Florida State
Seminoles
Preview 2009 - Offense
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2009 CFN Florida
State Preview |
2009
Florida State Offense
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2009 Florida State
Defense |
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2006
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What you need to know:
The presence of coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher has
finally begun to pay dividends for the Florida State offense.
While not a finished product, the ‘Noles produced their best
output in years, despite being littered with young kids and
first-year starters. One of those rookies was QB Christian
Ponder, who proved to be a much better scrambler than passer at
this stage of his career. If he can make strides in the vertical
game, sans much talent at wide receiver, the offense could be on
the verge of building a bridge to the glory days. The ground
game, which produced its best numbers of the decade, will forge
ahead without leading rusher Antone Smith. Taking his place is
Jermaine Thomas, who ripped off seven yards a carry in a sneak
peak preview. The gem of the offense is a front wall that used
three true freshmen in 2008, and with LG Rodney Hudson as the
centerpiece, could wind up morphing into the ACC’s best unit.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Christian Ponder
177-318, 2,006 yds, 14 TD, 13
INT
Rushing: Jermaine Thomas
69 carries, 482 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: Taiwan Easterling
30 catches, 322 yds, 1 TD
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Star of
the offense:
Junior LG Rodney Hudson
Player who has to step up and become a star: Junior QB
Christian Ponder
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore LT Andrew Datko
Best pro prospect: Hudson
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Hudson, 2) C
Ryan McMahon, 3) Datko
Strength of the offense: Running Game, Line
Weakness of the offense: Receivers, Passing Game
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
For the first time in a few years, Florida State will enter a
season with no controversy at quarterback. Junior
Christian Ponder will
be the clear-cut starter behind center. His debut at the helm
produced mixed results, but also served as a springboard and an
education for the second half of his Seminole career. An
outstanding all-around athlete and the offensive MVP, the 6-2,
217-pounder rushed for four scores and 423 yards, the highest
total for a quarterback since Charlie Ward in 1992. As a passer,
there’s more work to be done, especially when it comes to making
reads, putting too much air under his passes, and knowing when
to throw it away. He wound up 177-of-318 for 2,006 yards, 14
touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
Projected Top Reserves: As secure
as Ponder is atop the depth chart, 6-4, 223-pound redshirt
freshman E.J.
Manuel is equally set in the No. 2 hole. The uber-recruit
from the 2008 class, he’s a phenomenal physical specimen,
combining size and arm strength with the ability to tuck it and
take off. Having missed most of spring, though, he remains a bit
of mystery, with an unorthodox delivery that’s required a little
fine-tuning. He’s not ready, but that won’t keep Seminole fans
from dreaming of the second-coming of Jimbo Fisher pupil
JaMarcus Russell.
Watch Out For ... Ponder to assume more of a
leadership role in his second year at the controls. Last season,
he was too busy trying to learn his place and adapt to the speed
of the game. Being a leader was a secondary concern. With that
full year—and the respect of his teammates—under his belt, he’ll
start becoming the face of the offense.
Strength:
Mobility. In Ponder, Florida State has its most athletic
quarterback in over a decade. He can escape pressure, make
throws on the move, and pick up first downs on designed runs.
Ditto Manuel, who could go on to be the most dynamic
multi-threat to ever play in Tallahassee before he’s through.
Weakness:
Consistency in the passing game. While the situation figures to
improve, the Seminoles are still an average passing team with
few scary parts when Ponder drops back to pass. The team was
just 86th nationally in passing efficiency, failing
to produce a lot of big plays through the air. Plus, those 16
picks need to be reduced.
Outlook:
Now that Drew Weatherford has graduated, there’s no longer a
veteran safety net for the young quarterbacks. Ponder is the man
and Manuel needs to emerge because there are no other
scholarship hurlers on the roster. Is the incumbent bound for
stardom or merely serviceable? He’ll take another giant step
this fall toward answering that question.
Rating:
7.5
Running Backs
Projected Starters:
Now that leading rusher Antone Smith has exhausted his
eligibility, the ‘Noles will be looking for a new feature back.
Enter 6-1, 190-pound sophomore
Jermaine Thomas, who
wet the locals’ appetite with an impressive rookie debut. In a
reserve role, he broke free for 482 yards and three scores on
only 69 carries, a gaudy seven-yard average. While not as fast
as Thomas, he has tremendous vision in the hole and the natural
running instincts to slip through small cracks and break into
the open field. His ability to cut back and change directions
will drive defenses nuts.
Leading the charge at fullback
will be 6-0, 233-pound senior
Marcus Sims, a
versatile back, who’ll also be used as a receiver and the
tailback in short yardage situations. A four-game starter in
each of the last two seasons, he had a career-high 23 carries
for 64 yards and a touchdown, adding eight catches for 45 yards.
