Tomahawk Nation - Florida State football: FSU spring 2015Florida State Seminoles football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and athletics updateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49409/tn-logo-fv.png2015-04-16T10:56:00-04:00http://www.tomahawknation.com/rss/stream/79218842015-04-16T10:56:00-04:002015-04-16T10:56:00-04:00Think Maguire will be a game manager? Think again
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<figcaption>John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Why Sean Maguire's boom/bust nature will yield an explosive offense, yet frustrate fans.</p> <p>Sean Maguire is not Jameis Winston. But FSU fans knew this before Saturday's spring game at Doak in front of a rain soaked crowd of 17,500.</p>
<p>Winston was largely accurate to every corner of the field, using virtually every passing concept in Jimbo Fisher's playbook. With good accuracy, Winston could hit a deep out, a short crosser, a post, a curl, etc. all with consistent ball placement that allowed his playmaking receivers and backs to get yards after catch.</p>
<p>Maguire won't. It's likely not a single quarterback in college football in 2015 will. Maybe for a couple years. You can't base expectations on the most talented QB since Andrew Luck.</p>
<p>So what does Sean Maguire do well? What are his strengths? What passing concepts does he enjoy? What are his weaknesses?</p>
<h3>Known Knowns</h3>
<p>Maguire has four different samples of sustained game action available for consumption: spring games in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and the 2014 Clemson game. Garbage time against Oregon or other teams is largely irrelevant due to game states and small samples.</p>
<p>These are four opportunities to understand more about who Maguire is stylistically, what his skillset is, and how that will translate to how he plays at the helm of FSU's 2015 offense.</p>
<h4>Big Arm, Lower Completion Rates</h4>
<p>It appears to be a common misconception that Sean Maguire will be a game manager -- someone who will make the safe throws, not turn the ball over, etc. If you expect Maguire to take check downs, be overcautious with the ball, and let the run game drive the offense down the field - be prepared to be disappointed. This will not be a McCarron-led Sabanite offense.</p>
<p>Maguire has a big arm. He has the velocity to make every throw Jimbo Fisher will require of him.</p>
<p>And he is not afraid to use that big arm. He's willing to work back shoulder throws from the opposite hash. He's willing to throw deep fades down the sidelines. He's willing to fit it in tight windows deep down the middle of the field and up the seams.</p>
<p>And he's pretty good at it. Explosive plays will happen. Yards per attempt should remain firmly north of 7.0, well within range for Jimbo Fisher's last three starting quarterbacks at Florida State.</p>
<p>But he also struggles in the types of throws that sustain drives: underneath passes like shallow crosses and drag routes that allow playmakers to get upfield. Maguire's ball placement and decision making on these throws leave much to be desired. He routinely is late to anticipate the crossers coming open and struggles to lead the receiver. The pattern? These are all routes going horizontally, not vertically down the field. Arm strength matters very little with these. These short middle of the field passes appear to be where most "double clutching" seems to occur.</p>
<p>Maguire will likely be the most "boom/bust" type quarterback starter Jimbo Fisher has had at FSU.</p>
<h4>Favored Concepts</h4>
<p>Jimbo Fisher's offense has shown it can be successful with both a wide open playbook under Jameis Winston and with a limited number of passing concepts under E.J. Manuel. While Winston had a large number of concepts available to him, EJ Manuel's offense was largely limited to 7-8 core concepts: Slants, Curl/Flat, Switch, Houston, Smash, Stick, Waggle, and Screens.</p>
<p>Maguire's skillset profiles similarly to Manuel's with regards to the passing concepts the pair are comfortable with. Winston was comfortable with more underneath concepts such as Levels, Shallow Cross, and Mesh.</p>
<p>In addition to those core concepts, Maguire has shown strong ability in the rollout passing game. As far back as the 2013 spring game and continuing through more recent performances, Maguire shows good decision making in the rollout/waggle series of concepts, despite the fact that he is the least mobile FSU QB since Drew Weatherford. The decision making on the designed rollouts is superior to Winston, whose rollout decision making was bad - often resulting in poor decisions to run rather than take easy dump off. Maguire also does a very good job changing arm angles for these types of throws - crucial to beating defenders and helping his receivers get the ball upfield. He effectively threw the ball sidearm a few times in the spring game to get around defenders.</p>
<p>These rollout areas will be crucial to FSU's success, as they will be (in addition to screens) areas where Maguire can successfully and consistently put the ball in the hands of playmaking running backs in space.</p>
<p>Maguire throws well on vertical routes in general, specifically outside the hashes. He's shown the ability to drop balls in the buckets on vertical throws outside the hashes. That makes sense because there are less defenders outside the hashes and he gets to use his arm strength there.</p>
<p>It appears that a Maguire playbook will feature All Curls, Curl/Flat, Screens, Stick, Snag, Smash, Houston, Waggle/Rollouts, 3 Verts. It's not quite as open as 2013-14, but because of his big arm, expect Maguire to push the ball downfield more than Manuel did with a similar set of concepts.</p>
<p>Just don't expect game managing, methodical drives. That doesn't appear to be his skillset.</p>
<h4>Favored Areas of Field</h4>
<p>While reticent to throw underneath to the middle of the field, Maguire has shown he enjoys throwing to virtually every other part of the field.</p>
<p>The intermediate and deep middle is an area Maguire appears to favor. Whether the post in 3 Verticals, or the post or option routes in the Houston concepts, Maguire's decision making in the deep middle is strong.</p>
<p>A couple notable examples:</p>
<p>- 2015 spring game: 3 Verticals pass concept, Maguire hits Jesus Wilson with a well placed ball beneath the deep defender and out of reach of the linebacker in coverage underneath.</p>
<p>- 2014 Clemson game, 4th quarter: Houston pass concept, Maguire throws to Jesus Wilson, open in the deep/intermediate area, but sails the throw. This is the interception just before time expires in regulation. The result is horrible, but the decision is perfect. Nothing wrong with it, even from a game awareness perspective - the ball just sometimes sails on you, as it did to even Winston.</p>
