As we noted last fall, by any standard applied, Coach Willie Taggart's first season at Florida State was a complete disaster. So, while there was hope, there was little wiggle room for Taggart in year two. As the season started, giving up an 18 point lead in the opener at home in a hurricane moved game to lose to Boise State riding their gunslinger freshman quarterback set an ominous tone. On the FSU spring tour, I told Taggart that first game was vitally important. It was, and it was a failure on many levels. A lackluster home loss to a marginal Miami team sealed Taggart's fate, not soon enough for many of the Seminole faithful. I was at the game, and it was apparent when entering the stadium a loss filled the air as the Seminoles were not prepared to play. So, thankfully, and with a hole in our wallet, we move on.
The coaching search burned up the internet, with Big Game Bob wearing out Tallahassee Realtors, but in the end perhaps the best available choice has become the new Florida State head coach as Mike Norvell comes over from Memphis. Norvell is an energetic young coach with an offensive mind, dare I say reminding some of a young Bobby Bowden. FSU could only be so fortunate. We like Norvell quite a bit, and think he was an outstanding hire.
There is a culture issue Norvell will have to work around, but there is also some serious talent on hand, led by two players with NFL on the mind in Marvin Wilson and Tamorrion Terry who came back for a chance to better their stock while helping FSU begin a new. Make no mistake; if they had any issue at all with Norvell they would have been gone. FSU has lost very few players in the transition, with some strong leadership on and off the field returning, 2020 could offer some intriguing opportunities.
With the nation turned upside down due to the coronavirus while in the midst of the upheaval of a fourth turning, college football is on the ropes. Two conferences, the B1G Ten and PAC 12, are not playing, if you could possibly imagine. Schedules for the major conferences still playing have been reduced, for some unknown reason, to conference only. The Gators trip to Tallahassee has been cancelled, and the game will not be played for the first time since 1958. Just an idiotic overreaction to the pandemic!
Florida State seems to have a slightly easier revamped schedule, but it will still be very difficult, especially with spring ball shelved due to the coronavirus. Norvell and his staff did not get proper timing to implement their philosophies on either side of the ball, although they aren't the only team facing this issue. 2020 will be a building year, one where confidence and comraderies are gained. We expect FSU to find many speed bumps along the way, but the talent on hand makes the Seminoles a dangerous team. It should be fun, but we are just thankful to be on the field. So enjoy!
OFFENSE
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QB James Blackman
Photo/Bleacher Report |
Memphis teams under Mike Norvell continually lit up the scoreboard, so once his system is fully implemented, we should expect the same. For so long, James Blackman showed such promise, but he appeared to lose focus on many occasions throughout the year. Who can blame him, given the merry go round of coaching he had? Blackman has always displayed his strong arm, but it was disappointing to see him lose his focus and composure. Therefore, Blackman was no shoe in to lead FSU in 2020, but he has performed well in fall camp and will guide the Seminole offensive attack. Freshman Chubba Purdy was thought to be a fierce competitor for the job, but a collarbone injury derailed any hope he had of winning the job. Purdy will be sidelined for a while, leaving Jordan Travis, a gifted runner who adds an intriguing element to the offense, and true freshman Tate Rodemaker to back Blackman. The gifted Cam Akers departed for the NFL, leaving 5* Khalan Leborn to take over, but his continued behavior issues got him dismissed from the team. Jashaun Corbin, a talented 4* transfer from Texas A&M, appears set to take over. But freshman 4* Lawrance Toafili has been turning heads in fall practice and may challenge for significant playing time. Coaches are also impressed with freshman La'Damian Webb. Junior Deonte Sheffield, who has made some plays in his own right, will also figure in. Tamorrion Terry, who average almost 20ypc with 60 snags for 1188 yards, is an All America candidate