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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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FLORIDA
STATE SEMINOLES |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 10 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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WR
Preston Parker |
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LB
Geno Hayes |
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*
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. |
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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 |
.. |
.. |
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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 |
.. |
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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.
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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
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