FSU: The Rebuild and "the Return" (NCAA 2019 Dynasty)

[0rangez4u]

NEXT UP: #9 WEST VIRGINIA

We face yet another ranked foe in Week 2. And West Virginia comes loaded.

Junior QB Melvin McCoy touted as the best Quarterback in the country and a potential lock for the #1 pick in the draft is the anchor of the offense for WVU. At 6'5" 230,he has elite size and is also a dual threat Quarterback in every sense of the word. He runs in the 4.4 range, and has one of the strongest arms in the country. He is going to be extremely tough to contain. We got our hands full with this guy.

They have two first round caliber recievers also we have to worry about, WR Terrance Stegall (6'2", 188) and WR Larry Townsend (6'4" ,225). Townsend won the Biletnikoff award last season acknowleding the best WR in the country.

Senior T Andrew Smith (6'5", 320) Is one of the best Tackles in the country. The Mountaineer offensive line has one of the more elite lines in the country. So its up to the coaches to find a way to disrupt them and put pressure on McCoy in order for the Seminoles to come out on top in this one.

On Defense, Senior DE Damarius Sullivan (6'4", 257) has been graded as a projected first round pick. The Seminoles protected the Quarterback well in Week 1, but Week 2 will be an entirely different test.

At Linebacker, Junior LB Markeith Whitehead (6'3", 266) and Senior LB Orlando McAfee (6'3" 247) anchor the second level of the Defense. McAfee is a sure fire first round pick. He's led the Mountaineers in tackles his first three years on campus consecutively.

All-American CB Scott Copeland (6'3" 195) leads the back end for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers have a star studded secondary who can give any passing team in the country fits as they have many former blue-chip defensive backs on their roster.

If there is any weakness , would be the Interior Defensive Line. They lost a ton of talent this past season. So its imperative the Seminoles find a way to exploit that matchup often.

INJURY REPORT

None.

OFFICIAL VISITORS

Ja'Carius Kidd 6'2" 210 CB

[0rangez4u]

*BREAKING NEWS*

THREE PLAYERS SUSPENDED FOR THIS WEEKENDS GAME vs #9 WEST VIRGINIA

Three FSU players have been suspended for the game vs #9 West Virginia this weekend. Freshman Offensive Tackle Bob Martin and Redshirt Freshman Sharaad Bonner have been suspended for 3 games for violation of Team Rules. Freshman Defensive Back Bihadda Maddox has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of NCAA rules.

"Bonner, Martin, and Maddox will not be playing this weekend vs West Virginia", said Head Coach Cameel Verner "on Bonner and Martin, they have to understand that they are not bigger than the team and there are certain things we have zero tolerance for here at Florida State. As for Maddox, I have no further comment at this time. He is out indefinitely."

This suspensions come at a very pivotal time as the Seminoles gear up for its first Conference Game of the season vs the #9 West Virginia Moutaineers. All 3 suspensions critically impact the Noles at several positions.

Bob Martin(6'8", 325), who started at Right Tackle last Saturday vs Maryland did not give up a single sack. It's possible that Freshman Derique Smith(6'7", 330) who is listed as the Back-up Left Tackle may slide over to Right Tackle , or Redshirt Sophmore Dustin Sanders who hasnt played many meaningful snaps could also see time at that spot as well. Freshman Marcus Black(6'6" , 275) is Redshirting this season who is the last listed tackle on FSU's official Depth Chart.

DE Sharaad Bonner (6'4" ,280) who was raved about by the coaches on his play vs Maryland has put the Seminoles in a precarious spot. Bonner is a reserve, but plays meaningful snaps based on his talent level and he will be sorely missed. The Noles could possibly move to Redshirt Senior Harrison Williams(6'4", 253) or move to True Freshman DE Joe Terrell (6'6", 265) or Freshman DE Robert Tate (6'4", 260). Atleast one, if not both were expected to Redshirt, but the news of Bonner may change those plans.

The most devastating news comes from Freshman DB Bihadda Maddox who had a monster game vs Maryland, with 2 interceptions, one going back for a touchdown. Maddox plays the "Hawk" position for the Seminoles, which is the weakside Slot Corner essentially. The listed reserves are Senior Andrew Green (5'10",189) who hasnt played many snaps throughout his career, or Sophmore Donovan Leonard (5'11", 200) who doesnt have much experience thus far in his career. This news hurts the Seminoles as West Virginia packs a solid punch in the passing game with All-World QB Melvin McCoy. Current WR Carmelo Clancy (5'10", 210), can also play the Hawk position if needed. He played it two seasons ago, Head Coach Cameel Verner's last season at Georgia Tech, and was an All-Conference selection at Defensive Back for his play after initially playing Running Back his Freshman year at Georgia Tech. He finished that year with 62 Tackles, 5 Sacks and 5 interceptions that season. He transferred from Georgia Tech to Florida State as a Graduate Transfer and since then has moved to Receiver.