<p>Maguire also enjoys throwing outside the hashes. There are multiple examples of back shoulder throws in the 2015 spring game, and Maguire had success with standard curls in wide areas against Clemson. He projects to continue doing well with these curls, making Fisher continue to feature staples Curl/Flat and All Curls.</p>
<h4>Mechanical Issues</h4>
<p>Some of Maguire's struggles with underneath throws like slants and crossers, while confidence related, are mechanics related.</p>
<p>Maguire is not quick to set up to throw, and additionally sometimes over-strides, leaving him with a very wide base. This can leave him unbalanced, which while not necessarily dooming these throws, can affect his timing on these short throws. Working on a more consistent base could yield better throws here.</p>
<h3>Known Unknowns</h3>
<p>While four samples of game action give a good picture of what Sean Maguire projects to do stylistically, there is much to be learned as he takes the next step from a spot starter on short notice to a full time starter for Jimbo Fisher.</p>
<h4>Consistency</h4>
<p>The staccato nature of spring games, played against your own team in a scrimmage environment, don't offer opportunities for consistency. Neither does a single spot start, especially with the caveat of an 11th hour change from one half of play to a full game of play, against arguably the nation's best defense, and with poor offensive line play.</p>
<p>We don't know how Maguire will handle being a starter. How he will handle leading a team with inexperienced receivers and offensive line.</p>
<h4>Summer Job</h4>
<p>Maguire has not had a full summer as a starter. In recent interviews, he suggested he would be working with his receivers four times a week before fall camp.</p>
<p>We don't know how successful Maguire will be in wrangling up his young receiver corps to work on timing and understanding - which will be crucial in improving his confidence in the shorter throws he currently struggles with.</p>
<h4>Supporting Cast</h4>
<p>While known talents Travis Rudolph and Dalvin Cook will make plays for FSU, the consistency of the other 8 players around Maguire is yet to be seen. Ermon Lane was inconsistent in his debut season and was passed up by Javon "Pig" Harrison for first team reps in the 2015 spring game, and Bobo Wilson had a sharp decline at the end of 2014. The offensive line returns just one starter, and center play in particular can disrupt the success of any quarterback. Replacing consistent targets like Rashad Greene and Nick O'Leary isn't easy.</p>
<p>We don't know how young players and first time starters around Maguire will step up to fill the shoes of players departed to the NFL.</p>
<p>History tells us that this level of inexperience, even if it is supremely talented, will yield frustrating inconsistency.</p>
<h3>Expect Boom/Bust</h3>
<p>The 2015 FSU offense will not equal its 2013 record scoring output. It will not equal the 2014 squad's top 10 passing offense. It won't be as methodical as either of those two units.</p>
<p>And it shouldn't be expected to.</p>
<p>Sean Maguire is a quarterback with a big arm who can and will create explosive plays and drives for this year's FSU offense. Maguire will also frustrate fans when he makes mistakes with the "little things", the underneath passes and dump offs that sustain drives.</p>
<p>Don't expect a "game manager" in Sean Maguire. Expect boom/bust.</p>
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https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/16/8410009/florida-state-sean-maguire-game-manager-fsuJuan Montalvo III2015-04-14T09:36:05-04:002015-04-14T09:36:05-04:00Keeping FSU's Spring Game in Perspective
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<p>Keeping some perspective is important, particularly when compared to FSU's in-state rivals.</p> <p>The first glimpse of the 2015 <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida State Seminoles</a> was a shaky one. Saturday's Garnet & Gold Game was a rain-soaked affair that featured lots of new faces, lots of injured contributors on the sidelines and lots of sloppy play by those on the field. The performance of many new players was solid at times, ugly at times, and mostly inconsistent. In other words, the 2015 Garnet & Gold Game was mostly par-for-the-course when it comes to spring games. In all likelihood, there was little <span>Sean Maguire</span> & Co. could do on Saturday to calm the collective FSU fanbase's nerves about having to replace <span>Jameis Winston</span> and so many key contributors to Florida State's success over the past 2 years. Those concerns won't have an opportunity to be quelled until September.</p>
<p>This occurrence isn't FSU-specific and certainly doesn't exist in a vacuum. All it takes is looking at Florida State's rival's spring games to recognize that fact and see that the problems at Miami and Florida seem worse -- mainly that they aren't blocking anyone.</p>
<p><b>Florida Gators</b></p>
<p>In Gainesville, the Gators' continuing struggles with grasping yet another new offensive system -- its <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5979522">fourth</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7450347/brent-pease-hired-florida-gators-offensive-coordinator">in</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=26931">five</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=29419">years</a> -- are obvious. The UF coaching staff appears to be leaning toward playing <span>Will Grier</span> at quarterback, but <span>Treon Harris</span> will continue to battle him for the starting job into the fall. In the spring game, Grier went 7-9 for 130 yards and Harris went 6-9 for 95 yards and a touchdown, both very small samples for each. <span>Kelvin Taylor</span> carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards on the ground. However, the performance on Saturday was poor and new head coach Jim McElwain said after the uninspiring spring game on Saturday that <a target="_blank" href="http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2015-04-11/story/gators-offense-remains-uninspiring-following-teams">he was not pleased with the offensive performance and there remains much work to do</a> on that side of the ball. The "offensive" highlight of the day for UF was likely an opening kickoff return by <span>Demarcus Robinson</span>, who seems to be Florida's only reliable receiver thus far.</p>
