Tony Gibson: Florida State 'is the best offense we've faced'
One of the crucial turning points of Saturday’s 30-20 loss at No. 5 Clemson for NC State was when the Tigers drove 75 yards starting with 1:51 left in the first half for a touchdown that put them up for good at 13-10. Three days later, NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson accepted full responsibility for how that possession played out.
“We’ve got to do a better job coaching,” Gibson stated. “The drive before the half, that was 100 percent on me. We should have been more aggressive, tried to be. I got spooked a little bit. They threw the ball downfield. We had an opportunity to make a play, we didn’t.
“Overall, our kids played extremely hard. You could see the passion that they play with, but at times we’ve got to play a little smarter. We have to just do our job. I think we started pressing too much, and again, that falls on me, and not the kids.”
Gibson also noted that the team learned a very valuable lesson that “every play matters.”
Twice NC State had opportunities to come up with potential game-changing interceptions and did not make the play. Gibson added to that tally of lost chances an opportunity to strip-sack Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
“This is a game of inches,” Gibson noted. “We had a direct hit on the quarterback at about the 4- or 5-yard line, ball exposed. We kind of hesitated a little bit and could have had an opportunity to get a ball out. What we have to do is make this a learning experience.
“I told the kids on Sunday, nobody feels sorry for us right now. What we have to do is jump back on the horse and ride again. So, we got to get ready. We’re a little bit pissed off. It’s going to be a great atmosphere Saturday. I’m looking forward to watching the guys bounce back.”
According to Gibson, they will have to bounce back strong, too. NC State will host Florida State, who is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. Gibson believes the Noles have “the best offense we’ve faced.”
FSU is led by quarterback Jordan Travis, who has started much of the last three years but has yet to play against NC State. Two years ago, Travis was injured when Florida State lost in Carter-Finley Stadium.
Last fall, a wave of flu-like illness swept the Tallahassee campus and included Travis, who was not well enough to play the Pack in a 28-14 NC State win.
Gibson noted that Travis “makes them different.”
“He’s a very athletic kid that can run,” Gibson described. “The one thing that I see him doing now is scrambling to throw the ball.”
