Posted by Troy Hebert

by Troy Hebert

Part One – the coaching staff
Part Two – the depth chart

This is part three. Let’s look at the storylines around spring practice…

Today is a new day in Seminole Nation. This afternoon around 3:30 pm – a new team will be born over on the practice fields behind Dick Howser Stadium (**come get a free mini-bat tonight, by the way**) in the shadow of Doak Campbell Stadium.

The position battles will rage on, the lines will be drawn in the sand. It’s now or never for the Seminole Dynasty. This once proud program has been relegated to punch lines and pot shots at our aging Coach, our fickle fans, and our status as an Elite Football Team.

Last Season was a nightmare. It was statistically, emotionally, and realistically the worst season in Bobby Bowden’s tenure in Tallahassee. This offseason he has had to endure the criticism of the media, the fans, and maybe more importantly – his own family. He had to cut ties with his son, Jeff, who has endured the harshest spotlight of anyone in the history of Seminole Football (except Chris Rix, maybe). He had to fire coaches he put his faith in, men who he trusted with the Seminole Football Dynasty. Billy Sexton, who has been at FSU just as long as Bobby has, was let go – and the faith was restored in a former player, Dexter Carter, to bring us back to the days of a true run game.

He let go of failed position coaches in Darryl Dickey, a man who never could get production from any of his highly talented quarterbacks. In Mark McHale, who could never instill a mean streak in a soft, porous offensive line. He had to replace Kevin Steele, who moved on to a cushy job in Tuscaloosa, where he will receive exactly NO credit for anything remotely resembling a “resurrection” at Alabama. God only knows Nick Satan, sorry – Saban – will be there to soak in all that praise. And losing Jeff, who stepped down as Wide Receivers coach, opened the door for Lawrence Dawsey, the hardest working wideout we ever had, to come in and teach these kids to get aggressive.

We know that Jimbo Fisher couldn’t afford to take a week off in the SEC. You know that Rick Trickett was fighting an uphill battle for respect every saturday in Morgantown. You can assume that this attitude will be brought from day one until the Spring Game on April 14th. It’s the fire that we have been missing. From all given reports, every position is wide open, and everyone is on ground zero. From these scenarios, I give you part three:

Tight End: I’ll start at Tight End, because honestly – why not? Brandon Warren is off campus, and I assume this means he is ineligible for Spring Football. Jonathan Hannah doesn’t step on campus until the fall, Edwin Pierre-Pata graduated, and Caz Piurowski is now an Offensive Tackle. So who in the heck is left?

my pick: Charlie Graham. The kid is nails, and can actually catch the ball. And like I noted, he doesn’t have much competition, other than D.J. Norris (who just transferred from defensive end) and walk-on Jonathan Persons. I actually think that Charlie Graham can be a heck of a player in Jimbo’s offense, based solely on the fact that Jimbo’s last few tight ends at LSU have about as many receptions as I DO.

Linebackers: Hey, this is the biggest position of concern right now, as half the depth chart is re-habbing some form of an injury, and the other half are freshman or sophomores. Based on Lawrence Timmons’ lackluster performance at “Pro-Day” – I am half-pissed he didn’t come back for his senior season and fill another highlight reel. Only half-pissed because of the prospects of Marcus Ball and Kendall Smith (an incoming freshman). Ball is coming off of major knee surgery, and nobody seems to know how he looks quite yet, but the glimpses of athleticism, and the leadership he showed while re-habbing during the season (ie: that towel waving madman in the dreadlocks was Mr. Ball on the sidelines) has me optomistic about his return.

My Pick: Geno Hayes at Will (weakside), Derek Nicholson at Mike (middle), and Marcus Ball at Sam (strongside).

Spring Depth Chart: Geno Hayes (at MLB according to the Spring Prospectus), Rodney Gallon at Will, and Dekoda Watson at Sam.

Let’s hope they get deep, and that the rest (Ball, Nicholson, Jae Thaxton) get healthy.

Cornerback (opposite Tony Carter): Obviously, TC has proven himself to be the playmaker of the defense, and should resume his post on the left side of the field (and in All-ACC form, nonetheless). But the real battle will be for the other side of the field, where J.R. Bryant has fallen off the radar, Michael Ray Garvin attempts to be 4 inches taller, and Jamie Robinson appears to have an early lead. While it appears that Patrick Robinson will be backing up Tony Carter, I am rooting for him to get some serious playing time out there. Others to keep an ear out for are Ochuku Jenije (a local speedster), and Korey Mangum.

My Pick: I’ll believe what Antonio Cromartie said about the guy, and take Jamie Robinson. Cromartie said he would be the next great corner at FSU, and the kid is damn sure built like it – at 6′2, 190 – and intimidating in uniform. Keep an eye out for Dionte Allen, an incoming freshman who will be here in the fall – and trust me – he ISN’T a redshirt candidate.

