Fisher, FSU expecting another test from rugged N.C. State defense

A minute or so into his Monday press conference, Jimbo Fisher was all smiles. Florida State's eighth-year head coach remarked how he and his team would finally get a chance to play a real game against a true opponent for the first time in three weeks.

His grin immediately disappeared when time came to discuss North Carolina State's defense. For Fisher, an offensive-minded tactician, the topic at hand was how he would guide a true freshman quarterback against an experienced and extremely talented defensive front.

No. 12 FSU (0-1) hasn't played a game since Sept. 2 due to Hurricane Irma and the storm's aftermath. The season was already one of turbulence, as Fisher and the Seminoles lost starting quarterback Deondre Francois to a season-ending knee injury against Alabama to open the 2017 campaign.

It unexpectedly thrust freshman James Blackman into the spotlight as FSU's new quarterback. Blackman's first game was supposed to come against an easier-to-manage Louisiana-Monroe before facing Miami.

Fisher, instead, will have to prepare Blackman and his offense for one of the tougher defenses they'll face all season.

"Seems like they're playing the same seven guys [in the front-seven] the last three years," Fisher said. "Front is very good, have good depth in their linebackers. Very rarely take a false step, stay on their keys. Secondary guys are big and long. Front guys are strong, run and play extremely well in every phase of the game."

Fisher wasn't kidding about N.C. State (2-1) having the same defensive personnel in place for the last three seasons.

Eight of the team's 11 starters are either seniors or redshirt seniors. The Wolfpack's front's four -- defensive end Bradley Chubb, nose tackle B.J. Hill, defensive tackle Justin Jones and defensive end Kentavius Street -- are all seniors.