Preseason 2008

Fifth grade gym dodgeball. If that does not evoke memories…for most of us, we just wanted to have some influence over the team being picked by the assigned captains. We damn sure did not want to get stuck with Ian Zucker or Lilian Pzienski. Sure, everyone wanted Zack Brown. He was the star of every squad, and he could leave you feeling like the horseman chasing Ichabod Crane with one sling. However, Zack’s best friend Tony – just as talented – was such a jerk that you might win with him, but you certainly did not want to celebrate with him. Get too close and he wants your Swiss Cake rolls everyday.

FSU’s problem over the last 7 years are certainly multi-faceted. However, the following names might help illustrate our major issue…we got too many Tonys and not enough Zacks…

Xavier Lee
Daren Rose
Fred Rouse
Antonio Cromartie
Antone Smith
Marcus Ball
Ernie Sims
Myron Rolle

The above kids were all considered the elite of the elite of HS recruits. They were can’t miss kids. If a school is really good, you might get one or two of these kids every season. We have done just that. Out of that list, only Ernie Sims was a star (do not forget that Cromartie never REALLY contributed at FSU). The book is out still on Rolle and Smith. The rest were certifiable busts.

Here is a list of the only programs in the country that have had consistently solid top 10 recruiting classes in the last seven years.

USC
Florida
Ohio State
LSU
Texas
FSU

The common thread is that every one of these schools has won a National Championship in the last seven years, but us. We can throw spitballs and steal lunch money from recruiting “experts” every day…but apparently there is something to this science, and we keep dropping the beakers and spilling HCL all over our new Jordaches (for you in the 40 plus crowd).

If we are to believe our current coaches (Jimbos, Chucks & Tricketts Oh My), character is now a priority in recruiting. It better, because there is no one left to blame when teams like NC State and Wake Forest establish winning streaks against us. When these teams that do not have 4 kids on the sideline that could start for us beat us like a Taliban who catches his woman watching American Idol, there is a big problem.

So, what do we expect this season? Again, being a pessimist is simply no dadgum fun. Unless you just revel in “I told you so’s”, I would rather spend my days being hopeful.

It is not a mystery that the key game of the whole season is Wake Forest (I know that is tough to swallow for traditionalists). We are going to play a team with 18 starters back that has beaten us two years running…without a dozen suspended kids. You need motivation to hate Wake? Most of the WF players wore a shirt under their jersey last year that was our official “Seminoles Unconquered” shirt with the UN blacked out. They proudly ripped off their game jerseys and preened around their home field last year with these togs after the game. I threw up in my mouth.

If we find a way to beat these punks, then the team will absolutely set to have a great season. The freshman that will have to step up for the first three games will be getting invaluable experience and provide the kind of dynastic depth that has been lacking for 7 seasons.

Other reasons for optimism is that this group of skill guys on offense and defense appears to be the best in a looong time. The WR corps welcomes four potential dynamic playmakers with JUCO transfer Corey Surrency, and freshman Bert Reed, Taiwan Easterling and Jarmon Fortson (who looks more like a TE that can fly). Greg Carr has gained good weight and with Dawsey following him like my wife & James Blunt, he has added some route running and blocking to his jump ball skills. Preston Parker should be back for Wake with a battery on his shoulder and redemption on his mind.

The best two OL last season were the only two freshman. Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon are back and are honestly the only two guys on the team that simply can not get hurt. Trickett likes his Pampers-pack of incoming freshman much more than the petulant powder puffs who just took their criminology degrees and left campus. Last year by game three, Ryan and Rodney were the stars of the unit. Unfortunately, Clemson took advantage of this in game one. If Trick-daddy can get Greenlee, Furlong and JUCO transfer Tonga to perform by game three, we might be improved there as well.

QB is a mystery. I love Drew as a person and a representative of FSU. However, the fact that we are 10 days from kicking off and this 5th year senior was not named team captain and has not separated himself from the competition leads me to believe that we will see more than 1 guy behind the flap in crucial situations in our two exhibition games. I just hope that whomever Jimbo chooses get enough quality reps in these games so by the time we get to Wake, the team and this kid are ready.

On defense, the secondary should be superb…at least by game four. Jamie Robinsons’ move to Safety looks to be a godsend. With Myron Rolle poised to rip off the Clark Kent Armani, safety should be fine. The best corner on the team is Patrick Robinson – but P-robs mastery of online music means that his itunes is updated and his first game action will be in Jacksonville. We will need Captain Tony Carter and Michael Ray Garvin to play better than the 10th best past defense in the ACC showed last year. Freshman are everywhere back there trying to get game action. Look out for Terrence Parks to be a factor here as this true frosh’s decision to enter FSU early last January looks to be paying off.

Speaking of early entries, true freshman LB’s Nigel Bradham (one of those 5* recruits), Vince Williams and Nigel Carr are pressing the starters as well. Coaches think the best players on the field over the last six months are Dekoda Watson and DE Everette Brown. Well, Watson will be on Baker Street until late Sept and Brown does not have much help on the line right now. I am genuinely concerned about our front 7 early this season. JUCO transfer DE Markus White is crucial to taking pressure off of Brown, until Bud Thacker and Paul Griffin return. No segment has been more hurt by the suspensions that the D-Line. I can see Mickey taking more Chances than a Monopoly addict in the early going until these guys get in the action. True Freshman do not historically do anything as interior lineman. We need one of these babies – most likely Tampa freak Moses McCray to make something happen or teams are gonna gash us in the middle. Odell has been playing walk-ons with meaningful snaps in practice. This scares me…

So, what happens this year. We find a way to beat Wake, we should be a 9-3 type team. With Colorado (who beat Oklahoma last year), Clemson, Florida, VT, BC and Miami all potential “underdog” games, a loss to Wake could dictate another season like 2007. Big Game the third week in Sept…

Enjoy the season and this weekend of watching college FB without a chance our beloved Noles could lose!