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by
Joel Welser
#23 Florida State Seminoles
Atlantic Coast Conference
2006 Record: (7-6, 3-5)
Coach: Bobby Bowden (293-81-4 at Florida
State, 366-113-4 overall)
Starters Returning: 16 (6 offense, 8 defense,
2 specialists)
Offensive Starters Lost: RB Lorenzo Booker,
WR Chris Davis, TE Brandon Warren, OL Mario Henderson, OL Cory Niblock
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Drew
Weatherford, FB Joe Surrat, WR De’Cody Fagg, OL Jacky Claude, OL John Frady, OL
Shannon Boatman
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Darrell Burston,
LB Lawrence Timmons, LB Buster Davis
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Andre
Fluellen, DT Letroy Guion, DE Alex Boston, LB Geno Hayes, CB Tony Carter, CB
Jamie Robinson, S Roger Williams, S Myron Rolle
Starting Specialists Lost: none
Starting Specialists Returning: K Gary
Cismesia, P Graham Gano
Florida State has replaced four coaches on the
offensive side of the ball in hopes of sparking a stagnant offense. The addition
of offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher should be a major improvement and his
ability to get the most out of his squad might be enough to put the Seminoles
back atop the ACC standings.
Offense:
Quarterback Drew Weatherford returns, but he will
have some competition from Xavier Lee for the starting nod. Neither was very
impressive last season, but the new offensive schemes should be able to fix
that. The absence of the team’s leading receiver, Chris Davis, is not as bad as
it sounds. The Seminoles have plenty of talent returning led by Greg Carr and
De’Cody Fagg…now they just need somebody to get them the ball with some
consistency.
Antone Smith proved that he could be a quality
tailback and did spend some time as the starter over the departed Lorenzo Booker
before he got hurt. Finding a second back to spell Smith is the more pressing
concern. Freshmen Marcus Sims and Russell Ball and sophomore Jamaal Edwards lack
experience, but one should be able to step up and at least be a quality backup
this year. Fullback Joe Surratt will once again handle some of the short yardage
runs. The 6-1, 258 pound junior found the endzone six times in his 21 carries in
2006.
Defense:
Nose guard Paul Griffin only played in two games
last year before going down with an injury. That forced Florida State to play
some young guys on the line. Now the Seminoles will reap the rewards of
returning Griffin and gaining depth with the suddenly experienced youngsters.
The secondary will only get better with the return of cornerbacks Tony Carter
and Jamie Robinson and safeties Roger Williams and Myron Rolle. The units youth
was an issue last season, but will not be a concern anymore.
The loss of linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Buster
Davis is cause for concern. Geno Hayes and Dekoda Watson have some starting
experience and will need to step up and replace some gaudy numbers left behind
by Timmons and Davis. Despite the return of eight starters on the defensive side
of the ball, the Seminoles are still a young group. Just two of the 11 projected
starters are seniors and the best is yet to come for the Florida State defense.
The Bottom Line:
Florida State is a little closer to becoming Florida
State again. The revamped coaching staff will make a big difference and if the
young players can improve, the Seminoles will be back in the mix in the ACC. The
improvement, or lack thereof, of quarterbacks Weatherford or Lee will be the
story all year long and the ACC title will be out of reach if the team lacks
consistency under center.
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