We will keep you updated as the story continues to develop.

Spoiler

Every week I have a random roll that will let me know if there are injuries or suspensions. i have a formula that I go by. It keeps the dynasty fresh and challenging. Its one of my few house rules that I have to keep my dynasty entertaining. Here is the formula that I go by:

Academically ineligible / conduct detrimental to team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspensions
Step 1
Infraction or None?
1 = Infraction
2 = None
3 = None
4 = Infraction
5 = None
Step 2
Team Rules, Academics, or NCAA Rules?
1 = Team Rules
2 = Academics
3 = NCAA Rules
Academic suspension rolls are only valid before Week 1 and Bowl Week (simulating summer semester and end of fall semester). If #2 is rolled any other week, they are considered “None”.
Players with 80+ AWR are exempt from Team Rule violations and players with 90+ AWR are also exempt from Academic violations.
Step 3
Team Rules
1 = 1 Game
2 = 2 Games
3 = 3 Games
4 = 1st Quarter
5 = 5 Games
Academics
If Week 1 = Regular Season + Conf Championship
If Bowl Week = Bowl Game
NCAA Rules
1 = 1 Game
2 = 2 Games
3 = 3 Games
4 = 5 Games
5 = 1 Game
6 = 2 Games
7 = Season
Step 4
Enter -5 to 105 in random number generator to figure out which player is in violation. If unused number turns up, keep rolling until used number is rolled. Even if the player is injured or redshirting, they will be suspended. -5 and 105 are used so jersey numbers 1 and 99 are not the extreme ends of the number roll.
Step 5 (Academics Only)
A player must be cleared to return from an academics suspension. He will have as many tries as there are semesters left before the next football season starts. i.e. if he’s suspended for the bowl game, he would have spring and summer semester to become eligible once again. If the player fails to return, he is to be cut in the off-season (if he’s suspended for the regular season, he would have 3 chances to return).
Player Returns?
1 = Yes
2 = No
Injuries – Rolled after every game, only for OL/DL
Step 1
Injury or None?
1 = None
2 = Injury
3 = None
Step 2
Injury Length
1 = 1 Week
2 = 2-3 Weeks
3 = 4-5 Weeks
4 = 6+ Weeks (Max of Season Ending)
5 = 1 Week
6 = 2-3 Week
7 = 4-5 Week
8 = Season Ending
9 = 1 Week
Step 3
Enter -5 to 105 in random number generator to figure out which player is in violation. If unused number turns up, keep rolling until used number is rolled. If the player is redshirted, he cannot be injured. If the player is already injured, it will add-on to his existing injury. -5 and 105 are used so jersey numbers 1 and 99 are not the extreme ends of the number roll.
Step 4
Player Returns?
1 = Yes
2 = No
i.e. #3 is rolled
The player will be injured a minimum of three games. Then a roll will determine if he returns or not before the fourth or fifth game. After he is injured five games, he is set to return without needing a roll to clear him.

[0rangez4u]

RECRUITING HOT BOARD

So here I’m going to share with you the guys I’ve added to my recruiting board. Its important that I continue to stockpile talent to this team in order for it to compete year in and year out. Last year we finished with the #1 recruiting class. Be mindful, I run a unique style of defense, so its imperative I not only get talent, but also fill needs for the scheme as well. Every “star” athlete doesn’t fit in the defense, so picking the correct players is imperative. First I have a few house rules I go by:

Spoiler

#1 No scouting. I do not use points to scout players at all. It helps give recruiting a fresh feel. You have a possibility of getting Gems or Busts and living with the results. This can really boost or hurt your program depending how much time you invest in the prosepect. Once a player commits, then I scout them to see what kind of player I have.



#2 Do not go after “unrecruited” players that aren’t on your initial board until the off-season. I think it’s a bit cheap to recruit players who aren’t really being recruited that are highly ranked. To me, I consider that a red flag for grades, those players I jot down, and “re enter” them the next season as JUCO players. So highly ranked guys who aren’t being recruited by the computer to me are academic casualties. Three star or worse players are fair game. A lot of those go unnoticed in real life. So that’s a bit more realistic.