Fullback/Tailback: Joe Surratt. Antone Smith. OK? Time to move on.

but seriously, who could come in and take those jobs? Holloway? Marcus Sims? We don’t have the luxury of much depth at these positions, just some lofty recruiting rankings and practice field legends. Antone should benefit from seeing the ball early and often, though. Surratt is a tough guy who needs to be a better pass-receiver, but still is a senior, and deserves the spot.

My Picks: Antone Smith and Matt Dunham. Dunham, ha! I wish. Like most of the fanatical portion of the Seminole Nation, I hold faith in a guy who broke Herschel Walker’s rushing records in Georgia, and who seems to be a talented, big play potential kind of guy. Jimbo spent the last few years with smaller, quicker, receiving fullbacks, and I think he could be pleasantly surprised with what Dunham brings.

Wide Receivers: My god, who knows? You got Greg Carr, and De’Cody Fagg. Behind them, there’s a plateful of potential. Preston Parker and Joslin Shaw love to block, Damon McDaniel has big play possibilities, Rod Owens comes back from a knee injury, and then there is the ever present enigma of Richard Goodman. throw in some talented freshman in the fall, and watch for sparks. Bert Reed was hand-picked by Jimbo to be a feature-receiver, and Brandon Paul could fill the role of Trindon Holliday/Skyler Green at LSU. Cameron Wade is a Greg Carr clone, and could see a redshirt season in his future.

My Picks: Greg Carr and De’Cody Fagg. I’d like to see Damon McDaniel step into the third receiver position as well. Carr is on his way to setting some FSU records, especially with his patented 3 touchdown performances against Duke, Rice, UAB, etc…

Offensive Line: I won’t begin to question Coach Trickett. And so I won’t even speculate. I will simply tell you what the Spring Prospectus says – and even they went by seniority.

LT – Overmyer, Rose

LG – Claude, McMahon (a DT switch)

C – Frady, Davis

RG – Atkins, Berniard

RT – Boatman, Piurowski

I’m sure Antwane Greenlee, Rodney Hudson, and the other incoming freshman will have their shots when they step on campus as well.

Defensive Line: I lumped the whole line together, because again – Fluellen has his job, and you can almost pencil in Paul Griffin as the other DT. Challengers to that throne are Justin Mincey, Budd Thacker, and Letroy Guion (who had a heck of a game against UF). Jody Allen’s defensive ends depth took a hit when Kevin McNeil broke a foot in a car crash earlier this month. A horrible accident that claimed the life of a fellow passenger, he will be sitting this Spring out. Everette Brown and Alex Boston should cause quote enough noise on their own, though.

My Picks: Fluellen, Griffin, Boston, and Brown. ’nuff said.

Safeties: Myron Rolle has got himself a job for three more years, if he wants it. Roger Williams has some ’splainin’ to do after a heal of expectations were placed on his shoulders last year. Anthony Leon is talented, but raw, and Darius McClure doesn’t exactly strike fear in the hearts of men. In Mickey I Trust…. In Mickey I Trust…. In Mickey I Trust….

My Picks: Rolle and Williams.

And Finally… the great debate.

Quarterbacks: boy was I hoping to skip this one. Who in the hell knows who is better? Sure, we’re all programmed by Vince Young, Troy Smith, and Charlie Ward to think that we have the best chance to win with Xavier Lee. But is that the case? Does he have what it takes to lead this team to a ring? (any ring?)

Meanwhile, all Drew Weatherford has done was commit early, help recruit most of his teammates (including Lee), bleed garnet and gold, be a role model in the community, an All-ACC Academic student, be a film rat, a gym rat, and the leader of this team. and he was a sophomore last year.

So I’m not one who thinks that Xavier Lee will be the only one improving under a new system. Certainly the same can be said for Weatherford, right? Fisher won a National Title with Matt Mauck, for christ sakes. It can be done.

But certainly Xavier Lee has all-world talent. He reminds most of JaMarcus Russell, and has the escapability to make a big play out of a broken assignment. Picking up first downs with your feet on third and long – when everyone’s covered – isn’t exactly in the playbook – but it has saved a few Offensive Coordinator’s butts.

So, my pick: Weatherford. with a leash on him. a serious leash. He’s got the game experience, and he’s a hard worker. No knock on Lee, but from all reports – Drew should pick up the playbook faster, and he has shown in practice with a green jersey on – that he is unstoppable. If Lee comes out like wildfire, and can’t be stopped in the film room, picks up the playbook – and does the things we think he can do in scrimmages… Well….. I’m sure I’ll write another article about it.

Until then, fellas.