First, FSU was as good of a Team as we'll face all year, specifically their defense. Not sure how good their OL was but otherwise an elite team we beat Saturday.

DEFENSE:

The amount of different LB groupings we used (even despite the injuries) was something we've never seen under Saban. For example before anyone was injured, Wilson & Holcombe replaced Evans & Hamilton the first series of the 2nd quarter - again something we've never done in the past - obviously we rotate Jack/Sam (OLB) all the time but we've never done it with ILB.

Then also us using Holcombe at Mike in Dime. Wonder if it's just new and he's better or we're trying to protect Hamilton coming off he knee injury? Probably the latter.

Here are the Defensive snaps played:

PLAYER (FIRST TEAM/2ND TEAM)
DL

Hand (55/0)
Payne (50/0)
Buggs (25/2)
Frazier (16/3)
QWilliams (10/1)
RDavis (5/0)
King (0/3)

I expect Davis + Williams will eat into some of Hand's snaps going forward - obviously he's not going to be able to play that many snaps every game. Frazier looked much more athletic. Payne is maybe the GOAT.

LB
Hamilton (43/0)
Evans (30/0)
Jennings (14/0)
Miller (25/0)
Lewis (31/0)
Holcombe (20/1)
Wilson (14/3)
Mosley (2/3)
MBrown (0/3)
Moses (7/2)

Obviously Lewis & Miller are gone for the year and that will great change things. Jennings out for a week or 3. So time for the young guys to step up/develop quickly. Clearly going to be an increased role for Moses by default (important to note pretty much all his snaps came after Jennings, Miller, Lewis & Evans were out.

But I figure when we're back healthy, 20, 32 & 33 will rarely leave the field except when/if 42 replaces 20 for Dime, 32 moves to outside rush and 33 will rotate in Nickel/Dime with 16, 8, 32 (dime) and then some of the likes of Mehki Brown and perhaps Ben Davis/Chris Allen.

We'll be fine but we really can't afford anymore seriously injuries here.

Secondary:

Fitzpatrick, Harrison, Averett (57/0)
Hootie (42/0)
Diggs (17/1)
Wallace (38/0)
TBrown (12/1)
Thompson (0/3)
Carter (0/1)
Mayden (0/3)
McKinney (0/3)

Not the best group we've had but possibly the most versatile with guys Fitzpatrick, Tony Brown, even Harrison able to play 2 or even 3 different positions. While Hootie is out, I'm guessing we move Tony back to Star in Nickel and leave Fitz at SS. In Dime, I figure Thompson fills Hootie's role OR I could see Thompson filling in for Hootie in Nickel AND Dime and leaving Fitz at Star and Tony in Dime only - we have so many options.

Diggs will get another shot to get his job back rest assured but Levi Wallace played pretty well Saturday and is legit. But it's important for next year we continue to bring Diggs along.

OFFENSE

Hard to really say a whole lot - we faced as good of a D as we'll see all year so it's expected to struggle at times. Some random comments:

I figure when Jacobs is back that Scarbrough will play much less but regardless I was shocked to see him on the field so much on 3rd down passing situations in lieu of Damien Harris who is much better all-around and esp blocking.

Hard to tell sometimes if FSU just had us covered up downfield (they are badass there especially #4 McFadden) or if Jalen bailed out of the pocket too quickly at times.

Hard to take away much from the OL after one game. But we need to give them more help in many situations. I counted at least 11 times we sent 5 guys on a route - most of those resulted in Jalen being pressured very quickly and/or having to throw it away. That will work against the likes of Kentucky and whatnot but not elite caliber teams like FSU. Jalen is awesome but he's not Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers/Matthew Stafford.

We were in 11 personnel for 48 of our 60 plays. 12 in the remaining 12 plays. Not sure if that's matchup based but a lot less usage of TE's that what we've been used to under Kiffin - and we lack that "power" TE like a Brandon Greene and obviously no OJ Howard out there.

Clear we're going to have to give Matt Womack more help either from a TE/HB or the RB on obviously 3rd & long passing situations. In 3 watches so far, the few times I focused on Womack he looked serviceable in run blocking but he's gonna get beat 2-3 times a game on the pass rush. Which is fine, that happens unless it's the 2-3 plays that could be the difference in the game.