Throughout this college football season, I have taken a great interest in the Florida State Seminoles, shockingly. They have been making headlines, but not for their usual blowout victories. Instead, Florida State has had several close calls, and fans of opposing teams are just waiting to see them lose. I knew that one day, if things turned out, the Ducks’ path would eventually cross with theirs. What I’ve noticed, and what I am looking forward to for the Rose Bowl, is the matchup between Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey in the nickelback position vs the Ducks offense.
Marcus Mariota communicating with his offensive line
It will be interesting to see if Florida State will use him to put pressure on Marcus Mariota (although, can anyone?) or line him up across from a wide receiver. I can say that from the games I’ve watched, Ramsey can be detrimental to any offense when he puts pressure on the offensive line. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many blocked passes.
This is what ESPN.com Pac-12 reporter Chantel Jennings had to say about Ramsey’s impact:
“If Florida State wins, Ramsey will probably have a major impact. Ramsey was one of the best freshmen in 2013, but he moved to nickelback — or the “star” position in FSU’s scheme — before 2014. It took Ramsey a few games to adjust, but the sophomore is filling up the stat sheet now. Mariota needs to account for and find Ramsey before every snap, because he impacts the game in so many ways. He has possibly emerged as FSU’s best defensive player, but Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost are skilled offensive coaches. The playcalling could limit Ramsey’s effect on the game, but the 6-foot-1, 204-pound sophomore’s athleticism could still have him in the right spot at the right time anyway.”
Hroniss Grasu
The Ducks offensive line will possibly have star center Hroniss Grasu back for the Rose Bowl. This addition to the offensive line will help immensely to counter the pressure of Florida State. Pay close attention to No. 8 on FSU, and how the team will use him against the dynamic Ducks offense.
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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Ashley Young is current senior at the University of Oregon and grew up an avid Seattle Seahawks fan, despite all the ups and downs of past seasons. She has made her way to the University of Oregon and now loves watching the Ducks dominate in all sports. In her spare time, she has discovered a passion through the sport of Ultimate Frisbee and is a co-captain for the University of Oregon Women’s Ultimate team, last year’s national champions. Twitter: @AshleyHopeYoung