09-14-2004, 07:29 AM
Injuries keep stacking up for FSU offensive line
By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Jeff Bowden said during the preseason that a key to Florida State's offensive success would be to keep his offensive line healthy.
That hasn't been an easy proposition, and a problem that became even bigger on Monday. Starting split guard Matt Meinrod learned that he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and will have to undergo season-ending knee surgery. He also suffered an MCL sprain.
FSU could also be without starting center David Castillo against Alabama-Birmingham because of an injury. Castillo missed the Miami game. And starting guard Bobby Meeks continues to be slowed by an ankle injury.
Cory Niblock, who came in during the third quarter for Meinrod, played well according to his coaches. Niblock graded out at 79 percent, excellent for a first-time starter. He also had two pancakes - blocks that put the defensive player on the ground.
"That was a case of a kid going in and just playing like he should be playing. He did a good job," Jeff Bowden said.
Reserve center Brian Ross will also work at that guard position.
Another first-time starter who played well on Friday was punter Chris Hall, who averaged 45.4 yards per punts. He placed two of his eight punts within the 20-yard line and had one punt of 54 yards.
Andrews happy with defense
Take out two big plays that happened when cramps and injury thinned his cornerbacks, and defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews would have little to complain about. He cited FSU's goal-line stand in the fourth quarter that forced Miami to settle for a field goal, a score of an interception and a number of big plays.
"We played pretty good," Andrews said. "We had a lot of good things out there."
Andrews said the FSU defense made 44 big plays, including 34 against the pass. Big plays include tackles for loss, pressures, interceptions and deflected passes.
"We've never that many before," Andrews said.
FSU also gave up two big plays - a 63-yard pass to set up Miami's field goal in the fourth quarter and a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game in the fourth quarter. One reserve cornerback was responsible for the both plays.
"All of a sudden you look out there and our top three corners not even on the field," Andrews said. "What happened is our backups got an opportunity to be a starter and didn't quite get the job done. We gave up a 63-yarder ... where a backup corner broke down. And on the touchdown pass - a 30-yard screen play - the same kid doesn't keep the ball inside of him. If he got the ball turned back inside we got two or three people that could have made the tackle.
"His effort wasn't lacking on either one of them," Andrews said. "We just have to play smarter. We have to coach smarter."
Cromartie expected to play
A hip injury kept Antonio Cromartie out of the final moments of Saturday's game but the cornerback said he expects to play against the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Cromartie was nominated for ACC defensive back of the week. But despite scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery and grabbing an interception, Cromartie lost to Miami's Antrel Rolle for the honor.
By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Jeff Bowden said during the preseason that a key to Florida State's offensive success would be to keep his offensive line healthy.
That hasn't been an easy proposition, and a problem that became even bigger on Monday. Starting split guard Matt Meinrod learned that he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and will have to undergo season-ending knee surgery. He also suffered an MCL sprain.
FSU could also be without starting center David Castillo against Alabama-Birmingham because of an injury. Castillo missed the Miami game. And starting guard Bobby Meeks continues to be slowed by an ankle injury.
Cory Niblock, who came in during the third quarter for Meinrod, played well according to his coaches. Niblock graded out at 79 percent, excellent for a first-time starter. He also had two pancakes - blocks that put the defensive player on the ground.
"That was a case of a kid going in and just playing like he should be playing. He did a good job," Jeff Bowden said.
Reserve center Brian Ross will also work at that guard position.
Another first-time starter who played well on Friday was punter Chris Hall, who averaged 45.4 yards per punts. He placed two of his eight punts within the 20-yard line and had one punt of 54 yards.
Andrews happy with defense
Take out two big plays that happened when cramps and injury thinned his cornerbacks, and defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews would have little to complain about. He cited FSU's goal-line stand in the fourth quarter that forced Miami to settle for a field goal, a score of an interception and a number of big plays.
"We played pretty good," Andrews said. "We had a lot of good things out there."
Andrews said the FSU defense made 44 big plays, including 34 against the pass. Big plays include tackles for loss, pressures, interceptions and deflected passes.
"We've never that many before," Andrews said.
FSU also gave up two big plays - a 63-yard pass to set up Miami's field goal in the fourth quarter and a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game in the fourth quarter. One reserve cornerback was responsible for the both plays.
"All of a sudden you look out there and our top three corners not even on the field," Andrews said. "What happened is our backups got an opportunity to be a starter and didn't quite get the job done. We gave up a 63-yarder ... where a backup corner broke down. And on the touchdown pass - a 30-yard screen play - the same kid doesn't keep the ball inside of him. If he got the ball turned back inside we got two or three people that could have made the tackle.
"His effort wasn't lacking on either one of them," Andrews said. "We just have to play smarter. We have to coach smarter."
Cromartie expected to play
A hip injury kept Antonio Cromartie out of the final moments of Saturday's game but the cornerback said he expects to play against the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Cromartie was nominated for ACC defensive back of the week. But despite scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery and grabbing an interception, Cromartie lost to Miami's Antrel Rolle for the honor.