Mike Norvell, Alex Atkins Provide An Update On Robert Scott and FSU's Battered Offensive Line

Florida State has relied on a group of eight veterans along the offensive line throughout the 2023 season. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, at least half of those players - offensive tackle Robert Scott, offensive tackle Bless Harris, center Maurice Smith, and the versatile Darius Washington - have been forced to miss time with injuries at different points of the year.

In particular, redshirt junior offensive tackle Robert Scott, a three-year starter for the Seminoles entering the season, has been limited to just 125 total snaps in 12 games. Scott has only played 30+ snaps in one game this year and hasn't played in the last four contests despite being in full pads on the sideline for each of them.

Smith missed two games earlier this season with a lower-body injury and has been visibly hampered since Florida State's win over Duke. He was limping heavily while gutting it out to finish the game in The Swamp.

Harris was unavailable for the victory against Virginia Tech in October while playing sparingly in wins over Syracuse and Duke. Washington was injured in the first half against the Blue Devils, leading him to miss the game against Wake Forest the following week.

All in all, it's been a trying campaign as the Seminoles seemingly find themselves being tested along the offensive line week by week.

"We've got good depth on the offensive line, but it's definitely been tested. Rob Scott, he's a guy that started three years here and he's had a challenging year just of what he's had to deal with physically in trying to get himself available throughout the course of the week," Norvell said on Monday. "We feel like he's getting there and going to be able to provide us more assistance. In that, Maurice, he battles. He got rolled up once. He's had to fight and work through it. I thought Darius Washington probably played his best game. I was really pleased with what I saw from him. You see J.B.'s getting better."

"We've got a really good group. Some of the challenges that showed up were real. But there's also times that I thought we did a lot of good things," Norvell continued. "And it's continuing to make sure that everybody's in flow and in sequence to optimize the opportunities we get whether it's in protection or run game. Our offensive line, they work their tails off, and it is a talented group. It's one that has been tested, but it's one that's responded with mental toughness, physical toughness, and I know they're going to be ready to battle because we have our hands full with an extremely impressive Louisville front."

Scott has dealt with his fair share of injuries during his time in Tallahassee. He was sidelined for the entirety of Florida State's slate of spring practices over the offseason while healing up from a procedure. The Seminoles played it safe with him during fall camp but it didn't matter as Scott suffered a setback early in the season opener.

Since then, he's struggled to consistently get into a position where he's been able to get into the lineup. Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins is trying to prevent Scott from being put in a scenario that injures him even further. Atkins realizes that the team is going to need the veteran offensive tackle during this final stretch of the season.

"I care about Rob and I want to make sure, cause Rob always wants to go, he doesn't care what's hurt, what's going on, so I care about him, his career moving forward, so I don't put him in a position to get even further injured," Atkins said. "But he was ready to go, he practiced last week and he could've went if we needed him to go and we have that luxury to do that. And he understands that if he goes but I don't want to put him on a setback either if he's getting better unless it's absolutely necessary."

"What I like about it is he's really embraced that process and as we're further along, we're going to need Rob, and he'll be feeling better than he's ever felt and he's still getting the work in practice against really good players," Atkins continued. "I don't think he's going to be underdeveloped. He's going to be ready to go when it's time to go but he's also going to be able to be very effective when he goes and we won't have any setbacks pushing us behind as we push later into the season."

After missing the second half of the win over North Alabama, there was a question of if Smith would even be available going into the game against the Gators. He ended up starting the contest but had his leg rolled up on in the middle of the contest, briefly placing his status into question.

Smith was able to get up and remain in the game, once again displaying his toughness. Atkins says that Harris or Scott would've entered the contest in his place if Smith had gone down. At the same time, the coach went into detail about the personal stands his group has in place, mentioning D'Mitri Emmanuel fighting through pain as well.

"We've got Bless and Scott so it depends on the situation and matchup," Atkins said.
"The benefit we have with Darius is that he can play all five and he's ready to go at all five at any time so it's not like he's got to go and warm up or anything. He's ready to go, he's done it, he's started games at center."

"Every o-line coach in the country says if a guy goes down then go down so we can warm up with the other guy and we're not wasting time but our guys have their own personal standard of operating until you can't operate no more," Atkins continued. "And if you go down, then you're down for real. Meech had a play where they had to pick them up. I don't ever question those guys' mentality. Of course, they're going to make mistakes, you ain't going to bat 1.000 but them guys I'm sending out there with their mindset, they're going to find a way no matter how it needs to be done. They're going to scrap and claw and make sure they're together to find a way to come out with the win."

One week remains until a break for the postseason. The Seminoles will have to be at their best up front against a productive Cardinals front seven.

Florida State and Louisville are scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2. The game will be televised on ABC.