With Florida State now in its game-week preparations for Louisville, Jimbo Fisher returned to the Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown hotel Wednesday evening for the Jimbo Fisher Call-In Show.
Tonight, the hot topic was the Seminole’s opponent this Saturday on ABC, No. 10 Louisville. Other topics of conversation were the replacement of safety Derwin James Jr. and some of the newer personnel on the depth chart.
How do you stop Lamar Jackson?
Jackson came up multiple times tonight with people wanting to know how Fisher plans on stopping the Heisman hopeful. “He’s a dangerous guy, but we can’t just worry about him.” Fisher praised Jackson’s pocket presence and his maturity from the 2015 game in Tallahassee. “They’re very exotic on third down and he has an arm.” The defense cannot afford to have all 11 players keyed onto Jackson alone, “because then they hand it to the running back.”
One fan called to ask if the Seminoles were going to win this weekend. Fisher laughed saying “I never went into a game I thought we were going to lose.”
James Jr.: Returning, Replacement, etc.
The loss of James has many people worried. Fisher said that the safety “heals at a different rate than you and I. You say two weeks, he’s back in a week.” James came back to summer practice two weeks after a foot surgery where he was told he could miss a month. James may travel to Louisville if the doctor’s allow him.
As for replacing the freshman All-American, Fisher plans to switch guys in and out. “We like to cross train our guys. We do it for injuries and sometimes for match-ups.” Safety Nate Andrews returns for this game. A long time starter who Fisher called “one of our best playmakers.”
New Faces
A question from @bhsmithe asked if wide receiver Auden Tate is where Fisher wants him to be. Fisher said that fans would “see more of him. We have to use the things he brings to the table.” Fisher complemented Tate’s ball skills and that he will “find ways to implement him.” Tate has two receptions for 13 yards and a touchdown this season.
One of the in-house fans asked about true freshman Carlos Becker’s role with James out. Fisher replied saying that Becker will be moved between safety and corner. Called him a “tremendous athlete,” even complementing his track and field athletics. Fisher also said that young players like AJ Westbrook and Levonta Taylor will also be playing this weekend.