Florida State Needs to Fix Inconsistent Offense as Playoffs Loom

Florida State doesn't need to have the high-powered, balanced offense of 2013. That was an offense for the history books.

But the Seminoles keep living on the edge in 2014, surviving with an offense that has often been one-dimensional. At some point, will it catch up with FSU? Will the Seminoles be able to keep stacking up wins, especially close ones, as the playoffs get closer?

More than likely, the answer to the first question is "yes." It may not happen next week at Miami or the following weeks against Boston College or Florida. But the inconsistency will definitely be an issue in the playoffs.

FSU defeated Virginia 34-20 on Saturday night but did it with plenty of help from the defense. The Seminoles forced three turnovers in the first half, giving the offense three short fields to work with. So FSU needed to go 23 yards, three yards and 22 yards to score three of its four touchdowns and take a 28-13 halftime lead.

"The defense kept us in this ballgame," FSU quarterback Jameis Winston said.

On FSU's other 10 drives that didn't have the benefit of a short field, the team didn't do much. The Seminoles scored only 13 points and sprinkled in three turnovers and four punts.

Winston had been playing well at times this season, coming off a lackluster first half at Louisville that was followed by a strong second half as FSU rallied for a 42-31 win. He has had five games of 290 or more passing yards. But on Saturday, he was flat early, much like the first half at Louisville.

There were a pair of interceptions in the first half that led to Virginia touchdowns. That's five interceptions in two games.

"I've got to play better," Winston said. "Make smart decisions, not turn the ball over. I'm hurting this team. I really am."

The last part of that statement isn't completely true. Winston has tossed 11 interceptions in eight games in 2014, already more than the 10 INTs he had in 2013. The interceptions have certainly put the defense in a bind, and that's what Winston is referencing.

But the mistakes aren't limited just to Winston. Bobo Wilson dropped a few passes early. Travis Rudolph ran a wrong route that led to an interception.

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The running game struggled yet again, getting 115 yards but averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. Karlos Williams had 21 carries for 70 yards, but both of his touchdown runs came with FSU capitalizing on short fields. Dalvin Cook was the hero at Louisville with 110 rushing yards, but against Virginia he was held to 36 yards on 11 runs. Mario Pender was out again with an ankle injury.

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said Cook would be evaluated for a potential hip injury.

"He got banged up pretty good," Fisher said.

If Cook and Pender are not available next week at Miami, FSU will need to lean on Williams and fullback Freddie Stevenson. Or ask Winston to drop back and win the game.

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Winston certainly hasn't been awful. FSU has scored 30 or more points in the eight games he has played this season. If anything, he's been quite accurate, completing 66.7 percent of his passes this season (he completed 66.9 percent in his Heisman season a year ago).

The issue for Winston has been the inconsistency of the young receivers. And the 11 interceptions.

FSU's turnovers, now 21 in nine games, are disconcerting. And giving up three to Virginia was unexpected.

"That's scary," Fisher said. "That's something that we've never done around here. When you're playing young guys, you take the good with the bad."

FSU has taken the good with the bad all season. The Seminoles are 9-0, but it's often come with drama. Or frustration over mistakes.

The only question now: Is the dichotomy of good and bad going to be enough? Odds are it will be adequate for the regular season, but it will be a major cause for concern in December and January.

Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. All stats courtesy of seminoles.com. All recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.