OFFENSE
 |
RB Dalvin Cook
Photo/Tallahassee.com |
Florida State never really found their grove offensively in 2015. Oh sure, it looked good with Dalvin Cook running loose from hash mark to the concession stand, but the quarterback position never emerged past game manager and the receiving core, until very late in the season, failed to produce efforts to open up the field. At signal caller, the experiment with Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson left him guarded, and Sean Maguire did his best to jump start the unit. Cook was brilliant, but even with his impressive stats, which had him in the Heisman hunt, he was hampered by a nagging hamstring and was rarely 100%. More is available for the offensive unit. All five starters on the line return, although some have, for various reasons, gave way to more talented players. Roderick Johnson, an All America selection at left tackle. Kareem Are mans the next door guard spot, with Alex Eberle back at center. Wilson Bell is a right guard, with newcomer Rick Leonard, a defense tackle convert, at right tackle. Leonard and Johnson, both over 6'7", give the Seminoles long arms to hold off defenders. Brock Ruble, Ryan Hoefeld and Derrick Kelly are the top backups coming in to the season and Anthony Boselli and Baveon Johnson are freshman who have impressed coaches. TE Ryan Izzo is a star in the making, and Marvin Sanders has pleased coaches, making tight end a strong spot for the 'Noles. An uptick in performance is expected from the receiving core. Travis Rudolph finally got going after midseason, and he could challenge for conference honors. Jesus Wilson starts opposite Rudolph with Kermit Whitfield and newcomer Nyquan Murray interchangeable at the third spot. JaVonn Harrison is set to emerge, and more is expected from Ermon Lane, who has had some moments. George Campbell is capable of earning some time and Keith Gavin has impressed. Auden Tate is a tall target reminiscent of Kelvin Benjamin and could factor in heavily. Davante Phillips is also a youngster to keep an eye on. The core is very deep, but is looking for someone, perhaps Rudolph, to become among the south's elite. Speaking of elite, look no further than RB Dalvin Cook, who will should earn All America honors while making a Heisman run. Cook possesses breakaway speed, but also makes would be tacklers look frozen around the line of scrimmage. And Cook also possesses strong pass catching skills. If healthy, he may be the most dangerous player in the nation. Jacques Patrick, somewhat of a bruiser with good speed, backs up Cook. Freddie Stevenson and Jonathan Vickers will be your fullbacks, both of which are dangerous out of the backfield. Most assumed Sean Maguire would be the starting quarterback, but redshirt freshman Deondre Fancois had been most impressive during the spring when Maguire sat due to an ankle injury suffered in the Peach Bowl. Although it was publicly a race, it seemed Francois was leading in fall camp when Maguire again suffered a foot injury. With Maguire expected out a month, the Seminoles made Francois the starter. Francois has never played a down, so he must continue to earn his time, but Fisher and the players rave about his skills. Maguire has heeled much faster than expected and will be available game one, but it is Francois job to lose. The Seminoles need a game breaker, not a game manager, at the position if a playoff berth is in order. Provided Francois is efficient in running the offense, and can execute all the throws while utilizing his legs, Cook can propel this unit to 40 points per game.