<p>The biggest concern for the Gators continues to be its totally depleted offensive line, <i>which struggled to protect its quarterbacks from reserve and walk-on defensive linemen on Saturday</i>. The offensive line woes in Gainesville are so bad, it had only six healthy offensive linemen playing on Saturday, and the Blue Squad had only one offensive lineman on scholarship playing. UF received terrible news last week when it learned that perhaps its best offensive lineman, <span>Rod Johnson</span>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-gators/swamp-things-blog/os-gators-rod-johnson-indefinitely-injury-20150407-post.html">suffered an 'indefinite' injury which forced him to miss Saturday's spring game</a>. With few details given about the injury, speculation swirled that his injury could be significant, particularly after Johnson sent out these tweets following the Orange & Blue Debut Saturday.</p>
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<p>Can't wait to see how many people turn they back</p>
— Rod Johnson #⃣5⃣5⃣ (@Almighty_rod55) <a href="https://twitter.com/Almighty_rod55/status/586972804311977984">April 11, 2015</a>
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<p>I been thru hell and back I promise I ain't leaving like that Gatornation 4 life</p>
— Rod Johnson #⃣5⃣5⃣ (@Almighty_rod55) <a href="https://twitter.com/Almighty_rod55/status/587320655869247488">April 12, 2015</a>
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<p>If the Gators want to <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/57/florida-gators">improve on an atrocious offense from last season</a>, it will first have to figure out if it has an offensive line to protect its unknown starting quarterback and create running holes for Kelvin Taylor. There is potential for multiple true freshmen offensive linemen to play significant snaps on the offensive line -- never a recipe for success.</p>
<p>Florida's defense should again be good, but it is hard to judge just <i>how</i> good considering the quality of the offense it has faced in spring.</p>
<p><b>Miami Hurricanes</b></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Miami <a target="_blank" href="http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/03/28/miami-hurricanes-2015-spring-game-live-updates/">played its spring game in a minor league soccer stadium</a> in Ft. Lauderdale due to Sun Life Stadium renovations, a much more appropriately-sized venue for Miami football given its attendance woes. Miami is the most-established program of the Big 3 at the quarterback position, with <span>Brad Kaaya</span> firmly supplanted as the signal-caller for the Hurricanes. Even so, Kaaya struggled in Miami's spring game, going 8-17 for 63 yards and tossing 3 interceptions in the first half alone -- though two did hit off the hands of his receivers.</p>
<p>On the ground, life after <span>Duke Johnson</span> began with a thud for the Hurricanes. <span>Joseph Yearby</span>, Miami's heir apparent to the Duke, was suspended for the spring game for violation of team rules, and <span>Gus Edwards</span> played only one quarter.</p>
<p>These offensive struggles culminated in Miami <i>not scoring a touchdown on its first nine possessions of the spring game</i>. According to multiple reports, the struggles could be traced directly to Miami's offensive line, which struggled to protect or open holes in the run game, just like Florida.</p>
<p>Like FSU, it is difficult to determine just how much weight to put in the offensive struggles of Miami's spring game. The Hurricanes certainly have the advantage of being the only program of the Big 3 with a returning starting quarterback, but it also has the disadvantage of having the most uncertain coaching staff future of the Big 3 programs. They will need to rely on Kaaya, Yearby and Stacey Coley on offense if they want to beat FSU for the first time since Obama's first year in the White House and make their first appearance in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/acc-championship-game" class="sbn-auto-link">ACC Championship</a> Game since joining the conference in 2004.</p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/14/8400915/florida-state-spring-fsu-miami-gators-canesGriffinole2015-04-12T08:00:03-04:002015-04-12T08:00:03-04:00What did we learn from FSU spring football?
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<figcaption>Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>What can Florida State fans take away from spring practice as we head into the off-season abyss? </p> <p>The Gold team defeated the Garnet in the 2015 edition of Florida State's spring game. What can we actually learn from a rainy inter-squad scrimmage featuring a bunch of guys you've never heard of that capped off a spring of struggle? You're in luck because I'm going to tell you.</p>
<p><b>I</b>n case you weren't aware, the Seminoles have collectively been in poor health this spring. With more than 25 guys missing time, many of whom were out Saturday afternoon, the first and primary takeaway from the Garnet and Gold Game is that anything and everything observed should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, George Campbell's first quarter catch and run for a touchdown was certainly electrifying, but its genius is somewhat tempered by the realization that he was surrounded by three third-string defenders who should have tackled him upon reception. We can certainly observe that Campbell has electric speed, much like we can feel confident in Jacques Patrick's explosiveness after seeing his early long run that was called back. But can we infer from these performances that these guys will be breaking long plays all over ACC defenses this coming fall? Let's pump the brakes there.</p>
<p><b>N</b>ow, that said, there were plenty of reasons for optimism even through this cautious lens. The aforementioned freshmen and their classmates showed the attributes that led to their lofty recruiting rankings. Campbell is fantastic with the ball in his hands, Patrick is quick and powerful, Derwin James was excellent, and <span>De'Andre Johnson</span> looked quite good for a true freshman even against weak competition. <span>J.J. Cosentino</span> generally made good decisions and threw with accuracy and confidence. Sean Maguire and the offensive line shook off rough starts and rebounded to play fairly well. It's worth noting that the strong offensive performances from the Garnet players came against the first team defense, albeit a banged-up version. These are among the positives that will justifiably leave ‘Noles fans feeling optimistic heading into a long summer.</p>