#3 I only get to use the “Unlock” option twice a year when a recruit eliminates me from his Top 3, 5 or whatever. This ONLY applies if a recruit has NOT used his official visit to my school yet. So I have to be very strategic with this. Coaches in real life pull out all the stops to get a recruit to visit. If a recruit visits, and still eliminates you then that’s it. Game over. This is only to attempt to get a recruit to visit to give you consideration.

OFFENSIVE HOT BOARD

GOAL:

- Need major help at the QB position.

-To get more playmakers as possible on the edges at WR.

-Need punishing backs to open up the passing game.

- To continue to add depth at Offensive Line which was a huge weakness last year. Last cycle was a success, need to continue to build upon that.



QB Isaac Turner 6’4” 195 Glenn Allen, VA
#6 QB, 86th Overall
Why I want: He’s appears to be a talent. Decent Sparq Rating and a live arm. Isnt the mobile guy I’m used to, but I’ve had some success with Pro Style passers in recent years.



QB B.J. McDaniel 6’4” 223 Green Haven, MD
#9 QB, 166th Overall
Why I want: He fits the offense. Normally, we are a run first team. He’s a Dual Threat QB with great size. Will allow us to add another dimension to the run game with his athletic ability.



RB Kiry Bollman 5’11” 194 Denham Springs, LA
#4 RB, 26th Overall
Why I want: Average speed with his 4.5 Range but he seems as if he will be a big back and grow more into his frame. And that’s what I need this class. A hard physical runner. He’s one of the strongest backs in this class, and the second highest squat max for running backs.



RB Jardai Slaughter 6’0” 193 Winter Garden, FL
#6 RB, #44 Overall

Why I want: A strong back with average speed. Could grow into a bigger back with his Bench Press and Squat measurables. He has the second strongest bench press in the class at RB. Has one of the higher Sparq ratings of any running back also.



WR Orbit Jackson 6’0” 200 Bay City, TX
#1 WR, #3 Overall
Why I want: Sparq rating through the roof. 4.40 Speed. Could add to an elite corps that we currently have at FSU. Could fit in either the slot or outside.



WR Sytavious Graham 5’6” 183 Belle Glade, FL
#13 WR, #53 Overall
Why I want: Electric athlete. Can fit in the return game and short game I impletment with the offense. Never can have enough playmakers In space. Could also play Running Back.



WR Chris Brown 6’4” 212 Okeechobeee, FL
#14 WR, #55 Overall
Why I want: Big bodied WR. The current Freshman I have right now are 6’3 210, 6’3” 195 and 6’1”205. Adding another big body would be great for the passing game and with his listed 4.36 gives us another vertical threat down field with that size.



WR Tso Cyrus 6’4” 207 Morton, MS
#18 WR , #94 Overall
Why I want: Another big body that would fit in the offense. He is listed at running a 4.68 so A big body possession guy would compliment the speed we have around him.



TE Tyler Bailey 6’4” 231 Jacksonville, FL
#14 TE, #182 Overall
Why I want: Has the body type for the TE/H-Back that fits our offense. Great Sparq rating for the role.


TE Oliver Whitehead 6’3” 252 Monroe, LA
#23 TE, #376 Overall
Why I want: Low Risk option at H-Back. The preferred is Bailey, but Whiteheads measurables matched with his interest level gives us an opportunity to possibly steal a gem without maxing resources.




T Fred Miller 6’6” 315 Council Bluffs, IA
#4 T , #73 Overall
Why I want: Very good Sparq Rating for a Tackle. Above Average 40 time for a Lineman at 4.8 and one of the strongest Tackles in the class. Must continue to build OL Depth.



T Aaron Tyson 6’5” 330 Ft. Meade, FL
#12 T , #246 Overall
Why I want: I’ve had a lot of success switching High School Tackles to the interior. A Strong kid with a very good Bench Press and Squat and an average 40 time(5.14), leads me to believe he would be a heck of an interior lineman. Especially with his size.



T Alfred Stone 6’5” 275 Bedford, OH
#15 T , 303 Overall
Why I want: A perfect project. Obviously needs to gain weight to be successful a this level, but great height and a good 40 time running a 4.7 leads me to believe he has the feet to eventually be a good Tackle. Extremely strong bench press. Could be one that works out in the long run if I can land him.


G Donnell Cox 6’4” 340 St. Louis Park, MN
#1 G, #6 Overall
Why I want: A Cant miss interior prospect. At 340 pounds he runs a 4.7. Sparq rating out the roof for an interior lineman. Going to be tough to nab his signature but he’s definitely one to work for.



