Mike Norvell on Louisville: “We got to go earn it”

Florida State (3-2, 1-1 ACC) turns to Louisville (2-3, 1-2 ACC) on a short week after a surprising 38-7 win over Virginia. Mike Norvell and wide receiver Micahi Danzy met with local media Monday.

Norvell opened on the road trip that lies ahead.

“Excited for the opportunity, the stage, the challenge that’s in front of us.”

He said he was proud of how the team responded Saturday, credited the coaches and stayed on the same point he made after the game.

“It was 45 minutes, really good football. We still have left plenty out there that I know we can continue to improve upon, but it was a dominant win against a quality opponent.”

On the defense:

“I thought (our) defense overwhelmed them with physicality, speed, just emotion. To have 10 sacks, I don’t know the last time that we’ve had 10 sacks here.”

On the conversion downs:

“They were 3-for-15…on third down, but then 0-for-4 on fourth down. Every one of those fourth-down stops is a takeaway.”

“We had five three-and-outs. That’s dominant style of defense.”

Norvell on the defensive line:

“They were clean in how they played. They were aggressive attacking a very experienced offensive line group.”

He said Tony White “had a great plan” and credited Nick Williams (edges coach) and Terrance Knighton (defensive line coach) for an “outstanding job of continuing to bring guys along.”

Norvell on Ashton Daniel’s school-record-breaking five rushing touchdowns against Virginia.

“It’s a special performance.”

Norvell pointed again to “his ownership of the offense and the things he’s being asked to do.”

Norvell said the 81-yard touchdown run was an adjustment put in right before the snap.

“It was a different formation. We hadn’t repped it. … They brought a pressure, which Ashton was alert of.”

Daniels went to throw, stuck his foot in the ground and followed (Ousmane) Kromah.

“All of a sudden, (I) heard Ashton say, ‘Go, go.’ … He saw color to block, he hit it.”

Florida State is 21-for-21 in the red zone this season, tied for the best scoring rate in the country. Seventeen of those are touchdowns, which ranks first in the ACC and 11th nationally.

“We got (in the red zone) four times and scored four touchdowns. I think we’re over 80% touchdowns inside the red zone. That’s the focus.”

“When we get down there, we want points on the board, and specifically, we want six.”

Norvell on Louisville

“It’s going to be a great challenge.”

“This is probably the best three-loss team in the country.”

On quarterback Lincoln Kienholz:

“He can do it all. … This kid, he really has it all.”

On Louisville’s defense, Norvell said injuries have tested the Cardinals’ depth, but the talent is there.

“They’ve got quite a few draft picks, future draft picks, that are on that side of the ball.”

“It’s going to be a real hard-nosed, tough ACC matchup. Friday night, all eyes on us.”

Norvell on the belief after the win:

“That’s 10 months of work of guys that truly do care about each other. … What does that mean moving forward? We got to go earn it. We got to earn it this week.”

Danzy said Saturday felt like old Florida State being dominant, with both sides of the ball doing it. He said the next step is showing they can do it on the road. He also talked developing confidence, the slow starts, and red-zone focus.

The Seminoles play at Louisville on Friday at 7 p.m. in Louisville, Ky., on ESPN.