Four quesitons for FSU’s Garnet & Gold game

By Joe Mayes  |   Friday, April 11, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Florida State Seminoles
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Despite the fans’ passion and interest, spring games are less about seeing what a team can do than they are about seeing individual players earn playing time. In fact, spring practice seems to be little more than a very public, month-long tryout. During drills, players are trying to impress their position coaches enough to give them time during the scrimmages. During scrimmages, it’s about earning time in the spring game. During the spring game, it’s about making a name for themselves going into summer practice.

In Tallahassee this weekend, fans won’t see much in the way of what the finished Seminole product will look like in September but here are four of the more interesting unanswered questions going into Saturday’s Garnet & Gold game:

1. Will Christian Ponder unseat Drew Weatherford?
Head coach Bobby Bowden has made it clear that the decision about the Noles starting quarterback belongs to Offensive Coordinator and Bowden’s successor, Jimbo Fisher. Fisher came into spring practice expecting Ponder to push the returning starter for the job and Weatherford’s knee injury gave Ponder every chance to earn the spot.

Fisher insists that the race for the starting quarterback slot will not be closed out in the spring and that four quarterbacks will have a chance to compete. But with Ponder taking all the snaps with the first team, D’Vontrey Richardson working with the second team, Weatherford healing from surgery, and incoming freshman phenom E.J. Manuel still in high school in New Jersey, Ponder has every opportunity to seize the advantage this weekend.

2. Will the offensive line come together to improve on last year’s 91st-ranked rushing offense?
The Seminole offensive line will be young in 2008, with just one offensive lineman -- junior right tackle Daren Rose -- who isn’t a freshman or sophomore. And though they are returning two freshman All-Americans in right tackle Ryan McMahon and center Rodney Hudson, at least two of the 2008 starters will be starting their first college game when the Noles kick off on September 6 against Western Carolina.

3. Will any new offensive playmakers emerge?
With an inexperienced line, the offense will need individual playmakers to step up. Besides Preston Parker, no one has been consistently making big plays on offense this spring. Receivers Greg Carr and Rod Owens have each had moments but neither has been as consistently impressive as Parker. Antoine Smith is the only experienced running back but isn’t known for making big plays on his own. Only one tight end on the roster (Caz Piurowski) has ever caught a pass in competition at FSU.

Keep your eyes open to see if Greg Carr has finally learned to take advantage of his 6’6” frame. It remains to be seen who else might emerge as a playmaker but Saturday could give an early indication of who may be ready to step up their game.

4. Who will win the open defensive jobs?
Seven starters return from last year’s defense that was ranked 34th overall in the nation. The Noles seem to have a never-ending supply of high-performing linebackers and defensive ends and this year is no exception. However the Noles need to fill two key defensive spots at defensive tackle and free safety.

Watch to see if Justin Mincey can overtake Budd Thacker at defensive tackle. Both have shown flashes over the past weeks but Mincey has been more consistent in applying pressure from the inside. Additionally, keep an eye on big-hitting Anthony Leon, the 6’4”, 228 pound sophomore free safety. If he gets significant playing time this weekend, it could bode well for his chances this fall.

While true Freshman Nigel Bradham from nearby Crawfordville isn’t likely to see much time at linebacker, watch him on special teams Saturday. He is a dynamic, explosive defensive playmaker and this weekend should give you a glimpse at this young man’s potential.

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About Joe Mayes

Joe Mayes is an award-winning writer with credits ranging from national sports columns to local newspapers and commercial and technical writing. Joe is the host of "The Morning Wrap," a morning drive-time sports talk radio show on WTKE-FM in Northwest Florida.
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