G Marcus Nicholson 6’6” 315 Casselberry, FL
#4 Guard, #143 Overall
Why I want: Who wouldn’t want a 6’6” interior lineman who runs a 4.7? Sparq rating is average but could be one that ends up being very good down the line. With his athletic ability could possibly play Tackle also.



G Anthony Branch 6’5” 340 Woodland Park, CO
#9 Guard, #239 Overall
Why I want: Massive interior lineman that appears to be a road grader. Above average Sparq rating for a lineman. Decent 40 time for a guy his size at 4.92.



C Dandre McIntyre 6’6” 330 Seneca, SC
#3 C, #105 Overall
Why I want: A massive center prospect. Bigger and better is the OL philosophy and he fits the mold.

DEFENSIVE HOTBOARD

Spoiler

This one gets a bit more tricky and meticulous. I need SPECIFIC players for this defense to thrive. This takes a bit more thought and strategy to get the right players and put them in the right spots for the defense to thrive. One bad move , or miss on a prospect can honestly be disastrous. I do a ton of cross recruiting, (i.e. DEs to play OLB, DTs to play DE, etc)

GOAL:

-To Get Bigger in the front seven especially DL. Odd Fronts are a must that we get bigger to free up the athletes to make plays in space.

- Get better at pass rushing. We currently do not have an Elite Pass rusher. Last cycle we recruited possibly the best pass rusher in the cycle in Kenyatta Bimbo, must continue to get top tier pass rushers with the type of elite passing talent in the ACC today.

-Get more athletic: in this defense, with the bigger the DL freeing up the athletes, we must make sure we have the athletes on the backend to make plays in space. We got better last cycle, but must continue to stockpile there. Injuries and suspensions currently can hurt if we do not.

-Improve the ‘Ace’ Position. Currently the Ace position is our weakpoint. We HAVE to get more athletic there. We recruited Four-Star Colton Hathaway last cycle, which was a very good start. But in order for this defense to take off we need more talent at that position.

-Recruit the “Bandit” Position. The Bandit position was very thin. It requires an athlete to be good at pass rushing but also in coverage. Without the transfer addition of Akeem Austin the Bandit position would have been in dire straits. And Austin only has 1 year to play 1. Its important to recruit well there.

-“Hawk” requires more depth. Bihadda Maddox is the current starter at Hawk as a Freshman and its one of the more important roles on the Defense. Must get more talent at that area.

Roles for this Defense:

Spoiler

DE: Gap control in most instances. Need penetrating lineman who can command doubles and hold blocks for the athletes behind them.

DT: Space Eater/Penetrator in most cases.

Bandit: Middle Linebacker/OLB Hybrid. Needs to be good tackler in space but adequate at pass rushing. Must play very well in space.

Mike: Middle Linebacker. Must have the athleticsm to move sideline to sideline in a hurry.

Spud: Pass Rushing Specialist. Can also drop into coverage. Playing well in space is a must for this position.

(If either the Bandit/Spud are not good in space can put a huge handicap on the scheme)

Cornerback: Your typical lockdown corner on the outside.

Hawk: Typically your Nickelback. But a very pivotal position in the 3-3-5 as hes the anchor to most sets. Must be able to equally cover and support the run equally as good.

Ace: In most defenses the Ace is your strong safety or 4th DB in your dime sets, however the Ace does most of the coverage responsibilities and must be able to match up man to man in the slot. Supports the Bandit/Spud and can help “cover up” the Bandit or Spud deficiencies in coverage.

Free: Your typical roaming Free Safety but like all Safeties now must be able to match up in Man coverage.

DE Marvin Dickerson 6’8” 260 Verona, MS
#10 DE , #146 Overall
Why I want: Bigger DE. Can play Inside or out, depending on the situation.
The Plan: If we can land him, he would be a perfect fit on the defensive line as he could play both End spots and possibly NT on passing downs.



DE George Phillips 6’6” 267 Leesburg, FL
#11 DE, #155 Overall
Why I want: I'm in love with this guy. Big defensive end, listed as a guy that can run a 4.62. has the potential to Be a pretty good pass rusher and also has a good Sparq rating.
The Plan: Possibly could play the Spud position. His athletic ability actually allows him to be able to play a few spots on the Defense. I absolutely love versatile guys with size. But his ceiling appears to be getting after the passer.


