Louis Riddick reacts to DJ Uiagalelei poor showing, hammers Florida State leadership in BC loss
Florida State was stunned by Boston College on Monday night, falling to the Eagles 28-13 inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed 50 percent of his passing attempts but failed to develop a steady rhythm down the stretch. He showed flashes, but ultimately ESPN commentator Louis Riddick believes that the Seminoles have a ways to go offensively before the passing game will be reliable in Tallahassee.
“There just isn’t a chemistry, a rhythm, a consistency with which he can connect with his wide receivers at this point,” Riddick told Scott Van Pelt after calling the game for ESPN. “And there really isn’t a second reaction, dynamic component to his game … His counterpart on the other sideline today (Thomas Castellanos), you saw it. It didn’t have to be perfect for him. When it kind of got a little sideways, He goes, ‘Guess what? I’ll take over now. I’ll do this.’ Guess who could do that for Florida State a year ago before he got hurt? Jordan Travis.
“When you watch Boston College versus Florida State last year up at Boston College, Jordan Travis gave Boston College’s defense fits. They didn’t have that component here today.”
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Riddick said that Uiagaleleli either needs to become more efficient and consistent with his wide receivers, or else the passing game will always be a “frustrating” point. So far in two games, Uiagaleleli has completed 58 percent of his passes (40 of 69) for 465 yards, one interception and a touchdown, both of which came against Boston College.
If Uiagalelei isn’t able to step up in the same way that Travis did for the ‘Noles during his career, Florida State will have to look elsewhere for leadership. However, Riddick hasn’t seen anyone willing to take on the role through two weeks of watching this year’s Florida State football team.
“This is a team that right now is fighting for it not being one of those imploding type of seasons that absolutely cost all kinds of people some employment,” Riddick said. “This could really get ugly for them, if the leadership of this football team — and I’m not talking about Mike Norvell — I’m talking about in the locker rooms. They miss guys like Jordan Travis. They miss guys like Braden Fiske. They miss guys like Jared Verse, guys who are in the pros right now, who this staff told me last year when I was down here, these are the glue guys. These are the foundational guys.
“These are the guys that helped turn around Mike Norvell’s time here and propelled them to a 13-0 season. Well, they’re gone. So who’s it going to be now? Did you see a single guy out there tonight that looked like they could grab this football team and go, ‘We need to wake up and get things going.’ I didn’t see it.”
Florida State is still in search of its new identity as they move on to Week 3. FSU will host Memphis where they’ll hope to reset their season and move past this 0-2 start.