Georgia Tech vs Florida State: Offensive Comparison

With game day just two days away, we compare and see who has the edge between the Georgia Tech and Florida State offenses entering their week one matchup.

Quarterback:

Starting at quarterback for the Seminoles will be quarterback James Blackman who will be appearing in his 28th game with the program on Saturday afternoon. Through his first 27 appearances, Blackman has posted decent but not stellar numbers. He has a career percentage of 60.9% (390-for-640), for 5,079-yards, 41 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. He has a career quarterback rating of 141.6.

IF Florida State is going to get back on track as a program in 2020, it will start offensively and with Blackman under center. IF he does struggle, it could end up being a long season for the Seminoles.

For the Yellow Jackets, we still don’t know who will be the starting quarterback as on their week one “Above the Line”, James Graham, Jordan Yates, Jeff Sims, and Tucker Gleason were all listed as possible starters. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a tough challenge no matter who the Jackets put under center.

EDGE – Florida State

Running Back:

The Seminoles have yet to name their starting running back and currently have an OR designation at the position as they decide between Jashaun Corbin and La”Damian Webb. Neither running back took a carry for the Seminoles last year and with Cam Akers gone to the NFL, the running back position is certainly a question mark for them heading into week one.

For the Yellow Jackets, on the other hand, they have a potential NFL running back in Jordan Mason and backing him up is the duo of Jamious Griffin and Jahmyr Gibbs both who are fantastic talents of their own. The Jackets not only have the better backfield in this game but have one of the deepest running back position groups in the entire ACC.

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EDGE – Georgia Tech

Wide Receiver/Tight End:

The Yellow Jackets are talented at wide receiver with Ahmarean Brown, Jalen Camp, Malachi Carter, Marquez Ezzard, and Adonicas Sanders all likely to have notable roles in 2020. If they play up to expectations, whoever Georgia Tech’s quarterback is this season will have plenty of weapons, that being said, that’s still a big IF.

Florida State at wide receiver returns Tamorrion Terry who racked up 60 receptions for 1,188-yards and nine touchdowns last year. He’ll be one of the ACC’s top receivers this season. To go along with Terry, FSU will also put out redshirt sophomore Warren Thompson, and junior Keyshawn Helton, combined they had 23 receptions for 330-yards, and three touchdowns last season.

At tight end, the Yellow Jackets have a trio of talented but rather inexperienced players in sophomore Dylan Leonard, Dylan Deveney, and true freshman Billy Ward. All three should see playing time on Saturday against Florida State but their value on the field is still rather unknown. Florida State, on the other hand, will start junior Camren McDonald who had six receptions for 43-yards.

While I think Georgia Tech’s receiving corps is talented and mostly underrated by people around the country, I’m going to give Florida State the SLIGHT edge here at wide receiver/tight end mostly due to having just a bit more experience at the tight end position but also with Terry returning for the Seminoles.

EDGE – Florida State

Offensive Line:

Both of these team’s offensive lines in 2019 were bad to say the least in 2020. Both teams consistently gave up sacks to opposing defenses and rarely gave their quarterbacks enough time to make plays. Florida State allowed sacks on 10.24% of all passing plays while the Yellow Jackets were not too far behind at 8.24%.

Neither offensive line entering this season is great on paper but both SHOULD be better in 2020. Both offensive lines enter the season with plenty of experience. With that being said, we’re going to make this a PUSH though one has to think the Florida State offensive line has a better matchup than the Yellow Jackets do going up against a talented Florida State front seven.

EDGE – PUSH

Overall:

Overall, Florida State has a SLIGHT edge offensively heading into Saturday’s game in our opinion. While the Seminoles are the more talented team on paper, their struggles the last few seasons certainly make this game more interesting to look at from an offensive perspective. The play of James Blackmon could certainly decide this game by his self but his returning experience potentially over whomever the Jackets put out at quarterback could be a rather significant one for Florida State. Add in a dangerous wide receiver like Tamorrion Terry and that could be a dangerous combination for the Seminoles depending on Blackmon’s play.