DE Ron McTaggart 6’7” 242 Soddy-Daisy, TN
#12 DE, #175 Overall
Why I want: A big DE that can grow even more into his body. A prototypical odd front defensive lineman
The Plan: He looks to be purely a DE in this system. He isn’t versatile like Phillips but doesn’t need to be. His size fits into exactly what we need.


DE Terrence Manson 6’5” 260 Brent, FL
#17 DE , #238 Overall
Why I want: Great sized gap filler. Underwhelming 40 time at 5.02, but has impressive Bench and Squat numbers.
The Plan: Stricly DE. Could definitely be a great gap control/penetrating DE. Fits into exactly what we need.


DT David McNeil-Days 6’5” 345 Ravenna, OH
#1 DT , #8 Overall
Why I want: I need a good 0 Technique NT this cycle. Doesn’t get much better than this guy. Almost 350 and runs a 4.56? Great Sparq rating to boot.
The Plan: Hes basically plug and play. He could play early and often at the NT spot.


DT Josh Shelton 6’6” 310 Uniontown, PA
#11 DT, #165 Overall
Why I want: Hes a big guy, but not NT material. Really believe he would be one heck of a DE in this defense.
The Plan: I would immediately move him to DE. In a even front defense, he would be a 3 Tech DT, which in my opinion makes him a good fit for a 5 technique DE for our defense.


DT Derrick McMillan 6’3” 334 Lehigh Acres, FL
#15 DT, #237 Overall
Why I want: Big bodies Nose Tackle. We have an immediate need for Nose Tackles this cycle.
The Plan: May need a year or so to develop, but he is what we need in a 0 tech Nose Tackle.


OLB Zel’arius Wilson 6’5” 227 Socorro, TX
#6 OLB, #120 Overall
Why I want: The perfect Hybrid Linebacker. Great Sparq rating, 4.56/40..and perfect size to boot. Is a good coverage Linebacker.
The Plan: Would be a perfect fit for the Bandit spot. Has all the tools you look for in that spot.


OLB Rashaun Britton 6’5” 230 Poteau, OK
#10 OLB , 190 Overall
Why I want: Could play Mike or Bandit. He’s a hitter, but not only limited to downhill plays. Good sparq rating. Great Size.
The Plan: I believe Mike would be the best landing spot for him. Hes strong and athletic. But also appears to be able to play Bandit also. Once again versatility is a plus.


OLB Jarome Alvarez 6’5” 243 Marathon, FL
#20 OLB, #350 Overall

Why I want: This guy has gem written all over him. 4.56 /40 at his size, and an average Sparq rating. Could be beneficial to us at some point with those attributes.
The Plan: Spud. He has the tools to be an elite pass rusher. And we need those badly. Although hes just a 3 star he is one I will go very hard after.



MLB Dan Adams 6’4” 248 Patterson, LA

#5 MLB, #106 Overall

Why I want: Old school down hill hitting Linebacker. You need those from time to time. However, its possible he could move to Spud due to his below average 40 time. He’s big, strong, and likes to hit.
The Plan: Other than this 40 time, he has the ability to play all 3 LB spots. His 40 time may not allow him to play sideline to sideline that you need from your MLB, but his Sparq shows hes athletic. Which means Spud would be a good fit for him if that’s the case.



MLB Rasheed Bryant 6’3” 235 Manassas, VA
#8 MLB, #188 Overall
Why I want: Another old school MLB. Great Size, likes to play downhill and hit.
The Plan: He doesn’t appear as versatile as Adams, but we have a need for a MLB this cycle and he is just that.

ATH Luron Dixon 6'1" 180 Toccoa, GA

#1 ATH, #4 Overall
Why I want: He is an elite Athlete with one of the top Sparq ratings in the class.
The Plan: He's listed as an athlete and he will be used either at Free, Hawk, or Ace in the secondary. Will see the field early and often.


CB Ja’Carius Kidd 6’2 210 Ft. Meyers , FL
#1 CB , #1 Overall
Why I want: He’s a difference maker. Point Blank Period. His brother who is Georgia Tech’s all time leading WR in just 3 years there ( Coach Cameel Verners former team) and is now tearing it up in the NFL. His brother is just as talented, but at Cornerback instead of WR.
The Plan: To get him on the field immediately. He literally could play all 5 DB spots.

CB Kourtney Dunn 6'0" 195 Miami, FL
#7 CB , #128 Overall
Why I want: Great athlete with a great Sparq Rating. Runs in the 4.38 range. The more athletes in the backend the better.
The Plan: The plan is to move him either to Free, or Ace. Also a possibility of playing Hawk as well. Very versatile DB.

