Florida State practices the two-minute offense every Thursday as a situation that may be necessary on Saturdays.
And the hurry-up offense was effective in the win over Virginia Tech last week, as the Seminoles scored a touchdown on a 71-yard drive in the closing minute of the first half and then defeated the Hokies 28-22 with a 68-yard drive that ended with an EJ Manuel touchdown pass to Rashad Greene in the final minute.
“The fast tempo offense always works,” Manuel said. “Every time coach (Jimbo) Fisher has implemented it during a game, it’s worked for us. We just go right down the field, hit four or five passing plays and then come back with a run and get positive yards all the time.
“A defense can’t prepare for it. It’s really hard for them to get subs in and for the coaches on the sideline to get the calls in. Sometimes those guys line up really not knowing what to do.”
Manuel said that he finds it’s easy to get into a rhythm as a passer, comparing the faster pace to that of a 3-point shooting contest in basketball. FSU (9-1, 6-1 ACC) has had so much success with the two-minute offense that it could be used more down the road.
One drawback, however, is that while the drives often produce quick points it also means the defense will only get a short amount of rest between drives. For now, Fisher prefers to use it in the right situations – like at the end of a half – as opposed to making it a more significant part of the overall offensive game plan.
“It depends on who your opponent is,” Fisher said.
INJURY UPDATE: Senior tailback Chris Thompson had surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee, Fisher said. "There were no other problems with the knee," Fisher said. "They expect a full recovery in normal time."
Thompson played in just five games in 2011 before breaking two vertebrae in the loss to Wake Forest. And this season he played in eight games before hurting his knee in the win over Miami.
While not technically eligible for a medical redshirt because he played in the fifth game of each season, Fisher said FSU plans to appeal to the NCAA on Thompson’s behalf based on the fact that he will have missed more than a season’s worth of games over the past two years. “All they can say is no,” Fisher said.
About the Author