<p><b>J</b>ames, Derwin. The freshman took <span>Sean Maguire's</span> first pass of the spring to the endzone from 41 yards, and while the return was quite good, the credit for the play (or lack thereof) belongs mostly with Maguire for a dismal decision and throw. Even still, Derwin was absolutely everywhere Saturday afternoon. He looked every bit of the highest rated safety recruit in Rivals' history and seems to have taken quite well to the defense after being allowed to freelance a lot in high school. Our eyes in the press box were focused on Derwin for much of the game and came away about as impressed as they possibly could have been. Can James start right away, leaving Hunter and Andrews to fight for the other safety spot and potentially open the door to the latter returning to the dime role? That would be huge for the 2015 defense, and James certainly showed the ability to make it happen today.</p>
<p><b>U</b>ndeniable. I agree with Brendan Sonnone that there is one thing we can say unequivocally:</p>
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<p>FSU's second-team WRs (Lane and Campbell) are clearly better than the walk-on DBs. That much is clear.</p>
— Brendan Sonnone (@osfsu) <a href="https://twitter.com/osfsu/status/586972279961034752">April 11, 2015</a>
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<p><span>Ermon Lane</span> and George Campbell dominated their Garnet team counterparts for the entire afternoon. This was expected, but it is still a welcome sight for ‘Noles fans looking for depth at the wide receiver position. These "second-team" guys will be added to a group featuring Bobo Wilson, <span>Travis Rudolph</span>, and Pig Harrison. Harrison looked solid today, seeing a significant amount of success against <span>Marquez White</span>. Jimbo has raved about Harrison's potential, and a five-deep rotation of these guys, plus the injured Da'Vante Phillips and Kermit Whitfield, among others, bodes well for the Seminoles this fall. They will need to continue to improve in their route-running and blocking, but there's a veritable sea of young talent out wide for the 2015 Seminoles.</p>
<p><b>R</b>eturning kicks is yet another area in which <span>Jalen Ramsey</span> seems to excel. Even with a one-touch-and-dead rule, Ramsey found his way far up field on several returns while stationed deep with George Campbell. This does beg a question that has divided even the TN staff: Do you want Jalen Ramsey returning kicks for the 2015 ‘Noles? I am of the opinion that he should not be doing so unless the gap in talent between him and the next best returner is incredibly wide. If Ramsey were to get injured, the cornerback situation would be concerning bordering on disastrous. Others believe that if he's clearly the best he needs to be back deep to help a much less talented 2015 team win as many games as possible. He clearly has the ability to be an effective return man, but what say you, TN faithful?</p>
<p><b>I</b>mproved, as in the offensive line play as the day progressed for the Garnet team, generally speaking. It's probably wise to focus more on individual performances at this point rather than the line as a collective whole, as these guys have only played together for a few weeks and have faced a bunch of injuries and cross-training. <span>Roderick Johnson</span> and <span>Kareem Are</span> looked solid, and the group as a whole was very effective towards the end of the second quarter, leading to a <span>Dalvin Cook</span> touchdown. While this was encouraging, it also shouldn't be particularly surprising. These guys are physically talented and mature, and run blocking will be easier for them at this stage than cohesive pass blocking. And their opposition was always going to struggle in run defense given a complete lack of linebackers. So, there are positives to take away here, although they again must be tempered due to context.</p>
<p><b>E</b>berle, Alec. We've now reached the "points of concern" section. The snaps in this game were shambolic. Eberle was the perpetrator for the Garnet squad, and while some had hoped for competition for the injured <span>Ryan Hoefeld</span>, who was pressed into action before he was likely ready a year ago, Eberle's play made that seem questionable. While his technical play outside of the snaps was decent, a team that operates out of the shotgun as much as FSU does needs a reliable snapper at center. This leads FSU fans to wonder about the recruitment of graduate transfer <span>Matt Hegarty</span>, who has been making visits of late. Center will likely remain a position of concern heading into the fall, and FSU fans will hope that Hoefeld can come back from injury and improve on his play from 2014, or that Hegarty is signed and ready to play at a high level.</p>
<p><b>S</b>econd corner is another issue that the Seminoles will have to deal with into the fall. Marquez White had a few nice plays, including a pass breakup following a yielded completion, but overall his play did not inspire much confidence. Maguire picked on him in throwing to Harrison frequently rather than test Ramsey, which is something whoever is playing the second corner position had better get used to. White's coverage today left much to be desired, and he'll face a battle to hold onto his spot over the summer and into the fall, when highly touted Tarvarus McFadden arrives in Tallahassee. Though relying on true freshmen is rarely a wise practice, McFadden certainly has the ability to push for playing time.</p>
<p><b>S</b>ean Maguire had an up and down kind of day. He started with a bad interception that Fisher blamed on a receiver, but the fact remains that it was not a good throw or decision, route bust notwithstanding. The second interception came late in the game and was no thing of beauty either. But Maguire also had his moments, showing some beautiful feel and change of arm slot on several throws, as well as some nice balls over the middle and down the sideline. He was also playing against the first-team defense, while Cosentino and Johnson enjoyed their days against backups and a whole bunch of walk-ons. Still, it wasn't a resounding performance from Maguire, who was seeking to solidify his position as heir apparent among the fanbase, as our sources have made it abundantly clear that the competition was not at all close in practice. That said, Cosentino did make solid decisions and threw with confidence and accuracy to the sidelines, and Johnson's ball placement was very good, although Fisher was berating him for detail-related issues for much of the afternoon. We'll see if their respective performances crank up a quarterback competition that never really was one this spring as we move towards the season.</p>
