2008 Florida State Seminoles Preview

There is some unfinished business left on Bobby Bowden’s plate before he rides off into the sunset. Consecutive 7–6 seasons have merely strengthened his resolve to get Florida State football back to its place among the nation’s elite. Whether the Seminoles are ready to take that step in 2008 remains to be seen, even though a very important aspect of the program’s future was settled in December, when the school announced that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher would succeed the man with more major college victories than anyone.

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A Quick Look at the Seminoles

There’s an old saying — “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” — that may best describe Bobby Bowden’s 33rd Florida State football team. The Seminoles will be without 10 players from their two-deep lineup for the first three games as a result of the school’s self-imposed sanctions for their involvement in an academic misconduct scandal. While it’s unlikely the team will miss a beat against Western Carolina and Chattanooga, those absences could lead to a difficult home date with Wake Forest in Week 3. The good news, especially for the harder-hit defense, is the squad should be at full strength against a daunting slate that begins in late October against Virginia Tech and includes road games at Georgia Tech and Maryland, and home dates with Clemson, Boston College and Florida. That stretch run will be a challenge even if the Noles have settled on a quarterback from the trio of Drew Weatherford, Christian Ponder or D’Vontrey Richardson and their paper-thin offensive line avoids injuries. Defensively, the Noles will be challenged early by the absence of at least three linemen. Those challenges change in November, when an improved pass rush becomes a necessity against Clemson, BC and Florida, on the heels of a season when they relinquished an ACC-high 24 touchdown receptions.

“I think it’s a plus all the way,” says Bowden of the decision to make Fisher the coach-in-waiting. “Everybody knows I’m not going to coach until I’m 83.”

Bowden will be 79 by the end of his 33rd season in Tallahassee, and while he would love to tack 27 more victories on his résumé to reach the 400-win mark, his focus is on the immediate future. The process of getting the Noles back on track was set in motion by wholesale staff changes prior to the 2007 campaign, which he believes should pay off with an improved win-loss mark this season. “I’ll be really disappointed if it doesn’t,” he says. “When we started (spring practice), the coaches knew the boys and the boys knew the coaches. The boys knew the offense.”

Familiarity should help. So should the return of 15 starters and 38 lettermen, even though FSU will open the season with up to 10 front-line players serving three-game suspensions as a result of their involvement in an academic misconduct scandal.

Quarterbacks

As a junior, Drew Weatherford proved he could avoid the costly turnovers that plagued him throughout his first two seasons. Amazingly, he threw only one interception in 10 regular-season games. A spring knee surgery prevented the veteran of 33 career starts from proving he was the kind of playmaker Fisher covets. Enter sophomores Christian Ponder and D’Vontrey Richardson. Directing the first-team offense throughout the spring, Ponder showed mobility, a strong arm and understanding of the offense that prompted Fisher to proclaim him “ready to play.” Boasting similar skills, Richardson threw his hat into the competition with an outstanding spring game. Incoming freshman E.J. Manuel, Fisher’s coveted recruit, has indicated he intends to make the competition a foursome upon his arrival.

Running backs

Last season as the featured back, Antone Smith rushed for 819 yards, third among ACC returnees. Smith will have to compete for the same privilege as the Seminoles signed a trio of big backs. Junior college transfer Tavares Pressley picked FSU from a host of major college offers. The Noles beat out LSU for the services of freshman Jermaine Thomas, whose receiving skills create match-up problems. Less-heralded freshman Carlton Jones merely piled up more than 2,400 yards in his final two high school seasons. While junior fullback Seddrick Holloway is best suited for opening holes, senior Joe Surratt gives Fisher a short-yardage/receiving option. Junior Marcus Sims adds another run-catch threat from either the fullback or H-back positions.