S Jonathan Stephens 6’3” 220 Sparta, TN
#5 S, #151 Overall
Why I want: He’s the definition of an athlete even though hes a safety. He has a great Sparq Rating, 4.5 speed for a guy a 6’3” 220 is darned good also.
The Plan: When I added him to the board, my initial thought process was he would be one heck of a Bandit. So its possible he could be moved to Bandit.


S Reggie Guerrero 6’1” 190 Jupiter, FL

#6 S , #132 Overall
Why I want: Versatility. He’s a 4.38 guy, Great Sparq Rating. Love a versatile secondary that can be cross trained.
The Plan: He can play Safety, Hawk or Ace. And currently we have a dire need for all 3.


S Jose Rodruiguez 6’0” 211 Boca Raton, FL
#8 S, #224 Overall
Why I want: Versatility. Big Time Athlete. Need a secondary like him on the back end.
The Plan: Ace will probably be best suited for him to play. He also could play Safety also. But if we get him Ace would be the best spot for him.


S Mike Hill 6’1” 190 El Paso, TX
#10 S, #305 Overall
Why I want: We have a need for a Hawk and Ace. He has the ability to play both.
The Plan: Probably will start him out at Hawk. I like his athletic ability and size. Wont be a day 1 starter but I like him in the future.

[0rangez4u]

HALL OF FAMER DEION SANDERS WILL UNRETIRE NUMBER FOR NATIONS #1 RECRUIT

The number 2 has been retired, and hasn’t been worn at Florida State since 1995. The most memorable person to wear it? Deion Sanders.



The nation's number one prospect is set to visit FSU this weekend vs #9 West Virginia. That prospect is Cornerback Ja’Carius Kidd. He is the little brother of former Georgia Tech standout, and also a former number one overall prospect Aldarius Kidd. Current FSU Coach Cameel Verner was head Coach at Georgia Tech from 2015 to 2027 where he won 6 National Champioinships before being hired as head coach at FSU. He recruited Aldarius Kidd(6’2”, 225) to Georgia Tech who became the leading receiver in school history while he was there. 367 Catches 5158 yards IN 3 YEARS (Yikes!). He went on to get drafted first overall to the Steelers, has over 100 catches in each of his first four years in the NFL. He has also made the Pro Bowl all 4 years hes been in the NFL and just became the highest paid receiver in NFL History. Now, Ja’Carius plans to follow in his brother’s footsteps.



Ja’Carius who plays Cornerback instead of Receiver, is a physical specimen at 6’2” 210, has been clocked at 4.33 at the NIKE SPARQ event. Former FSU great Deion Sanders had a lot of positive things to say about the younger Kidd who he knows very well.



“I’ve watched him grow up. He’s from my hometown in Fort Meyers. I’ve seen both the Kidd brothers grow up. They are special special talents. Aldarius is just in another dimension right now as far as being a receiver goes, but I tell you what, that young one? Man, he’s the real deal. And I’d like to think I know a thing or two about that position. And Ja’Carius, he has it man. I’m here to tell you. He can wear Primetime if he decides to pick the good guys. You heard it here first” said Deion Sanders.



The Seminoles get their first shot at the talented defender who visits officially this weekend.

[0rangez4u]

GAME RECAP:

Spoiler

FSU FALLS TO #9 WEST VIRGINIA


WEST VIRGINIA 48, FLORIDA STATE 43

Ok first off, this game proved a couple of things. First thing,yes, the defense gave up 48 points, but it also forced 5 turnovers or so. Including 4 from the Nations best Quarterback(And yes, hes good, hes VERY good). The offense still sputtered at TIMES, and couldnt make the necessary plays when it needed them. WVU controlled the entire game, but my squad really competed. It shows we really can contribute at a very high level. We just have to put all the peices together.



WVU Quarterback and likely #1 NFL Draft Pick Melvin McCoy

West Virginia has a HELL of a tandum with Quarterback Melvin McCoy and WR Reggie Townsend. They gave us hell the entire night. They are going to be very good at the next level. The running back is good too, but I believe he benefited from a gassed defense at the end. We just really do not have the depth yet.

GOOD THINGS

I saw a few good things from our team. First, the team competes. Last year we got blew out by a few teams like WVU and they actually have a few first or second round guys on their team. So that was the iron lining so to speak.



