Typically we agree Peake, but I'll have to disagree on your assessment of FSU.
It is not even close when you compare talent.
I would agree, except the other way. FSU has much more talent, overall, than Notre Dame. Many more athletes and much more speed.
Cierre Wood is as good a rb as you will find in america.
The ND offensive line is a very solid unit led by Trevor Robinson.
1. He's solid, but I wouldn't start putting him in the conversation with the elite HBs. Not a slight to him though, quality back.
2. Versus one of the top defensive fronts in the nation
The defensive line is very solid led by Ethan Johnson and Lynch.
This is where ND blew the game. First half went about as expected with four freshman on the OL for FSU. But they played a lot better in the second half giving EJ time to throw and work the field. Excellent job by those young kids, but a poor job of a more experienced defensive front to not finish the game like they started.
Possibly the best LB in the country in Te'o.
A very good LB, but I'm obviously not as high on their defense as a whole as you are.
That FSU team is not very good. They have a pretty good playmaker in EJ Manuel, but the rest are role players, no big difference makers. Freshmen all over the OL.
It's hard to argue they weren't a disappointment, because they were... but because of injuries. Coming into the year the OL were a veteran unit and it looked like the offensive could run the balanced pro style they wanted, and it started that way. Once EJ got hurt and they lost to Oklahoma that was it for the team, but once he returned they started to rebound and closed the season out well.
When healthy, this FSU team is an elite squad, in my opinion. Problem being they were almost never healthy, including today with the offensive line as you pointed out. But the defense, like they did most of the year, kept them in the game. They only gave up 7 points and forced turnovers which have plagued ND all year.
They are DEEP defensively which has helped them all year and helped them tonight. Going in I thought that FSU's athletes would be the difference... ND can not match up against the Noles in that regard. We'll disagree to the end about that, lol. The games outcome falls on the defensive front for ND. Period. They should have been able to control the FSU freshmen for four quarters, not two, but I'm glad they didn't and that's a huge boost for the Noles moving forward now knowing they can be deep at the OL position next season if they stay healthy.
It's also good to point out FSU has one of the nation's best offensive line coaches and that could be what made the difference in the locker room at halftime: Rick Trickett, I thank you.
FSU has another top five recruiting class coming in with a few recruits yet to committ, but I'm not sure how high the Noles are on their list. The big highlights are Winston, who will sit behind EJ for a year, and two of the top ten DEs to add to the already DEEP and talent DL. They also return two of their top defensive backs and reload at LB. The biggest flaw for the Noles is the offensive lines health. If they are healthy they can play the balanced attack and compete with anyone.
