2010 NCAA Football Preview: Florida State
Bobby Bowden may not have been able to have the final season that he wanted to during his 30+ years at Florida State, but he was able to go out with a win (33-21 victory over then #18 West Virginia) over a ranked opponent when his team was far from being ranked.
While the 80-year-old Bowden will not be on the sideline during the 2010 season, his presence will still be felt. The players that the team will field in the 2010 season (and into the next couple) will have come to the university partially because of Bowden, either for the man himself or the winning tradition that he created.
Returning to Tallahassee will be an impressive group of young players that will be a force to be reckoned with in the ACC. Offensively, they return the entire starting group and most will actually be able to return in 2011 as well if they do not leave school early for the NFL. Defensively they are not as lucky, but they do return six quality players, a mixture of youth and veteran players.
If they play up to their abilities, Bowden will be able to sit back and watch with pride while at home.
Offence
The 2010 year was probably what Bowden was building up to before retiring. Back is the entire starting squad from 2009. In 2009 they were a good group; in 2010 they will likely be a terrific one.
Quarterback Christian Ponder will see his name in Heisman circles early in the season, and the senior has definitely earned the recognition. In two years as the main man behind center he has progressed from completing just 56% of his passes for barely 2000 yards in 2008 to close to 70% of them for 2700+ yards in 2009. Although his touchdown numbers were unchanged (14) he showed that his decision making skills were much improved by dropping his interception total from 13 to seven.
He will have a pair of talented juniors to throw to in Jarmon Fortson and Taiwan Easterling. Combined they had 80 catches for over 1000 yards and six touchdowns, but with Rod Owens and Bert Reed not around any longer much of their production, 121 combined catches and 1400+ yards, will fall on to Fortson and Easterling.
Running back Jermaine Thomas will likely break the 1000-yard barrier for the first time in his college career; last season he carried the ball 163 times for 832 yards and nine touchdowns. With his offensive line returning intact and being led by all-conference guard Rodney Hudson he should see more daylight in 2010.
Defence
The defence wasn't as strong last year so maybe it's a good thing that there are only six returning starters to the group.
Teams last year knew that they could run on the front seven of the Seminoles and did so early and often. For the season they ranked 108th against the rush. Everett Dawkins was only a freshman last year and should be much better after playing in the trenches for a full season. Moses McCray and Marcus White also return; Craig Yarborough, Jacobbi Daniel, and Brandon Jenkins will look to get time on the front four as well.
The secondary was decimated, but considering how they fared in 2009 (77th in the nation) that could very well be a good thing. Senior Ochuko Jenije is the only returner, but has not really had much game experience himself. Looking to join him at the other cornerback spot will be either Dionte Allen or Greg Reed.
The Seminole offence is primed to score and score often in 2010. If they don’t the team, especially Ponder, will be considered a huge disappointment. There is no reason to believe that he will not have the offence clicking in 2010 which leaves the fate of the team resting on how well first year head coach Jimbo Fisher can put his new defence together.
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