Florida State Seminoles Left Tackle Andrew Datko to face an NFL schedule
by Bud Elliott on Jul 6, 2009 7:58 AM EDT
in FSU Football
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As a member of the youngest offensive line in the country (3 freshmen, 2 sophomores), Andrew Datko wildly exceeded expectations and earned Freshman All-America honors. Competing at a slight 267lbs, with a dislocated elbow and various shoulder ailments, Datko surprised everyone playing 852 snaps over 13 games, more than any freshman on the line. He also had a top-two overall grade three times received either the top grade or the second-best grade in run or pass blocking seven times. Datko also recorded 20 knockdowns. Was named the top offensive newcomer and won the freshman academic award. And he did so while playing in the best defensive conference in the country (no conference sends more top defensive players than the NFL than the ACC) and against UF. With Datko's help, the 'Noles led the ACC in scoring and Florida State head coach in waiting/ offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher won ACC offensive coordinator of the year.
This year Datko will face an even tougher challenge- the most difficult gauntlet of pass rushers in recent college football memory.
Miami
The Hurricanes were one of the youngest teams in college football last year, and they got even younger when their senior defensive end Eric Moncur went down with an injury in the 3rd game of the season. Moncur was a 4* recruit, the #10 overall defensive end in the country. He's projected to be a 1st day NFL draft choice (2nd or 3rd round) This year, he's back at 6'2" 260lbs and with 16 starts and 105 total tackles in his three years, should continue to be a quality player for the canes.
On the other side, Marcus Robinson started 5 games after making the switch from OLB to DE and had 9 tackles for loss and 4 sacks while earning 3rd team Frosh All-America honors. No matter which lines up over Datko, Florida State's left tackle will sure have a challenge on his hands.
BYU
While the BYU Cougars aren't known for their defensive talent, they do have an excellent defensive end in Jan Jorgenson. At 6-3 262lbs, Jorgensen plays the "5" technique end in BYU's 3-4 defensive scheme.
Jorgensen projects as a late 1st or early 2nd round draft choice. The senior has had quite the career. Jorgensen has been named 1st team All-Mountain West Defense for two years in a row. He is the conference's career leader in sacks already. He's a Lombardi and Hendricks award finalist. Oh, and he is 26 years old after serving a three year Mormon mission and redshirting his freshman year. The recent word is that he dropped 15lbs down to 245 in order to be quicker.
USF
If you were alive in 2007, you probably heard of USF's sackmaster George Selvie.
Selvie burst onto the scene in 2007 in a huge way, registering an incredible 31.5 tackles for loss and earning not only all-conference offers, but 1st team All-America status!
Selvie continued to play well in 2008, though not quite as well as he did in 2007. Why? It was a combination of nagging lower leg injuries and playing from behind (hard to get sacks when the other team is running out the clock). Despite the injuries, the 6'4" 255lb Selvie still made 1st Team Big East. He is back for his senior season and has said that he expects to be the top defensive end selected in the upcoming NFL draft. He's also been named to the 1st Team Pre-season All-America Squad. Florida State must stay out of 3rd and long in this game and give Datko help in the form of a tight end or a back. Asking Andrew to single Selvie all game could be disastrous and unfair to the true sophomore.
Boston College
While the Eagles are one of the teams on the schedule without a likely 1st day NFL pick at defensive end, they do boast three seniors with a combined 58 starts in Jim Ramella, Alex Albright, and Austin Giles. These guys have been there forever and really know how to play the game (that's a cop-out, I know, but they aren't great athletes or pro prospects).
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
While not draft eligible, Sophomore Robert Quinn has shown a lot of promise after coming back from brain cancer.
Quinn started 12 games for the Tarheels and should have a monster season for the baby blue, particularly since he'll be able to workout fully for the first time in a while.
NC State
The Wolfpack feature another edge rushing terror on this list in Willie Young Jr. Last year, Young destroyed the 'Noles, with 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and drawing at least one holding penalty.