<p><b>U</b>sefulness is the ultimate virtue, and that's what Florida State fans hope that they have in a couple of unheralded players who played well on Saturday. Jonathan Vickers played well as a second back and fullback, a ripped fumble caused by Jalen Ramsey notwithstanding. He had some nice runs and was consistently in the right spot. I'm not sure we'll ever see a back like <span>Lonnie Pryor</span> again at FSU, but we can certainly hope that Vickers provides a similar skill set during his time in Tallahassee. Fred Jones was also a pleasant surprise for the Garnet team defense, as he proved to be difficult to move at a listed 312 pounds in the middle. Any snaps that he can give the ‘Noles on the interior would be greatly appreciated, and he seemed to have the capability this afternoon.</p>
<p><b>C</b>loser. That's what the Seminoles hope Jacques Patrick can be as a short-yardage back in 2015, and he showed the ability to be that and much more on Saturday afternoon. His aforementioned long run was great, but Patrick also consistently ran hard with power and acceleration, finally finding the endzone. Two-back sets featuring him and Dalvin Cook (who, for some reason, the FSU coaches felt would help the spring game experience in a non-contact jersey early) are the stuff of giddy daydreams, and it looks more likely than ever that they're about to become a reality. He showed the ability to have a storied career at FSU, and it's likely to start early this fall.</p>
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<p><b>K</b>icking remains the strongest facet of the Florida State football program to date. I have not relinquished my belief that <span>Roberto Aguayo</span> is a deity, and you can't convince me to. The Lord of the Leg belted 47 and 56-yarders in the rain, and missed a 62-yarder before half in a clear ploy not to intimidate new kicker Kevin Robledo who was watching from the sideline. He is a powerful, yet merciful deity, and I pledge my allegiance to him.</p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/12/8390713/florida-state-spring-game-recap-fsu-sean-maguireDKfromVA2015-04-11T15:00:28-04:002015-04-11T15:00:28-04:00VIDEO: Mario Pender shows off his balance and speed in FSU spring game<iframe src="https://vine.co/v/eummDMV3B7g/embed/simple" width="600" height="600"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Nice run from Mario Pender. FSU's backfield is incredibly deep with Pender, Dalvin Cook and Jacques Patrick.</p></p></div>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/11/8390137/video-mario-pender-shows-off-his-balance-and-speed-in-fsu-spring-gameBud Elliott2015-04-11T14:21:54-04:002015-04-11T14:21:54-04:00Freshman receiver George Campbell dusts defenders<iframe src="https://vine.co/v/euZ9bnr9puT/embed/simple" width="600" height="600"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Freshman receiver George Campbell shook off two defenders and turned on the jets in the Florida State spring game.</p></p></div>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/11/8390055/freshman-receiver-george-campbell-dusts-defendersBud Elliott2015-04-11T06:00:02-04:002015-04-11T06:00:02-04:00FSU Spring Game: TV, Internet Stream, Time, Radio
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<figcaption>Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Florida State</p> <p>Florida State plays its annual Garnet and Gold Spring Game Saturday at 2 ET. Though more than a third of the roster could be sidelined with injury, FSU is committed to preserving its traditional format of two separate teams, though walk-ons will be heavily featured due to all the injuries.</p>
<p>The game will not be televised, and though the reason has not been given by ESPN, it's worth wondering if ESPN would have been in town had Florida State not lost the vast majority of its best players.</p>
<p>But the Florida State spring game will be broadcast on ESPN3.com, which is an opportunity for Tomahawk Nation contributor Ariya Massoudi who will be doing the play-by-play.</p>
<p>The radio call will be on the IMG Radio Network.</p>
<p>The weather looks to be quite poor, we there is a 75 percent chance of thunderstorms.</p>
<p>An alumni flag football game will take place during halftime -- a relatively recent tradition that has been a big hit with fans who get to see their former favorite Seminoles.</p>
<p>Our Kyle Griffis has a huge preview, a section of which is excerpted below.</p>
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<p>Finally, FSU fans should also keep an eye on the not-so-distant future while taking in the Garnet & Gold game. Florida State's three 5-star early enrollees are expected to make an immediate impact in 2015, and all three should see substantial playing time on Saturday. Coach Fisher has praised Derwin James as being one of the most naturally gifted freshmen he has ever encountered. 'Noles fans should definitely expect to see a lot of James in the secondary on Saturday, and likely in the fall as well.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, it will be noteworthy to see if George Campbell can push some of the more veteran receivers for playing time in 2015. The same can be said of Jacques Patrick, a hard and physical runner, who will compliment fellow running backs Dalvin Cook and Mario Pender well. Patrick has received praise from Coach Fisher for his quick grasp of the offense, and many 'Noles fans are already making the comparison of Patrick to great FSU bruiser Greg Jones. Be sure to watch for these young stars to make an impact on Saturday and well into the future for the Seminoles.</p>
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<p>Parking opens at 8 a.m. and you can <a href="http://www.seminoles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=917027&SPID=157113&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32900&ATCLID=209965930" target="_blank">consult this handy parking guide (.pdf) courtesy of Florida State</a>.</p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/11/8383899/florida-state-spring-game-time-tv-internet-streamBud Elliott2015-04-10T16:15:26-04:002015-04-10T16:15:26-04:00Tomahawk Nation Audio: Florida State Spring Game Preview<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3592642/TomahawkNation_com_s_Bud_Elliott-1428678584.0.mp3">Tomahawk Nation Audio: Florida State Spring Game&nbsp;Preview</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>I joined the guys at 1010XL in Jacksonville to discuss Florida State football.</p></p></div>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/10/8383915/tomahawk-nation-audio-florida-state-spring-game-previewBud Elliott2015-04-10T10:00:09-04:002015-04-10T10:00:09-04:00Previewing the New-Look 'Noles' 2015 Spring Game