Projected Top Reserves: Although an inability
to hold on to the ball has hurt his chances, 5-11, 203-pound
sophomore Ty Jones will continue his quest for the starting job this summer.
Another one of the talented young Seminole backs, he was
hampered by an ankle injury in 2008, which limited him to 11
carries for 99 yards and a touchdown, most of which came in the
bowl game. A more physical option than Thomas, he’ll run through
defenders as well as around them.
Now that he’s almost
all the way back from last year’s ACL injury, 6-1, 202-pound
junior Tavares Pressley
will be itching for more snaps and a prominent place in the
pecking order. A former quarterback at El Camino (Calif.)
Community College, he has the 4.4 jets to make some noise once
he makes his return this summer.
Behind Sims at fullback
is 5-10, 265-pound senior
Seddrick Holloway, a pile-driver, who can move the chains when
needed. Although he didn’t many touches a year ago, in 2007, he
rushed for 129 yards on only 26 carries and was a threat to move
the chains in
short yardage.
Watch Out For
... the offense to
lean heavily on the ground game this season. As the passing
attack continues to develop slowly, the Seminoles won’t be
bashful about handing the offense over to Thomas and Jones,
especially with the line expected to make a quantum leap this
fall.
Strength: Open-field running. In limited
duty last year and offseason practices, both Thomas and Jones
displayed a knack for having the wiggle and the vision to make
things happen in open spaces. The two sophomores are the types
of backs that look faster on film than they will in front of a
stopwatch.
Weakness:
The little things. Purely in terms of running skills, Thomas and
Jones have high ceilings. However, they remain raw in terms of
picking up blitzes and knowing where to be when the ball is not
in their hands. Oh, and the fumbling, which was too common in
the spring, has to stop now before mushrooming into a problem.
Outlook:
In Thomas and Jones, the talent is indisputable, but it’s also
raw. The Seminoles are hopeful that Thomas can blossom into a
true feature back and possibly the first 1,000-yard rusher since
Warrick Dunn did it way back in 1996. He’ll be helped if Jones
can provide constant competition and a breather a few times a
game.
Rating:
7.5
Receivers
Projected Starters:
Not only are last year’s top two receivers, Greg Carr and
Preston Parker, gone, but injuries and suspensions will cut even
deeper into Florida State’s already questionable receiving
depth. Coming out of spring, 6-0, 191-pound senior
Richard Goodman was
the most consistent pass-catcher. Yup, that’s the same Goodman,
who was recently suspended, pending a court case for his
involvement in a campus fight. The ‘Noles need him, which is
saying something since he’s missed more than a full season with
a broken fibula. He runs clean routes, knows the offense, and
has some of the best hands on the team.
The front-runner
at the other opening is 5-10, 165-pound sophomore
Bert Reed, who had 23
catches for 295 yards and three touchdowns in his first season
of action. A long ball hitter, with legitimate 4.3 speed, he can
stretch a defense, but needs to become more consistent on
conventional routes. Look for him to be used in the slot or on
end-arounds in an effort to maximize his open-fielded touches.
A degree of stability can be found in 6-7, 271-pound senior
Caz Piurowski, the
team’s returning starter at tight end. Like having another
offensive lineman up front, he’s a skilled blocker, catching
just eight balls for 83 yards and a touchdown last fall. He
won’t beat anyone with his wheels, but when he sits down in the
defense, he’s tougher to move than a power forward.
Projected Top
Reserves: Goodman and 6-0, 183-pound senior
Rod Owens have quite
a bit in common. They’re long-time program guys, working toward
the same job and trying to work through legal issues. Owens was
arrested on a DUI the day after the spring game, and is likely
to be suspended for at least the opener. Mostly a straight-line
speed guy, he’s an unpolished receiver, who’s caught 15 balls in
each of the last two seasons.
Reed’s backup will be 6-3,
223-pound sophomore Jarmon Fortson, who kicked off his career with eight catches for 137
yards and a score in 2008. One of the program’s top recruits of
2008, he has the length, strength, and leaping ability to be a
major force and a go-to guy once he gains the confidence of QB
Christian Ponder.
The future at tight end belongs to 6-4,
226-pound sophomore
Ja’Baris Little, now the backup to Piurowski. Although he
failed to register his first career catch, he did appear in 11
games as a true freshman, earning a letter and some valuable
experience. The better athlete and pass-catcher of the pair, he
should start to get more looks and more chances to stretch
defense down the seam.
Watch Out For ...
the developments away from the field. Not only does this
weathered group need Goodman and Owens to stay out of the paddy
wagon, but it also has to get 5-11, 187-pound
Taiwan Easterling back on the field. The up-and-coming sophomore
ruptured his Achilles in February, and his timetable for a
return remains in doubt. He caught 30 balls as a freshman and
would be atop the depth chart if not for the injury.
