EARLY BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
OFFENSE - 8
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: De'Cody Fagg-WR, Jacky Claude-OG, Shannon Boatman-OT, David Overmyer-OT, Gary Cismesia-K
DEFENSE: Andre Fluellen-DT, Alex Boston-DE, Roger Williams-FS
Linebacker / Defensive Line

Hayes and Nicholson are two of the best senior LBs in the ACC, but what if both wind up in the NFL? This DL gets back to being interchangeable, where the depth is plentiful.

Offensive Line / Quarterback

The failures of the OL have crushed the running game and pass protection has been sub-par. The QB broken record...”Weatherford or Lee”…each of the last four years is also a constant anchor. Drew appears to be suffering from the Chris Rix syndrome; his freshman year may have been his best.

WR Preston Parker
 
LB Geno Hayes
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
FLORIDA STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Drew Weatherford-Sr Xavier Lee-Sr
FB Seddrick Holloway-Jr Marcus Sims-So
TB Antone Smith-Sr Jamaal Edwards-Sr
WR .. ..
WR Greg Carr-Sr ..
WR Preston Parker-Jr Richard Goodman-Sr
TE Charlie Graham-Jr Caz Piruowski-Jr
OT Daron Rose-Jr ..
OG Rodney Hudson-So ..
C Ryan McMahon-So ..
OG .. ..
OT .. ..
K .. ..
 
FLORIDA STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Neefy Moffett-Sr Everette Brown-Jr
DT Letroy Guion-Sr Paul Griffin-Sr
NG Budd Thacker-Jr Kendrick Stewart-Jr
DE Justin Mincey-Jr ..
SLB Dekoda Watson-Jr Marcus Ball-Jr
MLB Derek Nicholson-Sr ..
WLB Geno Hayes-Sr Toddrick Verdell-Sr
CB Tony Carter-Sr ..
CB Michael Ray Garvin-Sr Patrick Robinson-Jr
ROV Myron Rolle-Jr ..
FS Darius McClure-Sr ..
P Graham Gano-Sr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

Bobby Bowden and this fairly new coaching staff still have issues, but one of them won't be the defense. With ten starters back on this side of the ball (barring NFL departures) this group should flourish under the direction of longtime defensive coaches Mickey Andrews and recent-returnee Chuck Amato. The secondary was a big disappointment towards the end of the season, and they let this team down at crucial times. Shoring up the safety position might cause position switching in the near future. Hayes and Nicholson represent the cream of the crop for LBs in the ACC, and the promising DL will get back to its roots of being deep and interchangeable. The problems again stem from the offense, where new coordinator Jimbo Fisher finds himself stuck in the same predicaments as his processor Jeff Bowden - the OL has been hideous and the running game is therefore non-existent. The receivers, including the TEs, have been severely damaged by the transfer bug, so much so that the core of this group may still be a year or two away from being a decisive factor. Prep superstar RB Antone Smith came out of the recruiting in-state hot bed, but he has yet to live up to his billing outside of the practice field. Blame a good portion of his plight on a porous OL, but his dubious speed and inability to break tackles will force coaches to possibly go the JUCO route to find worthy ball-carriers. Which now brings us to the redundant QB debate – will this be the Drew Weatherford or Xavier Lee show? They are both finally seniors, and the rage over which one should be in control of the ship is still open for the same debate. Weatherford has been the primary starter (with the exception of about four games) over the course of their duel careers. Drew just has not shown a propensity to get any better. At times he shows signs of reaching the top of the mountain, only to slide back down the next week. If these Seminoles are to make a move to better pastures, this has to be the year he/either shows more. This Bobby Bowden squad can no longer blame their problems on youth. Top-rated recruiting classes continue to roll in; the coaches whom Bowden plans on retiring with are in place; and depth is as good as it will get in this new millennium of parity. The whole key revolves around bettering this OL so the offensive talent positions can find open space with the ball. No, these Seminoles won't contend for a national championship, but they are better than a seven-win team.

 

FLORIDA STATE
2008 SCHEDULE

9-20 COLORADO
11-29 FLORIDA
at Maryland
CLEMSON
WAKE FOREST
at North Carolina State
BOSTON COLLEGE
at Georgia Tech
at Miami FL
VIRGINIA TECH
WESTERN CAROLINA
1 non-conference opponent