Homewreckers

Sporting News, The, Sept 17, 2001 by Matt Hayes

5. Run the ball in the second half

Once Georgia Tech gets a lead in the second half, any turnover or break will translate into a clock-chewing scoring drive. That means a heavy dose of Burns.

At some point, the 'Noles will back off their attacking scheme and drop in coverage to protect their corners. FSU will go from eight players near the line of scrimmage to four, with its linebackers dropping in coverage. That's when Burns and the line will take over, dominating the line of scrimmage and keeping FSU's offense off the field.

It won't be easy to run early on, but the Jackets won't abandon it. The closer the game stays, the more Tech will pound away.

"When was the last time you saw anyone beat Florida State without running the ball--no matter where you're playing the game?" Franks asks. "You've got enough going against you already; you better be able to run."

FSU thrives on making teams one-dimensional. But after Burns and the running game grind out yards, and Tech's offense becomes multifaceted, the five steps will be complete.

And the streak will be over.

E-mail projects editor Matt Hayes at mhayes@sportingnews.com.