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2009 Florida State Football Predictions

Written June 25, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Florida State Football Predictions With a tough early schedule featuring the likes of BYU, South Florida and Boston College, you’ll know in the first month whether the Florida State Seminoles are really better or really in trouble. If they can run the ball with efficiency, and if Christian Ponder can manage the team more consistently in his junior season, it will take pressure off a suspect defense and prevent reliance on field goals with a rookie kicker. The Seminoles are listed at +5000 to win the 2010 BCS National Championship according to the college football odds at Sportsbook.com for futures betting.

Offense: Christian Ponder begins this season without anyone in the rear-view mirror at quarterback. E.J. Manuel, the backup, missed spring practice with a broken finger. The Seminoles wanted to test Manuel throughout spring scrimmages, but he’ll be further behind Ponder in knowing the offense, now. Ponder was brilliant at times last season as he started in front of senior Drew Weatherford. But like Weatherford, he was often better in the film room and in practice than he was when pass rushers crowded his space. He threw just 14 touchdowns to 13 interceptions last season, but he was also the first FSU QB to rush for more than 400 yards since Charlie Ward did it in 1992.

The wide receiver corps looks problematic. Two thirds of the group has either been suspended or arrested, or both, during the past 18 months. Self discipline off the field will be key, and finding or developing playmakers is next in line. Bert Reed is the most likely to meet the need on the field. The top returning receiver, Taiwan Easterling, missed all of spring with an injury. The line will certainly be the strength of the offense this fall. Under third-year man Rick Trickett, the line has developed a toughness that it lacked in recent seasons. Sophomore Jermaine Thomas is far and away the best tailback. He shows a knack for breaking tackles and an ability to emerge from a pile to bust loose for big gains.

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Defense: Though thin in experience, the top player on defense is cornerback Patrick Robinson who earned team MVP honors in spring drills. He joins fellow senior Jamie Robinson to give this team a pair of quality players in the secondary. Jamie is the only other returning FSU defensive back to pick off a pass last year. Joinging the Robinsons are mostly inexperienced players, redshirt freshmen or sophomores with minimal experience.

Only senior Korey Mangum, the likely starter at the team’s rover position, has significant experience other than the Robinsons. The linebacker corps is solid, led by Dekoda Watson. FSU hopes senior Markus White can take over at rush end for Everette Brown, who left early and was Florida State’s only NFL Draft pick. White had 5.5 tackles for loss last season and he needs to build off of that performance. The Seminoles will need freshmen to step up and compete at defensive end.

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