at WR. There is plenty of talent to catch the attention of opposing stop troops. DJ Matthews is fleet of foot and is the second leading retuning receiver with 36c. Ontaria Wilson and Keshawn Helton, who returns from injury, are weapons. Isaiah Bolden, a big target at 6'4,", has moved from CB to WR and is turning heads. It is time for 4* SO WR Warren Thompson to make waves on the field rather than off. Jordan Young has good speed, while Kentron Pointier, Bryan Robinson and Ja'Khi Douglass, freshman, have a chance for playing time. Camren McDonald is emerging as a team leader for FSU at TE while Wyatt Rector is an intriguing target. UCLA transfer Jordan Wilson is out for the year. The line has been a hinderance for the Seminoles for several years now, giving up a horrendous 48 sacks a year ago, but this group is the best in a couple of seasons. FIU grad transfer Devontay Love-Taylor will anchor a tackle spot. Donte Lucas played well as a freshman and has a bright future at guard. Tony Boselli should be at center, with Baveon Johnson backing up. Versatile Brady Scott will play guard, while redshirt freshman Darius Washington at tackle. This is a decent first team offensive line. However, the second team line is a definite drop down, so FSU must stay healthy up front. G Maurice Smith, T Chaz Neal and G Thomas Schrader will need to step up quickly. Freshman Zane Herring, who could have played his way to a spot, is out for the year. FSU should score points, but being able to do the things you want to do when you need to do them, versus just having success intermittently, will key the potency of the attack. Keeping the first team offensive line healthy will also be vitally important.
DEFENSE
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DT Marvin Wilson
Photo/Seminoles.com |
Mike Norvell was given a gift when All America DT Marvin Wilson announced he would return to the Seminoles for his senior year. Even when COVID became a player, Wilson stood firm. In fact, taking a well deserved leadership role, Wilson helped Norvell in getting many players to buy in to what Norvell is selling. The Seminoles will forever owe Wilson a debt of gratitude. Wilson is a top ten draft pick, and will anchor the Seminoles defensive unit. In the middle with Wilson is Corey Durden, a high quality player in his own right. Robert Cooper, who has flashed high level play, will figure prominently. Emerging star Dennis Briggs will sit out due to COVID. Tru Thompson and Fabien Lovett could figure. On the outside, Joshua Kaindoh has superstar potential with conference honors candidate Janarius Robinson flanking. Quashon Fuller will be ready, especially with Jamarcus Chapman siting out due to COVID. True freshman Josh Griffs is really making waves, so look for him to excel when given snaps. RS Freshman Derrick McLendon is another to watch. Emmett Rice is a quality player who will handle the weak side of the linebacking core. Jaleel McRae is an emerging star. Leonard Warner mans the middle, with freshman Steven Dix, who seems poised to get plenty of playing time, and Kevon Glenn backing up. On the wide side, Amari Gainer will have a chance at conference honors, backed by Kalen DeLoach and Decalon Brooks. The secondary is very strong. Akeem Dent will play boundary corner with All ACC Asante Samuel on the field side. FAU transfer Meiko Dotson will make noise as well. Jarrian Jones and Travis Jay are stellar players to keep a keen eye on. Safety Hamsah Nasirildeen made plays all over the field before going down to injury last year. The same holds true for Jaiden Lars-Woodbey. Both players have a chance to challenge for national honors if fully healthy. Brendan Gant, Cyrus Fagan, Carlos Becker and Renardo Green will be the primary backups, but keep an eye on 4* Demorie Tate. Raymond Woodie and Jarvis Brownlee seem very talented as well. The Seminoles could be very stingy on the stop side as this unit could be special. Those picking FSU to surprise are basing those prognostications on the defensive unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It boggles the mind, but the Seminoles have been very average in special teams in recent seasons. Ryan Fitzgerald has been brought in at placekicker. Alex Mastromanno will handle punts. Among those slated to handle kicks are DJ Matthews, Keyshawn Helton, Deonte Sheffield, Travis Jay and Isaiah Bolden. The Seminoles really need to pick it up a notch here to have success.