At 6'4 and 251lbs, Young is extra quick and as a senior will have a variety of pass moves. Last year he started 11 games (injured other 2), registering 55 tackles (13 for loss), with 6 1/2 sacks. Young was named to Phil Steele's 2nd Team Pre-Season ACC defense. Like many of these edge rushers, the key will be to run right at Young as he was especially good on 3rd and long last year (as most defensive ends should be).
Clemson
The Tigers boast two of the best defensive ends in the conference in Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers. Both were elite Five-star recruits coming out of high school and both have continued to perform at the next level.
Last year, Sapp and Bowers had their collective way with the young 'Nole offensive tackles, registering two sacks and numerous pressures. It got to a point where FSU completely abandoned the dropback passing game, throwing only screen or play action passes.
This year both Bowers and Sapp are back. Bowers has reportedly put in a nice offseason of work and is probably the top true sophomore defensive end in the nation. Last year as a true freshman, Bowers started 6 games, played in all 13, and registered 50 tackles (8 for loss). He really came on in the later games. Sapp actually had some knee issues and missed the spring, though he'll be fully healthy for the 'Noles. Last year, he started 9 games (knee injury) and had 10 tackles for loss. He was also excellent in 2007, with 22 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Whoever Datko faces here will be a challenge for the young tackle.
Wake Forest
The Deac's don't have an elite player at defensive end.
Maryland
The Terps don't have an elite player at defensive end.
Florida
The Gators have a bevy of elite edge players and it's safe to say that three of their defensive ends would compete for starting jobs on any team in the country. For purposes of this piece, however, let's leave Justin Trattou aside for a minute and focus on Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham.
Dunlap (pictured) is on everyone's pre-season All-America team. He was the top defensive end prospect in his class coming out of high school. As a sophomore, he started only two games, but registered 39 tackles and 9.5 sacks, leading the SEC and making 2nd Team SEC. He's 6'6" 290lbs, and universally seen as the best defensive end prospect in college.
They also have Jermaine Cunningham who also made 2nd team SEC last season. Cunningham, at 6-3, 252lbs has started 25 games over the past two seasons registering over 100 tackles (20 for loss).
This schedule presents an enormous challenge for Florida State left tackle Andrew Datko. No offensive lineman in the country has a more difficult challenge than FSU's Datko. At a ripped 292 lbs, with a year of starting experience under his belt, Datko has a fighting chance to make it through the schedule, now that he has some bulk and experience to go with his always solid technique.
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Amazing.
I remember when we played Mich St in the late 80’s at their place. Tony Mandarich missed our game but was suppose to be a mammoth freak of nature at a solid 290. In 1989, Sports Illustrated called him “The Best Offensive line prospect ever”. (I still remember the story with pictures of him and his girlfriend, how he was a big fan of Gun’s & Roses, etc.), He would go on to be the #2 draft pick, 3 places ahead of Deion. He is also one of the Top NFL busts of all time. It truned out that his size and build were from the juice.
Datko not only exceeds Mandarich’s build, but he is young, has very good technique, and is getting better— the natural way. And he’s not considered all that unusual.
Man, how perspectives have changed in the last 20 years.
Fed poop to cows too, and thats believed to have started mad cow disease.
" And He drank the world's sin so He could carry you in, and give you life"
Actually
it’s feeding cow brains to cows that spreads it.
by Wild@Heart Nole on Jul 6, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I have been missinformed.
" And He drank the world's sin so He could carry you in, and give you life"
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ae4.Ko7FZld4&refer=us
" And He drank the world's sin so He could carry you in, and give you life"
Wow
This story makes me glad that Caz spent a season at T. That should pay off this year with all of those DEs lurking. I think Datko’s up to the task.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 6, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions
D-:Line and O-Line is where the game is won.
I hope Trickett is up to the challenge. Not only Datko, but Sanders/Greenlee are going to have a tough schedule.
Just wants to beat the Gators
Sounds like he'll have a fun year.
"The worst kind of non-smokers are the ones that come up to you and cough. That's pretty cruel isn't it? Do you go up to cripples and dance too?"-Bill Hicks
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by Jonathan Loesche on Jul 6, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions
Good Job
I’m always amazed at the content on the site, especially the different aspects that I never would have really thought of before reading.