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<img alt="Is Sean Maguire the clear favorite to succeed Jameis Winston as the next starting quarterback for the Seminoles?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FoXWVKQMAVwlfz7w6W-2I-uAgzU=/0x0:3490x2327/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46078552/usa-today-8096650.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Is Sean Maguire the clear favorite to succeed Jameis Winston as the next starting quarterback for the Seminoles? | John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Fans will get their first look at (most of) the new-look 'Noles on Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium, but many questions and position battles won't be answered until September.</p> <p>Florida State football fans will get their first glimpse at the revamped Seminoles this Saturday in the 2015 edition of the Garnet & Gold Game. Every spring game is important, but this year's spring game is particularly crucial to the 'Noles, who have to replace a Heisman winning quarterback as well as a sizable chunk of the star contributors that led FSU to a national title in 2013 and a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-playoff" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">College Football Playoff</a> appearance in 2014. The depth chart is strewn with position battles on both sides of the ball, and further questions abound concerning the unknown and untested replacements at many positions.</p>
<p><b>The Injury Bug Has Bitten FSU Hard This Spring</b></p>
<p>Unfortunately for FSU, many of those questions and position battles will have to be put on hold until fall practice begins. The <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seminoles</a> have suffered from a significant injury bug this spring. Florida State's luck has been so bad, Coach Jimbo Fisher had to cancel two full practices in March after numerous players came down with a stomach virus. In more than one practice this spring, the 'Noles practiced without as many as 25 players. Many of those players sidelined with injuries throughout the spring will miss Saturday's spring game.</p>
<p>On the offensive side of the ball, starting fullback <span>Freddie Stevenson</span> has been out with a hyperextended leg injury. Screws will be needed to repair the injury, and Stevenson will miss the spring game. Early 2015 enrollee WR Da'Vante Phillips has missed all of spring while recovering from surgery to repair a tear in his groin muscle. Backup quarterback <span>John Franklin III</span> may miss Saturday's spring game after injuring his shoulder on Tuesday. At tight end, Jeremy Kerr may be a game-time decision, and (RS) freshman Mavin Saunders has recently dressed out for practice but has been limited. He may also be a game-time decision for Saturday. Due to the nagging injuries at the position, tight ends have been almost non-existent at practices throughout the spring.</p>
<p>Along the offensive line, center Ryan Hoefeld will be out for Saturday's spring game. Game-time decisions include Chad Mavety, Derrick Kelly and Ethan Frith. With FSU having to replace 4 of its 5 starters from a season ago along the offensive line, the unit could definitely benefit from the game-like experience of the spring scrimmage. Fortunately, offensive line coach Rick Trickett has emphasized cross-training the offensive linemen at numerous positions throughout the spring. As the 'Noles continue to figure out who they can plug into the starting lineup come fall, look for Trickett and Fisher to experiment with many different combinations of guys up front on Saturday.</p>
<p>Along the defensive line, defensive end <span>Chris Casher</span> has missed all spring with a shoulder injury. Casher had surgery to repair his shoulder just days after the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/rose-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">Rose Bowl</a>, so he should be ready for the fall. Starting defensive tackle Derrick Mitchell, who has suffered through more than his fair share of injuries during his time in Tallahassee, will also be out for Saturday's scrimmage. Early enrollee defensive end Josh Sweat has been out all spring with his knee injury. Nile Lawrence-Stample and Lorenzo Featherston may also be game-time decisions for Saturday. Tackle Justin Shanks may be out as well.</p>
<p>Limited depth at linebacker was further exacerbated when (RS) sophomore <span>Matthew Thomas</span> went down earlier in the spring with a separated shoulder. He will likely need surgery to repair it, and will miss the spring game. Another starting linebacker, senior <span>Reggie Northrup</span>, tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl and has missed all of spring. Northrup led the 'Noles last year with 122 tackles, and FSU will need him to be healthy for the fall in order to replicate that production. Other linebackers who may miss the spring game include fellow starter <span>Terrance Smith</span> and sophomore Jacob Pugh. Like tight ends on the offensive side of the ball, linebackers have been virtually non-existent in practices leading up to the spring game, with only reserves Tyrell Lyons and Ro'Derrick Hoskins left to man the position throughout much of the spring. 'Noles fans won't get a great look at this unit until the fall, and it's a spit that was a major weakness in 2015, so the lack of progress is unfortunate.</p>
<p>Another key defensive player who will miss Saturday's spring game is senior <span>Tyler Hunter</span>, who recently tore the meniscus in his right knee in practice. Hunter's injury is particularly disappointing, as he was getting time at both cornerback and safety. Regardless, he should be fully healthy in time for the fall. Early enrollee freshman defensive back Calvin Brewton and reserve <span>Colin Blake</span> will also likely be out Saturday. Safety Nate Andrews is also questionable with an ankle injury.</p>
<p>With so many players lost to injury, there won't be as many team takeaway points to scrutinize from this year's Garnet & Gold Game. The bright spot in all of these injuries is that it is still the spring, which leaves plenty of time for injuries to heal before the beginning of the college football season. It also means key reserves will get some additional playing time and chances to prove themselves in a simulated game experience, develop FSU's depth and promote competition in the fall. Still, Seminole fans may be disappointed or frustrated with just how many key contributors will be missing from the field Saturday.</p>
<p><b>The Quarterback Battle: Has Sean Maguire Solidified His Position as the Heir Apparent to <span>Jameis Winston</span>?</b></p>
