2007 Florida State Seminoles College Football Picks & Predictions
June 5, 2008
Bobby Bowden talked in spring practice about the need for Florida State to become a tougher team. There is no excuse for this Seminoles’ team to be in the dumps yet again. He was definitely referring to their offense. Hard-nosed Rick Trickett is the new offensive line coach and quickly tore up the depth chart to open up all positions. New faces are atop the depth chart now as they enter August drills. In some cases, newcomers are ahead of three-year veterans who just haven’t been tough enough.
Bet our Florida State Football Predictions at Bookmaker and get a 20% Signup Bonus and free premium college football picks from our handicappers!
The Seminoles could not run the football when teams knew they were going to run. That all has to change for Florida State football to return to their glory days. The Seminoles are kicking the four-wide, spread formation offense to the curb and replacing it with a run-featured style that requires solid offensive line play. Junior Antone Smith is the featured back and has shown flashes of brilliance after being rated the top running back prospect when he signed three years ago. The Seminoles head into August still uncertain whether Drew Weatherford has what it takes at quarterback, or if Xavier Lee will be the face of this team. Lee has to show improved decision-making if he has any chance.
The Seminoles still lead all teams with the most player drafted (97) since 1993. Most of these guys have come from the defensive side, which has been the program’s backbone. Still, the Seminoles are searching for a dominating pass rusher, and issue for many reasons. Defensive end is a position where the recruiting has struggled the most. Sophomore Everette Brown is promising. Brown had 13.5 tackles for loss last season. The interior of the line is as solid as a rock with run-stuffer Andre Fluellend and Paul Griffin. Griffin return from injury to bolster the rotation.
The linebackers are also solid, with sophomore Geno Hayes a likely breakout star for Bowden’s defense in 2007. The secondary has been improved each of the past two seasons. Sophomore safety Myron Rolle is already one of the top defensive backs in the country. A bulk of the top defensive players missed spring due to injury, which contributed to sporadic performances. Chuck Amato will fit right in as the new linebacker’s coach as he comes over from NC State. He knows FSU’s philosophy after facing the Seminoles for many years and will revamp this corps to make them as strong as possible.
Teams don’t fear the FSU offense like they have in the past decade and that is all going to have to change for the Seminoles to make a big turnaround. The quarterback position has to be established soon and the line should be more physical with the coaching of Rick Trickett. One look at the schedule makes Seminole country reluctant on showing enthusiasm. They curiously chose to open at Clemson on Labor Day night. That’s one of six road games in a lineup of trips to Wake Forest, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Florida. A BCS bowl may be out of the question once again with this rigorous schedule.