QB Sarderrious Minter is the real deal. He was the #3 overall ranked player coming out of High School and the #1 Athlete. He could have played SEVERAL positions coming into college, but due to lack of depth at QB, he was moved to QB. And boy he had a career game at WVU. He has somethings to clean up mechanically, and to improve his accuracy. But let's face it, for a guy that practically played every position in high school and never left the feel, that much is understandable. But even so he still was able to throw for 398 yards, 6 Touchdowns and added another 136 yards on the ground. In one game against an elite opponent, he possibly showcased the best QB performance to date in the Cameel Verner coaching era. With more reps he can go no where but up.

DB Andrew Green stepped in at the Hawk and played lights out. For a Redshirt Senior that has played minimal snaps his entire career, he had a heck of a game. It's unclear how long DB Bihadda Maddox will be out with his suspension due to violation of NCAA Rules, but it appears Green is ready to fill the void for the time being.

The Defense has the potential to be very, very good...to scary good. They still have some spots on Defense they need to get better at. That much is clear. But they are light years better than last season. It will be key to see after seeing the barometer that WVU sets with its offensive explosion the changes FSU makes to get FSU to that elite status.

THE BAD

Giving up 43 points is never a good sign. FSU gave up a couple of long runs toward the end of the game that put the game out of reach. Run defense has to be a key area of concern and improvement if FSU wants to reach an upper echelon status.

The offensive line? They gave up 6 sacks, Minter was pressured alot, but it mostly came from the interior. The starting Right Guard Alex Benson has struggled mightily the first 2 games of the season. The OL had a ton of holding calls and pre snap penalties. They must get that cleaned up moving forward. However, Freshman Derique Smith played well in place of suspended Freshman Bob Martin at Right Tackle.


After one quarter of play Townsend has 102 yards vs the Defense

The Secondary They got torched. But it was mostly a one man show. Reggie Townsend had almost 200 yards of the 365 passing yards that the secondary gave up. They didnt have any blown assignments, but in order for them to move to the elite level they strive for, they cannot let one person rack up the yards like that. He's an elite WR but elite defenses have to find ways of slowing players like that down in order to win football games.

The Running Game
At one point, the running game was completely non-existent. Gaither still running hard as ever really didnt get much of a push from the offensive line all game long. He broke a few runs but wasnt nearly his normal offensive output. Teams will definitely stack the box now-adays with a Freshman under center, but the line still has to block the first level better than they did.

BOX SCORE

Spoiler

West Virginia Mountaineers at Florida State Seminoles
Sep 7, 2029 1 2 3 4 F #9 WVU (0-0) 7 14 21 6 48 #20 FSU (1-0) 7 10 13 13 43 Top Performers PASS: Sarderrious Minter - FSU - 16/33 398 yards 6 TDs, 136 RUSH RUSH: Melvin McCoy - WVU - 29/41 365 yards 3 TDs , 4 Int REC: Larry Townsend - WVU - 11 Catches 191 yards 1 TD	Team Stats Comparison WVU FSU First Downs 24 21 3rd Down Efficiency 61% 47% 4th Down Efficiency 0-0 2-3 Total Yards 695 873 Passing Yards 365 398 Rushing Yards 326 253 Penalties-Penalty Yards 4-43 4-30 Turnovers 4 2 Time of Possession 30:40 29:20
Scoring Summary
West Virginia Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Melvin McCoy 29/41 365 3 4 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Marcus Harris 20 287 14.3 3 Sean Horn 4 36 9.0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Larry Townsend 11 191 17.3 1 Terrence Stegall 5 51 10.2 J. King 4 56 14.0 1 M. Harris 3 12 4.0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Bruce Davis 10 2.0 R. Jackson 12 R. Clay 9 D. Sullivan 5 D. Scott 6 2.0 T. Cronin 4 2.0 Florida State Seminoles PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Sarderrious Minter 16/33 398 6 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Kartrelle Gaither 21 95 4.5 Sarderrious Minter 11 136 12.3 Zaleel Hamby 5 18 3.6 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jamar Reid 5 197 39.4 2 Zaleel Hamby 4 53 13.2 1 Barcelo WIlliams 3 50 16.6 2 Kennard Thomas 2 75 37.5 1 D. Davis 1 15 15.0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Judah Jackson 12 Rashad McCullough 12 1.0 Kyle Moore 12 1.0 Detaro Levine 10 Sapomo Ontagwu 10 2 Akeem Austin 3 1.0 Austin Seay 2 1.0

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WEEK 3

NEXT UP:

12:00 Noon/ET ESPNU

Memphis comes to Tallahassee 0-1 after losing its opening contest to Hawaii 45-21. They still pose a threat however. They have to go up against another good Quarterback in the Conference. Redshirt Junior QB A'Kannis Ashley (6'6" 215) threw for 342 yards and 3 TDs in the loss to Hawaii last week.

