JD PicKell: Breaking down what FSU needs to do to take the next step as a program

In 2022, Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles went 10-3, winning the Cheez-It Bowl and finishing 11th in the AP Poll. For the Seminoles, this was their best record since 2016 and it looks like Norvell has completed a full rebuild at FSU. However, there is still room to take the next step as a program.

On3’s JD PicKell broke down exactly what FSU needs to do if it wants to take the next step as a program.

“I believe for Florida State to get where they want to go, winning the ACC, playing in the College Football Playoff, competing for a national title,” PicKell said. “There needs to be an ever so slight uptick in points per game.”

Last season, FSU finished 16th in scoring offense. The Seminoles did that by averaging 36.1 points per game.

“You say, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, JD, we scored a lot of points per game last year.’ I’m like, ‘Dog, I know.’ We had Jordan Travis on the show. We had Mike Norvell on the show. Florida State averaged 36 points a game last year,” PicKell said.

“But in the games where Florida State wasn’t able to come out victorious, it was the offense having a little bit of trouble, not being able to get over the hump, not being able to kick into that final gear to really put the jets on.”

In 2022, FSU only lost three of those games. All three of those were in a row and were to teams who were ranked at the time of the game. In each game, the Seminoles scored less than 30 points with the team suffering its worst offensive performance of the season in the loss to NC State, only scoring 17 points.

“So, for Florida State, if they can be in that 40 points per game range, that’s where I want to see them live. 40 points a game, you’re dealing with in the neighborhood of what Ohio State was doing, in the neighborhood of what Georgia and Michigan were doing. Like that’s the area where it’s okay, now we can fight this style to where if our defense has an off day, God bless em, we’re good to go man.”

FSU vs. LSU should be one of the best early season games

Last season, FSU traveled to New Orleans for a ‘neutral’ site game against LSU. In a year where both teams outperformed expectations, it was a good, close game that the Seminoles managed to win, setting the table for the rest of the year.

This season, the two will meet again for another ‘neutral’ site game. This time, the game will be in Orlando and as Greg McElroy explained, it should be one of the best early season games.

“Should be an incredible game down there in Orlando. LSU, I don’t know if there was a team last year that overachieved or improved more from Week 1 to where they were at the end of the season. Now, was it without a couple issues? Sure,” McElroy said.

“Tennessee game, forgettable. The performance against Texas A&M, Disappointing. But either way, Brian Kelly clearly has LSU on the right track and their team’s loaded, man. Returning quarterback, returning and young offensive line, emerging, experienced, super talented playmakers offensively. They return the two best defensive players from a year ago. You’ve got to like a lot of what you bring back.”