<p>Perhaps the most glaring question facing the 2015 Seminoles is quarterback play. Replacing a Heisman-winning, national title-producing quarterback would be difficult for any program, so Seminole fans may be best served to adjust their expectations for quarterback play accordingly this season. For now, it looks as though Sean Maguire has a solid hold on the starting quarterback job. A lot can change between now and the first regular season game, but the cards seem to be falling, rather clearly, in favor of Maguire being under center for the Seminoles in 2015. And the gap between Maguire and the field does not appear to be close at this time.</p>
<p>Many began the spring high on strong-armed J.J. Cosentino, but questions about his ability to grasp Fisher's complex offense linger. It is telling that John Franklin III, not Cosentino, has run with the second team offense all spring. Franklin himself has been a valuable weapon for FSU in the past running scout team offenses to simulate mobile opponents like <span>Nick Marshall</span> and <span>Marcus Mariota</span>, but questions about his future at the quarterback position for FSU also linger because he isn't a prototypical quarterback for Jimbo's system. Many still believe he will ultimately end up at wide receiver, where his athletic abilities could be better utilized. In any event, Franklin might not even play Saturday due to a shoulder injury.</p>
<p>Two quarterbacks were members of the 2015 recruiting class, and early enrollee <span>De'Andre Johnson</span> by all accounts appears to be on track for where an early enrollee quarterback should be. The other promising freshman quarterback in that class, Deondre Francois, won't be on campus until the fall.</p>
<p>A second concern surrounding Sean Maguire is what exactly he brings to the table from an ability standpoint. An under-the-radar recruit out of a New Jersey high school that ran a wing-T offense, many unknowns remain about <span>Sean Maguire's</span> quarterbacking capabilities. The best available example thus far is clearly his heroic performance in the win over Clemson last season, in which Maguire went 21/39 for 305 yards, tossing 1 TD and 2 interceptions in place of the suspended Jameis Winston. Yet even in that game, it is difficult to glean much about Maguire's ball placement; the biggest play of the night was a deep touchdown pass to <span>Rashad Greene</span>, but Clemson's cornerback had fallen down, leaving Greene all alone. Maguire showed a willingness to fire downfield in that game, but he also made plenty of typical backup quarterback mistakes, including waiting in the pocket too long, locking onto receivers, missing open throws, and throwing a bad interception. Some slack could be given to him considering it was the first start of career, in a primetime game, and against the nation's best defense no less. After all, Florida State did win the ball game, and ultimately that is the most you can ask of a green backup quarterback--to not lose the game. However, many important questions remain about Maguire's abilities, and from this point on, he will no longer be able to fall back to the "serviceable" standard of a backup quarterback if he is indeed going to be given the keys to Jimbo Fisher's offense in the fall.</p>
<p><b>Are the Wide Receivers Really As "Soft" As Jimbo Has Indicated?</b></p>
<p>An important caveat to the quarterback question involves who that quarterback will target in the air attack this upcoming season. Coach Fisher has not minced words about his frustration with the wide receiver unit at various times throughout the spring. Of course, replacing your school's all-time leading receiver is a tall task, perhaps as tall as replacing the Heisman-winner who threw him into the record book. While FSU's receiving corps is young and talented, it needs to continue to develop consistency and mature.</p>
<p>Returning receivers Bobo Wilson and Kermit Whitfield were mostly unreliable and underwhelming last season, but they bring the most experience to the 2015 unit. Rising sophomore Travis Rudolph showed flashes of greatness last season, and seems best poised to replace Rashad Greene as the primary go-to guy in the unit. Another rising sophomore, Ermon Lane, has shown he has the ability and physical tools to be a fantastic player for FSU, but his consistency and his work ethic have come under fire since his arrival in Tallahassee. Whether those questions were unfair for a true freshman, or whether they were birthed out of inflated expectations, may be answered this upcoming season. One area in which Lane has showed extreme promise is in his run-blocking, and 'Noles fans would be well served to be on the lookout for Lane's performance and hustle on Saturday, even during run plays.</p>
<p>Other youngsters have also shown promise, including fellow rising sophomore Ja'Vonn "Pig" Harrison, Da'Vante Phillips (out for the spring as mentioned before), and early enrollee, 5-star freshman George Campbell. FSU fans should watch for Campbell's performance in the spring game to see if he is able to push some of the more veteran receivers for immediate playing time come fall.</p>
<p>There is no doubt that the 'Noles' receiving corps is young, talented and full of potential. However, whether they continue to develop and mature is another question. Fisher went so far to call the unit "soft" during the spring, so the spring game should provide some excellent insight into what the future holds for this unit. It will be vital that at least some of these receivers develop some reliability as the fall approaches, particularly with the questions surrounding the quarterback position.</p>
<p><b>Tight Ends: Will Anyone Rise Up to Replace O'Leary?</b></p>
<p>Florida State historically has not been a program to greatly utilize tight ends. <span>Nick O'Leary</span> changed that trend when he arrived in Tallahassee in 2012. Now, the Seminoles must replace the most productive tight end in FSU history, which will not be easy. After losing both O'Leary and his reliable backup, <span>Kevin Haplea</span>, to graduation, Florida State will turn to (RS) sophomore Jeremy Kerr and (RS) freshmen Ryan Izzo and Mavin Saunders to fill those shoes. All three tight ends have dealt with nagging injuries throughout the spring. At times, all three were unavailable simultaneously, leaving the tight end position virtually non-existent on the field. With this slew of injuries, it is difficult to judge whether any of the three have separated themselves from the pack. However, it appears likely that all three will be available in some capacity for the spring game. This should be an interesting position battle for 'Noles fans to keep their eyes on Saturday. If Saunders can stay healthy and continue to improve his run blocking abilities, it seems as though he would have the edge for the starting role in the fall, due to his physical capabilities and size.</p>