Strength: The sophomores. Assuming Easterling doesn’t
miss too much time, the ‘Noles will boast a trio of exciting and
diverse second-year players, who are only going to get better.
Reed is the burner. Fortson is a beast. And Easterling is the
heir apparent to Parker, a do-everything receiver, who’ll pick
up yards after the catch.
Weakness: Lack of a go-to guy. At this stage, no
one on the roster has earned the title or warrants 50 receptions
this fall. Plus, no one stepped forward in the spring, and the
injuries and suspensions only clouded the situation further.
Last season, Florida State would challenge opposing secondaries
with Carr and Parker. This fall, however, no one is going to get
extra attention from other teams.
Outlook:
Mediocrity. From Parker’s dismissal and Easterling’s injury to
the suspensions of Goodman and Owens, absolutely nothing has
gone right for the Seminole receivers in the offseason. No
matter how you angle it, this is going to be a pedestrian group
that does little to elevate the play of Ponder as a hurler. If
the depth chart takes any further hits, you can forget about
redshirting Rodney Smith,
Willie Downs, and
Willie Haulstead.
Rating:
6.5
Offensive Line
Projected Starters:
The nation’s youngest line in 2008 could be among the nation’s
best lines in 2009. After using an inordinate number of true
freshmen last fall, the Seminoles are about to undergo a
transformation, thanks in large part to Rick Trickett, one of
the game’s premier line coaches. The anchor for a third straight
season will be 6-2, 285-pound junior
Rodney Hudson, an
All-ACC first-teamer at left guard. Versatile and fundamentally
crisp, he’s the unit’s best run blocker and pass protector. He
rarely allows sacks or makes mistakes, going 20 games without a
penalty before being flagged for a false start last October.
Next to Hudson at center will be 6-3, 282-pound junior
Ryan McMahon, an honorable mention All-ACC selection and a Rimington
Award candidate. Equally skilled as a run and pass blocker, he’s
a whistle-to-whistle worker and durable, starting each of the
last 26 games. Like Hudson, mental errors are rarely going to be
a problem.
Rounding out the interior of the line at
right guard is 6-5, 285-pound sophomore
David Spurlock, the
third true freshmen to play a prominent role in 2008. Stepping
in after Will Furlong was injured, he started eight games,
flashing exceptional pass protection skills and allowing just
one sack in almost 600 snaps. Considering he was thrust into a
difficult situation and managed to endure, he should be even
better in Year 2.
The blooming star at tackle is 6-6,
283-pound sophomore Andrew Datko, a Freshman All-American and blindside protector for
Christian Ponder. Wide-eyed and undersized, he swam in the deep
end of the water, using outstanding footwork and the
pass-blocking technique of an upperclassman. He’s added weight
and was named the outstanding offensive player of spring, signs
that he’ll be even better in 2009.
There’s a battle
taking place at right tackle, which is currently being won by
6-5, 288-pound sophomore
Zebrie Sanders. An 11-game starter in his rookie season, he
proved to be one of the line’s top run blockers, recording 31
knockdowns. He also has uncommon agility and composure for such
a young player, allowing just one sack and committing only one
penalty.
Projected Top Reserves: Pushing
Sanders at right tackle this summer will be 6-6, 293-pound
sophomore Antwane
Greenlee, who played in seven games and had three starts in
his first season. One of the strongest members of this unit, he
can be a dominant run blocker, but still needs to improve in
pass protection.
One of the fastest risers in the
offseason was 6-4, 270-pound sophomore
Rhonne Sanderson, who
showed enough to get installed as a top reserve at both left
tackle and left guard. A nice fit for Trickett’s system, he gets
off the snap in a hurry and has the athleticism to make blockers
10 or 15 yards downfield.
Watch Out For ...
Growth. Lots of it. The ‘Noles were just pups last fall, yet
played well beyond anyone’s expectations. With everyone back and
everyone a year older, a quantum leap in all facets is going to
be expected.
Strength:
Athleticism. By design, Florida State has begun developing
leaner, faster offensive linemen, who can get off the ball in an
instant and won’t be winded late in the final quarter. The
starters average well below 300 pounds, which they fully plan to
use to their advantage.
Weakness:
Pass blocking. Yes, they’ve gotten better since the end of last
year, but the ‘Noles still want to improve at keeping Ponder
from having to leave the pocket too often. Florida State is
banking on being better than 65th nationally at sacks
allowed. The staff hopes it’s substantially better.
Outlook: On a national level, the story is going
to get under sold, but Trickett did a magnificent job coaching
up so many young kids a year ago. Somehow he kept everything
together, leading the program to its best season running the
ball since 2000. The real rewards start coming this fall, when
that offensive line, now a year more mature, begins to dominate
opponents and really start playing up to coach’s expectations.
Rating: 8.5
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