DEFENSE
 |
DE Demarcus Walker
Photo/ACC.com |
Officially, only six starters return for the Seminoles on the stop side, but make no mistake, this unit can be a dominant group.SR DE Demarucs Walker returned after recording 10.5 sacks in '15, and Walker could vie for All American honors. Walker's power is flexed by his speed counter part, SO DE Josh Sweat, who looks explode on the scene. Derrick Nnadi is All ACC, and DeMarcus Christmas both return at DT, giving the Seminoles an experienced and powerful front. Keith Bryant, Brian Burns and Jacob Pugh back up the end position, but depth inside is an issue, with Freddie Jones first in. Often injured Matthew Thomas appears ready to go at weakside linebacker. Thomas has serious skills, and if he remains healthy could become nationally known. Ro'Derrick Hoskins is outstanding and a key cog for the unit. Quality depth here is a concern. The secondary is an embarrassment of riches. The unit is led by SO safety Derwin James, a headhunter with top quality ball skills. James is an All American player. Fellow safety Nate Andrews is very good, and has a nose for the football. Trey Marshall, injured last year, returns to man the STAR spot, but has ran at strong safety much of fall camp with Marcus Lewis running at STAR. Along with Andrews, these players are interchangeable, each stellar. FR Levonta Taylor will compete at STAR also. Marquez White has developed into an All ACC corner, and he will be flanked by Tarvarus McFadden, with Marcus Lewis and Malique Jackson backing. The unit is ultra talented, but must mesh together, not overrun plays and become the dominant attacking unit opposing offenses will fear.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Roberto Aguayo has gone to the NFL, but his brother Ricky has won the placekicking job, with Logan Tyler set to punt. Kermit Whitfield averaged almost 27 yards per kickoff returner last year, and figures to have help from Tarvarus McFadden and Jesus Wilson. Wilson appears set to handle punt returns, which was poor last year. Freshman Lavonta Taylor and Nyquan Murray will look to spark the unit and more than double last season's horrendous 4.3 yards per return.
INTANGIBLES
 |
| Seminoles |
The Seminoles are hungry again, and will welcome most ACC division challenger Clemson and arch rival Florida to DOAK, which has had a summer makeover with new seating in the east end zone and a tremendous new scoreboard. There is a strong influx of new talent, and several youngsters are ready to take the next steps within the program. Jimbo Fisher has excelled in creating an atmosphere of excellence, and has the young men fully engaged in the process of not only becoming a champion on the field, but off it as well.
The program is really in a good spot at this time.
HONORS CANDIDATES
 |
S Derwin James
Photo/PalmBeachPost.com |
Like his predecessor Jalen Ramsey, S Derwin James is as close to a consensus All America player in the defensive backfield as you can find. Both OT Roderick Johnson and DE Demarcus Walker could both be All American selections.
Dalvin Cook is a first team All American and Heisman contender. Possible All ACC honors candidates are Derrick Nnadi, DE Josh Sweat, WR Travis Rudolph, LB Matthew Thomas, S Nate Andrews, S Trey Marshall, CB Marquez White, OG Kareem Are and LB Roderick Hoskins.
NEW ARRIVALS
S Lavonta Taylor is big time, and looks to have earned a chance to play, both on special teams and at nickel back. Taylor does not lack confidence. Brian Burns has really impressed the coaches at DE. Of course, kicker Ricky Aguayo and punter Logan Tyler will play vital roles. DE Janarius Robinson may get time, as will WR Keith Gavin. RB Amir Rasul should get kickoff return opportunities.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Florida State is not a perfect team heading into the season. There is inexperience at quarterback, and depth on the defensive line and at linebacker are concerning. Another area which improvement is necessary is found in the receiving core. However, with 10 offensive starters returning, inclusive of consensus All Americans at running back and tackle, the offense should be very strong. Honors candidates Derwin James and Demarcus Walker headline a very sound defense which possess perhaps the nations best secondary. However, when analyzing the main contenders for the national championship, the Seminoles look as strong as anyone, and perhaps have the hunger combining youth with veteran leadership to get better every week and take home the title. The Seminoles face a very talented Ole Miss in Orlando to kick the season off, but a trip to take on perhaps the best Louisville of all time, a team looking for that signature win, could spell trouble. Should FSU get by that one, and the subsequent trip to Tampa to face a much improved South Florida, a home date against North Carolina followed by a trip to face rival Miami appear the only legitimate stumbling blocks for FSU other than the colossal tilt in Tallahassee with Clemson. That will be the game for the ACC, no doubt. Of course, the Gators are always dangerous, but they are a few years away from thinking of beating FSU on the road. Without a proven signal caller, it seems FSU will drop on along the way somewhere. Florida State could win them all, but we think maybe they lose at Louisville, beat Clemson and win a divisional tiebreaker, win the ACC and make the playoff. From there, given we think FSU gets much stronger as the season goes on, we would make them the favorite to win the national championship. 14-1.
GAMEDAY GALLERY
No comments:
Post a Comment