Receivers 

The offseason legal problems of Preston Parker, the team’s MVP in 2007, could potentially impact a unit that appeared to be a team strength during the spring. Parker will miss the first two games of the season due to suspension, but the Noles are not void of talent. Senior Greg Carr has the nation’s highest career yards-per-catch average (18.6) among returnees with 100 or more receptions, after a career-best 45-catch, 795-yard season. He also ranks eighth in ACC history with 25 touchdown receptions. FSU’s only other experienced wideouts — Rod Owens and Richard Goodman — have a combined 42 career receptions. Help, however, is on the horizon. Redshirt freshman Taiwan Easterling was the top receiver in the spring, followed closely by classmate Bert Reed. The incoming trio of junior college All-American Corey Surrency and freshmen Jarmon Fortson and Avis Commack all bring size and speed to the table. Thomas is also versatile enough to line up in the slot and help.

Offensive linemen

The graduation of starters Shannon Boatman and David Overmyer leaves line coach Rick Trickett without a single senior in a unit that returns only two players — freshmen All-Americans Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon, at tackle and center  — with any significant experience. A second-team All-ACC guard as a true freshman, Hudson likely slides over to left tackle. Redshirt freshman Antwane Greenlee will likely be the opening-game starter at right tackle. Sophomore Evan Bellamy earned his first start in the Music City Bowl at tackle but will miss the 2008 season with a blood clot in his leg. Redshirt freshman Will Furlong will be at McMahon’s right flank. Sophomore guard/center Brandon Davis is the only other player with any experience, which means the second team will likely include several incoming freshmen.

Defensive linemen

Traditionally a strength, the defensive tackle position is a concern heading into the season, as the Noles seek replacements for NFL-bound Andre Fluellen and Letroy Guion. When the Noles reach full strength, junior Budd Thacker and senior Paul Griffin figure to man the middle of the line. Though they lack the heft of traditional interior linemen, Thacker and Griffin combined for 47 tackles, including 11 for a loss, while playing in a four-man rotation. Junior Justin Mincey will settle back inside after splitting two seasons between end and tackle. Depleted by suspension in the early going, FSU will count on juniors Kendrick Stewart and Emmanuel Dunbar, converted senior offensive lineman Dumaka Atkins and incoming freshman Moses McCray to hold the fort. The prospects at defensive end are much brighter from the start, where junior Everette Brown should benefit from the arrival of junior college National Player of the Year Markus White on the opposite end. Add senior and sometime-terror Neefy Moffett, and the potential is there for the Noles to boast their best pass-rushing production in a decade or more.

Linebackers

All-ACC linebacker Geno Hayes’ early departure for the NFL should not prevent the Seminoles from continuing to click, thanks to a wealth of returning talent. Senior Derek Nicholson returns in the middle, where he logged a team-high 99 stops, and will be flanked by juniors Dekoda Watson and Marcus Ball on the strong and weak sides, respectively. Collectively the returning backers produced 173 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, four sacks and 10 pass breakups. Watson is a proven playmaker, and Ball may prove to be, now that he’s another year removed from reconstructive knee surgery. Sophomore Kendall Smith and junior Recardo Wright provide experienced depth, but the real excitement centers around January freshmen enrollees Nigel Bradham and Vince Williams.

Defensive backs

After yielding an ACC-high 24 touchdown passes last season, the Noles hope to find stability in a veteran group led by fourth-year starting cornerback Tony Carter, junior corner Patrick Robinson and junior rover Myron Rolle. Tough and tenacious, with a penchant for making the big play, Carter has amassed 23 pass breakups and seven interceptions in his career. Despite starting only five games, Robinson collected a team-high six interceptions last season, including a string of five consecutive games with one. While Rolle has been rock-solid against the run (144 career tackles), FSU coaches are hopeful the decorated ’06 signee and student-athlete can become more of a playmaker. Senior Darius McClure, an experienced reserve, has a leg up on converted cornerback Jamie Robinson for the free safety job.

Specialists

Given the Seminoles’ red zone inconsistency, kicker Gary Cismesia may have been the team’s most valuable player, after contributing 109 points on the strength of 27 field goals. Cismesia’s replacement will be senior punter Graham Gano, whose 43.4-yard average is best among ACC returnees. Despite handling most of the kickoff duties for three seasons, Gano has yet to attempt a field goal in a game, though he set a Florida high school mark with a 65-yarder.

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