<p>The top 2016 tight end recruit in the country, Issac Nauta, is a solid FSU commit, and could probably win the starting job right now if he was on campus in Tallahassee and not finishing his junior year of high school. Until Nauta graduates high school and gets to Florida State, the 'Noles will need to find a serviceable option at tight end if they want to replicate any semblance of production Nick O'Leary provided the offense over the past three years.</p>
<p><b>The Entirely Revamped Secondary</b></p>
<p>On the defensive side of the ball, the Seminoles' secondary is definitely the unit to watch on Saturday. With the loss of starting cornerbacks <span>P.J. Williams</span> and <span>Ronald Darby</span> to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a>, FSU has cross-trained numerous players at different positions throughout the defensive backfield this spring. <span>Jalen Ramsey</span>, the outspoken leader of the secondary, moved from his starting role at the star position back over to corner. Before injury cut his spring short, Tyler Hunter was taking snaps both at safety and cornerback. Buried on the depth chart at running back, <span>Ryan Green</span> also moved over to cornerback. Junior <span>Marquez White</span> and sophomore Malique Jackson now get their chance for meaningful playing time at cornerback as well. Throw in Nate Andrews and Trey Marshall at safety, reliable backup Lamarcus Brutus, and early enrollee, 5-star freshman Derwin James, and you can begin to see just how many cluttered options FSU has in the secondary. The talented incoming freshmen trio of Tavarus McFadden, <span>Marcus Lewis</span> and A.J. Westbrook will also be thrown into the mix when they get to campus in the fall.</p>
<p>Questions about the reliability of some of these guys must be answered, particularly the newcomers at the crowded cornerback position. Jalen Ramsey was a beast at the star position, and he has said that he "followed his heart" back to cornerback. However, observers have to wonder if this was a desired change on Ramsey's part, or whether this was a change born out of necessity and depth chart concerns.</p>
<p>Tyler Hunter is another unknown at cornerback, if that is indeed the position he ultimately ends up playing. Hunter was injured for almost all of the 2013 season, and seemed to lack consistency from the safety position last season. Whether he is serviceable at cornerback, particularly after coming off this latest injury, is a huge question mark, and one that fans won't be able to watch for during the spring game.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest unknown at cornerback circles around whether the converted running back, <span>Ryan Green</span>, and the former FSU basketball player, Marquez White, can actually provide adequate coverage and give FSU meaningful reps from the position. How these unknowns will be answered will determine how defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach <span>Charles Kelly</span> approaches the lineup in the fall. FSU fans should definitely keep an eye on the secondary's performance on Saturday.</p>
<p><b>The Defensive Ends and Rick Leonard's Progress</b></p>
<p>The one offseason change to the FSU coaching staff occurred when defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri left FSU to become the linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders. Florida State quickly replaced him with Brad Lawing, formerly of South Carolina and UF. Lawing is both a solid recruiter and a great position coach, having previously developed talents like <span>Jadeveon Clowney</span>, <span>Eric Norwood</span>, <span>Dominique Easley</span> and Dante Fowler, Jr. With Mario Edwards, Jr. gone to the NFL Draft, Lawing has immediately emphasized improving FSU's pass rush from a season ago. In 2014, Florida State only recorded 17 sacks, ranking them 114th in the nation. 'Noles fans may have an opportunity on Saturday to see if the pass rush has improved under Lawing. An improved pass rush may also help alleviate potential growing pains in the secondary as well. As with any new coach, it will be interesting to note how Lawing meshes with the other coaches on staff and how his players respond to him on Saturday.</p>
<p>Lawing has an ample stockpile of talented youngsters to develop. One of the relative newcomers at defensive end is 6'7, 270 pound sophomore defensive end Rick Leonard. Leonard shed some weight during the offseason, and has received some rave reviews this spring for his physicality and work ethic. FSU fans should key in on him during the spring game to see if he flashes those attributes. It will also be interesting to see whether Lawing lines him up on the strong or weak side. If Leonard can continue his development, he should see his way into the rotation at defensive end in the fall, along with Chris Casher, DeMarcus Walker, Lorenzo Featherston, Josh Sweat, and possibly Jacob Pugh.</p>
<p><b>Impact Freshmen: Derwin James, Jacques Patrick and George Campbell</b></p>
<p>Finally, FSU fans should also keep an eye on the not-so-distant future while taking in the Garnet & Gold game. Florida State's three 5-star early enrollees are expected to make an immediate impact in 2015, and all three should see substantial playing time on Saturday. Coach Fisher has praised Derwin James as being one of the most naturally gifted freshmen he has ever encountered. 'Noles fans should definitely expect to see a lot of James in the secondary on Saturday, and likely in the fall as well.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, it will be noteworthy to see if George Campbell can push some of the more veteran receivers for playing time in 2015. The same can be said of Jacques Patrick, a hard and physical runner, who will compliment fellow running backs Dalvin Cook and <span>Mario Pender</span> well. Patrick has received praise from Coach Fisher for his quick grasp of the offense, and many 'Noles fans are already making the comparison of Patrick to great FSU bruiser <span>Greg Jones</span>. Be sure to watch for these young stars to make an impact on Saturday and well into the future for the Seminoles.</p>
<p><b>Game Information:</b></p>
<p>Garnet & Gold Spring Game</p>
<p>Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 2pm EST</p>
<p>Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL</p>
<p>ESPN3/ WatchESPN/ Seminole IMG Sports Radio Network</p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/2015/4/10/8370441/2015-florida-state-seminoles-spring-game-preview-life-after-jameisGriffinole