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FSU coach Jimbo Fisher suggests that his team needs to ‘grow up’

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For FSU, the objective will not to be to get into trouble.

The goal will be to cause a little of the right kind of it.

FSU, which began its preseason camp on Wednesday, has been the most successful program in the country the last two seasons with a national title and a playoff appearance. The Seminoles have won 39 games the last three seasons, the most in the country.

However, at FSU, much of the talk all off-season has been about players getting into trouble. For the Seminoles to turn that conversation back to football is the first checkmark.

So far, coach Jimbo Fisher has suggested that his team is “soft” and “nowhere close” to being ready. He suggests it needs to grow up.

The things to watch for:

  1. Quarterback: The world seems to expect Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson to eventually win the quarterback job from the returning Sean McGuire, whose only start was a victory over the Clemson. Even if Golson does win the job, it may take a couple of those easy early-season wins for him to do it in. One thing is certain: The suspension of running back Dalvin Cook could end up applying more pressure to the quarterback.
  1. The offensive line: The Seminoles had an experienced line last season, but it wasn’t as dominant as you might think for a unit where four players had a combined start on their way to the NFL. The Seminoles could end up with a freshman and two junior college transfers in the lineup.
  1. The pass rush: FSU had only 17 sacks last season, which ranked 114th in the country. hat’s far too low for a program the stature of Florida State’s.
  1. Linebackers: At first glance, you might think this was a strength for the Seminoles with Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup. But three players have left the program in recent months, leaving the Seminoles a bit thin.
  1. Running back. Cook is a fine player, and if he’s lost to discipline this season – and Fisher has emphasized that he has no tolerance for domestic violence – then it will sting. Can Jacques Patrick fill the void?

The thing to remember is that FSU will be favored most of the time it takes the field. But to be a real contender, it has maturing to do.

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Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected].

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