HELPING U BREAK IT DOWN! 

I'm Esteban and I'll be your host with the most for this page.  This page is specifically devoted to breaking down the weekly match-ups with the competition the Canes will face.  We will look at five areas that should determine the outcome of each game: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles.

After my extensive, careful and considerable professional analyisis (or by throwing darts) I will pick three of the five areas that will be the reasons why the Canes will win each game.  In addition I will be picking three specific match-ups to watch during the game and an offensive MVP and defensive MVP for the Canes before each game.  Yeah, I am that good!

But we will break it down in a creative way that has NEVER been done before.  Here's the twist:  I will offer the Canes perspective and will recruit a fan from the opposing team each week to offer their side of the breakdown.  You will get both sides of the arguement, one from me and one from the opposing fan.  Needless to say, this should be VERY interesting.  I mean people could get hurt here.  And by "people", I don't mean me!

Why U Wins:

1)      FSU’s OL isn’t good.  Sometimes things work in your favor because how good you are and sometimes they work in your favor because your opponent is that weak.  Our defense has struggled against the run this year but FSU’s run game has been horrible do to the OL’s deficiencies.  This means that there will be a lot of chances for Calais Campbell and Eric Moncur to get back on track in adding to their sack totals.

2)      Javarris James, Graig Cooper and Shawnbrey McNeal.  No longer just a combo of JJ and Cooper.  McNeal has forced his way into the rotation by showing off big play ability.  Expect OC Patrick Nix to continue to find ways to get these guys the ball more and more leading to an increase in big gains.

3)      We HAVE to win.  This team is a like a boxer stumbling in the ring trying to get his equilibrium back centered.  A win will go along way to getting their feet planted solidly.

Why U needs to be careful:

1)      Greg Carr.  FSU’s offense has been struggling the past few seasons, but they’ve had at least a go to play in deep lob passes to Carr.  He’s contributed either big gains or defensive pass interference calls with some much regularity that it’s a safe bet that we’ll see Carr get at least 4 or 5 deep lobs thrown his way in this game.  Whoever is covering him will be at a disadvantage due to Carr’s size and ball skills.

2)      FSU’s attacking defense.  Expect blitzes up the middle, from the outside and from both areas on Saturday.  FSU has sacked and beat up Kyle the past two years and will be gunning to do the same this year.  Even without picking up but 1 sack last week GT showed what constant pressure can do to our passing game.

3)      Preston Parker in the return game.  Parker hasn’t taken one back for a TD but has come close a few times already this season.  He’s a threat every time he gets the ball in his hands and with Matt Bosher’s short punts FSU will either get good field position due to Parker making nice returns or Bosher kicking sub 30 yard punts.

Match-Ups to Watch:

1)      Our RTs Reggie Youngblood and Chris Rutledge vs FSU’s LE Everette Brown.  Brown leads FSU with 5 sacks and has been there most consistent rusher this season.  If Youngblood and Rutledge can neutralize him one on one on passing downs that will be a big part in giving Wright time to throw since instead of a back or TE helping with Brown they can focus on helping pick up a blitzer.

2)      Our WR lined up wide on the right side of the field (or bottom of the screen if watching it on TV) vs FSU’s CB Jamie Robinson.  Nearly all of Kyle’s deep passes have been streaks down the sideline on the right side of the field.  Robinson should expect to have at least 2-3 shots taken on him.  This match up is extra important since these passes have accounted for basically the only big plays within our passing game.

3)      Our LE Eric Moncur vs FSU’s RT David Overmeyer.  Moncur needs to take advantage of Overmeyer who’s starting this week at RT after being out with an injury.  Even if the injury is lingering it will be tough to replace Overmeyer since his replacement at RT is now replacing an injured OG. 

Player to Watch:

Kenny Phillips.  KP will have to keep track of where Greg Carr is lined up and be ready to help on the lob passes.  This will give him the opportunity to make an INT or two if he can make plays on the ball at its highest point.  With FSU likely to take a lot of shots down the field in general he will need to be up to the task of tracking down passes all over the field.