INTANGIBLES
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| Seminoles |
Firing Willie Taggart, although financially painful, was a move that simply had to be made. While many of the faithful were seeking big name coaches, the opinion here is that Florida State found exactly the man they needed in luring coach Mike Norvell away from Memphis. Norvell immediately went to work on the culture, which is the foundation of a successful football program. As fall camp concluded, the team has the look and feel of a group that has bought in, formed a bond, and is ready to play together for all the right reasons. In the past two moribund seasons, the Seminoles have not been lacking talent, so it can be concluded that the right leadership establishing a foundation of meaningful culture can pay huge long term dividends. While victories may come later, the faithful will surely notice improvement all around the program.
HONORS CANDIDATES
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WR Tamorrion Terry
Photo:DraftRite |
For Florida State, the list of players who have a legitimate shot at national honors is, although not what it used to be, but higher in number than most suspect. Marvin Wilson at defensive tackle is a fist team All America player and a top ten draft pick. He is the centerpiece of the team on and off the field. Tamorrion Terry is All America capable given our quarterbacks get him the ball regularly. His size and speed make him an prime target for FSU's passing attack. CB Asante Samuel is a national honors candidate. On the defensive side, Hamsah Nasirildeen, if fully healthy, is All ACC at a minimum. Jaiden Lars-Woodbey is also an honors candidate. DE Josh Kaindoh has a chance to enter the national stage with a big year! Offensively, perhaps OT Devontay Love-Taylor could get some consideration for al conference honors.
NEW ARRIVALS
Demorie Tate is Florida State's highest rated recruit, and we expect him to get limited playing time. this fall. At running back, the Seminoles will have two newcomers who will be on the field in Lawrance Toafili and La'Damian Webb. But Texas A&M transfer Jahsaun Corbin figures to be game one starter. Coaches have been impressed with WR Kentron Pointier in fall camp. Freshman Stephen Dix is standing strong at linebacker and is a future star. Carter Boatright at TE and OT Thomas Shrader appear set to get opportunities. Two transfers are ready to see major action. OT Devontay Love-Taylor, and FIU transfer, is set to start on the OL. Ball hawk FAU transfer Meiko Dotson will see plenty of time in secondary. Redshirt freshman Ryan Fitzgerald at kicker and Alex Mastromanno at punter will be fresh faces which FSU will need to play well for gridiron success.
FINAL ANALYSIS
It goes without saying that the pandemic has had a mid boggling effect on college football. Heck, as of this writing, in an idiotic and politically driven move (#FireKevinWarren) , the B1G Ten and PAC 12 are not even playing this fall! FSU was supposed to open in Atlanta against West Virginia, but that game was cancelled. Also cancelled was a trip in early September at a pretty good Boise State team, which defeated FSU in Tallahassee last year. The annual game against the Florida Gators, which was to be played in Tallahassee this year, has also been cancelled. Good grief! The revamped schedule has FSU opening the season by hosting Georgia Tech. While Tech is a fast improving team, this should be a game FSU can handle. Jacksonville State comes to Bobby Bowden Field next, so FSU should be 2-0. Now comes the stiff challenges. The Seminoles travel to Miami September 26, a game they can but probably won't win. Then, Florida State travels to top ten Notre Dame. The Irish have a veteran quarterback and solid team, so winning this is unlikely for FSU. After these two tough road games, a very dangerous North Carolina team visits Tallahassee. UNC is a sleeping giant which has just woken up under coach Mack Brown and appears set for a top ten season. FSU could win it, but it would take a fantastic performance. So, at this point, we got FSU at 2-3. The 'Noles then travel to Louisville, another fast improving and dangerous team. We consider this game a tossup, but will give it to FSU given the competition they have just been playing. Pittsburgh then comes to Tallahassee, and Pitt is much better than the experts think. Since this is at home, we think FSU wins. So, now we find FSU 4-3. FSU travels to NC State, usually a house of horrors for the Seminoles, but the talent gap appears to large in 2020. So, FSU is 5-3 heading to Clemson, where they will lose to a national championship team. Florida State closes at home against Virginia and at Duke. We think FSU will be playing well and we think FSU easily wins these two games. So, we project FSU to finish 7-4.
GAMEDAY GALLERY
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