Another quality POW (piece of work) FSUn.
I almost feel bad for Datko, but with one of the best coaches barking in his ear, I think he will be just fine and even better than last year. It also sounds like Stroud has done a excellent job in helping him put on 25 lbs. of muscles during the off season, plus he probably lost some of his “baby fat” (ha). If he stays healthy I would not be surprised to see him receive quite a few All-American votes.
>-----:----:------>Spear 'em then Scalp 'em
Don't feel bad for him!
This is the best possible opportunity a young NFL prospect could wish for! If he performs well this season, scouts will be drooling over him when he is an upperclassman.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 6, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
This post, like many others, takes my viewing experience of the FSU CFB season to a new level of appreciation.
" And He drank the world's sin so He could carry you in, and give you life"
Wonderful post
And just to give even more props to Datko, he practiced all season against Everette Brown (R2P11), and went head-to-head against GT Michael Johnson (R3P6). Pretty good trial by fire.
Trust in Trickett.
The Trickett
Can someone please remind me again why we can’t give that man a substantial raise?
Is it because we are hammering out the details on how to pay Bowden his $2.5million?
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
'I'm not a Role Model" - Charles Barkley
That is the first I've heard of that
Is there a previous article/post or something on that? What is the concern there? He’s tied pretty heavily into Jimbo, I would think he’d be pretty insulated from BB and the his mess.
by PBD on Jul 6, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
That's just the word floating around Tally
Supposedly Trickett doesn’t enjoy working under Bowden very much and he won’t sign longterm until Fisher is the head guy. At least that’s what I’ve heard.
So the real question is
do he and Jimbo see eye-to-eye? I think coaching style they do. Trick builds zone-run capable lines, specifically. Jimbo seems to be adapting just fine.
Yes, that's why he came.
He and Jimbo have worked together before. They are both high energy guys and believed they could create something special here.
And that is exactly why Bowden needs to go and go quickly. He has created a culture of complacency, and he’s the boss. Everyone who’s worked in a company knows what that means. Those below Bowden necessarily follow his example, from his staff to his players. With Amato he empowered a like-minded semi-retiree with no sense of urgency or drive to do what it takes to expand and improve on the old and inadequate way of doing things. I’m afraid Mickey has been beaten down by age and cicrcumstance into that same mindset. He’ll still bark, but is he travelling to clinics and studying to outsmart the WF’s and GT’s? Doubt it.
Bowden is not just a figurehead at this point— he is a damper whether he intends to be or not. Jimbo and Trickett can spit fire all they want to, but they are impotent as long as Bowden holds the reigns. The players and rest of the staff know what’s up, and how hard they really have to work. Just like they did when Jeff was here.
by FiestaNole on Jul 6, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
But Jimbo has to see where he wants to be 5 years from now
If he can wait a year 2 at most FSU is his. Hes the guy calling the shots and getting the people he wants. taking FSU back to the NC. How could you turn down one of the best jobs in the US. I say this because Thats what FSU is. There are some schools you cant turn down and if you want to win as many NC where do you go. UT, OU, UF, USC (cal) OSU, Miami, FSU. Why these and not otheres like WVA LSU and what not. Recruting. FSU is in one of the best places to recruit. add history and the people that can win and thats all you need. Jimbo can and will have us back in the top 10 year in 4-5 years and untell the next new style comes out or some Anti-spread Def comes out.
Why is the sky blue? Because, God Loves the Infantry
If Bowden remains at FSU for one or two more years
then it is crucial to let Jimbo Fisher have majority, if not total, input on who the new defensive coaches will be after this season. He needs to choose the guys that fit his vision of what FSU will become under him- no more 90’s throwbacks. He also needs to be the one to decide whether Dawsey and Carter have earned extensions or not.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 6, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, IF
Jimbo can bring in a new defensive guru. That guy will want to reconstruct his own staff to teach his own system- a two year process. That means it will be at least 4 years from now before we’re a top 10 team. I want Jimbo to have that time and more.
