on third down, and both quarterbacks struggled to make an impact.

🔄 Quarterback Carousel 🔄

• Brock Glenn started the game, but his momentum quickly dissolved after a series of turnovers, including a pick-six, a fumble, and another interception.

• Luke Kromenhoek replaced Glenn after the disastrous sequence but struggled to lead an effective offense amid poor protection and dropped passes.

• Mike Norvell reinserted Glenn late in the game, adding to the confusion surrounding FSU’s quarterback situation moving forward.

🎙 Coach Norvell’s Post-Game Remarks 🎙

Norvell remained surprisingly optimistic in his post-game presser despite the continued struggles:

“Coming off the bye week, coming into this game, I thought we were prepared, we were ready. I was excited to see them play, and I am grateful for the fight that they showed.”

However, his stubborn play-calling and decisions to rely on veteran players over younger, more promising talent, especially at wide receiver, have led to increased frustration among fans and analysts alike.

🚩 Special Teams Mishaps & Coaching Concerns 🚩

FSU’s special teams were a mixed bag. On one hand, Sam Singleton Jr. provided a bright spot with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, but on the other hand, a blocked field goal, botched punt coverage, and miscommunications marred the unit’s overall performance.

The Seminoles now find themselves in a downward spiral, with fans questioning whether Mike Norvell and his staff are the right fit to turn this program around. With an open quarterback competition seemingly on the horizon, Florida State is left searching for answers.

Read more here.

And that’s a wrap!

From standout tennis achievements to the latest football heartbreak, it’s clear that while some Seminole teams are thriving, others are searching for answers. As we head into another critical week of FSU athletics, all eyes will be on how our teams respond to both success and adversity.

Stay strong, Seminoles, and let’s hope for a turnaround on the gridiron as we look ahead to the next challenge.

Go Noles! 🍢