But remember, this process started in 2007. We will have lost a decade of competiveness by 2011, Jimbo’s first year in charge, and by 2012 it will have taken 5 years to implement the kind of turnaround others like Paul Johnson implemented in i year with far less talented recruits overall. And this delay- including the next two 4-loss seasons- are completely unecessary.
So, yeah, I’m a little bitter about that.
But what about the 400 wins!!??
We just GOTTA get him to 400 wins!! After all, it IS a round number.
Don't think it will take that long
I think several factors will cut down on that time line. First, Jimbo’s offense should be off and running next year if it isn’t doing so this year. In 2 years the line should be monstrous, the WRs and RBs will be tested and Ponder will be knowledgeable on the system. Last year we averaged 27.7 ppg against BCS conference teams, so the offense should be insane in two years since I can’t see losing much between now and then on that side of the ball.
Second, most ACC teams will have problems fielding the kind of offensive unit that can match up with a team that can score. In two years I don’t expect to see much improvement in the other teams in our division with the exception of Clemson and maybe NC State. NC State has more ground to cover so that means most likely the only tough div game should be vs Clemson. Two years from now we will not have to play UNC or Ga Tech, so it is possible that our opponents from the Coastal could be Miami, UVA and Duke. So that leaves us with two tough regular season games.
As of right now we have UF and Oklahoma in 2011, but OU is at least in Doak. The other non-conference game we have so far is against Air Force, which should be an easy win. It is crazy to predict anything this far in advance but there is no reason why by 2011 the Noles couldn’t be a two loss team going to a BCS bowl. This would require things to continue going the way they are all across the board in the ACC, which I don’t think will happen since my money is on Shannon getting fired and UM’s next coach will have a closest full of talent.
by osceolafan850 on Jul 7, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I take your point.
And I want to believe it. I think you’re right: no offense in the ACC will be as good as ours by then.
My concern is they won’t have to be. I have zero faith in our defensive approach at this point.
My post assumes
That MA will be gone after this season and the new DC is a 4-3 guy. I know some around here want us to move to 3-4, but I don’t see FSU chasing enough LBs right now. So if the new guy is a 3-4 man then it could take a couple of seasons for the defense to become elite because the correct personnel need to come in and get some experience. I think as long as we stick with the 4-3 the adjustments from MA’s scheme to a more traditional one would be a fairly easy one to make for the front 7. The D-line already appears to be beefing up in preparation for the future and most of the kids with offers from FSU are 250+ going into their senior years of HS.
by osceolafan850 on Jul 7, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd agree
we’re “stuck” with a 4-3 for awhile. Unlike the NFL with its free agency “speeding” transitions along, it takes time for colleges to transition from 4-3 to 3-4. It’s not just a case of numbers, but also different players. 3-4 players tend to be bigger, especially the NT and the outside linebackers. For FSU to make the transition (if it is to be done), it would probably be best done over some number of years, finding a way to cross train 4-3 DEs as 3-4 OLBs and vice versa. I think it would take more than a couple of seasons to become “elite” at it, except possibly if FSU relies on more JuCo recruiting than it has in the past as a form of “free agency” to speed the whole process.
I think FSU’s best approach may be to stay in a 4-3, but get beefier at DT/NG and at DE somewhat too. Keep the linebackers free of blockers to fly to the ball.
by Wild@Heart Nole on Jul 7, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I shouldn't post in the middle of the night
I was talking about two years from now but then cited the schedule from 3 years from now. The correct non-conf schedule is @OU and UF, BYU and Samford all at Doak. The non-div games will be Miami, UNC and either Duke or UVA. I like 2011 better but in 2010 we could catch OU post Bradford, UF post Tebow and depending on this year BYU post Hall. I don’t think the end of the tunnel is far away at all.
by osceolafan850 on Jul 7, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent
Excellent post. I look forward to watching these battles during the season.
Not an alcoholic, just an FSU grad.
Great post!
It’s so hard to find a good FSU or even college football fix in the summer. And mainstream papers wonder why they lose readership?
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