Memphis also boasts one of the bigger receiving corps in the ACC with all WRs over 6'0 tall, including two at 6'5".

Defensively is where Memphis is projected to struggle and where they had isuses last week. They lost 9 of their 11 starters on Defense last season. They are led by the two returning starters, All-Conference CB Nick Johnson and DE Carlton Yates.

Keys to Victory:
Expose the weak front line of the Memphis Defense. Their weakness is the interior line, which bodes in the favor of FSU's physical run game.

Secondary is undersized and in-experienced. Outside of Nick Johnson the entire secondary is getting their feet wet this season.

INJURIES
LT Kevin Lewis - Quadricep Strain 1 Week

The Offensive Line gets another hit this week. Starting RT Bob Martin is currently serving a 3 game suspension for violation of team rules. Now Redshirt Freshman LT Kevin Lewis has been ruled out in Week 3 vs Memphis with a strained Quad. Freshman T Derique Smith filled in for Bob Martin's suspension last week vs West Virginia, and did an admirable job not allowing a single sack. Smith is listed on the Depth Chart as the backup Left Tackle, but was shifted to Right Tackle to fill the void of Martin's suspension. Now with Lewis being out, its uncertain if he will move back to Left Tackle, or stay at Right Tackle. Whats even more unsure is who fill the opposite Tackle spot. With Martin being suspended, the only other listed Tackles on the roster is Redshirt Sophmore Dustin Sanders, who has limited playing time in his collegiate career. Marcus Black, the highly touted Four-Star recruit Freshman is Redshirting this season. Senior, Chris Merrick who has played Guard the first two games this season could move back to Tackle where he played all 14 games last year. If that's the case, one of the two Four-Star Freshman guards will make their first appearance of the year in Sanderson Hall and Jordan Craft, as they are the listed back-ups behind Merrick. Will be interesting to see how FSU adjusts.

RECRUITING



FSU got two surprise commitments after the loss vs West Virginia. The #1 Overall recruit in the country, DB Ja'Carius Kidd (6'2" , 210) committed to Florida State.



Kidd is the brother of former Georgia Tech standout Aldarius Kidd who is now a 4 time Pro Bowler in his first 4 years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aldarius was also a #1 overall prospect coming out of High School as a WR when he committed to Coach Verner and the Yellow Jackets. Now the younger Kidd is following in those same footsteps.

"I've been around Coach Verner since I was maybe 10 or so back when he first started recruiting my brother. So I feel very comfortable with him. I've seen first hand what he does with defense and I know he will have me ready to roll. I'm just ready to finally play for him." Said Ja'Carius Kidd. Oh and he made sure he wanted to make one final announcment to the Seminole Nation.

"I definately will be wearing number 2." He said with a laugh "Deion is like an uncle to me. I'm honored he will un-retire that legendary number for me. "

Ironically, the last time it was worn, Ja'Carius wasnt even born. 1995 was the last time a Seminole donned the #2 jersey. Looks like in 2030, it will finally be re-debuted.

The Second Committment of the day came from the #8 overall player in the country, DT David McNeil-Days (6'5", 345). McNeil-Days is a big Nose Tackle that FSU desperately needed this class. It came as a shocker, as it appeared he was a heavy Ohio State lean.

"After seeing the first two weeks, I can really see myself in that defense causing havoc and making it easier for the guys around me. I cant wait to get there" Said McNeil-Days.

The two five-stars are the first two commitments in the 2030 class.

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GAME RECAP

Spoiler

What an up and down affair emotionally. We came out charged, focused and primed to really finally showcase the talent we really have. Then things sputtered out of control. Is it due to Quality offensive play? Or bad defense? I’m not sure. We continue to force a great deal of turnovers, but once the opposing team gets rolling its hard to stop them. It honestly feels like a Jekyl and Hyde type situation. The Defense will play lights out for a few series then go AWOL on the next and give up 6. And its rinse and repeat. We have no sense of consistency. And it’s a common theme. The last spurt of consistency that was showed was vs Maryland for the last 3 quarter of the game. After that, consistency has been completely absent. We have to find a way to get consistent defensively if we want to come out the ACC on top this season.

THE GOOD

The offense scored, and scored a lot. Outside of the pick 6 on Defense, the offense mustered another 40 plus point performance. Freshman QB Sarderrious Minter is the obvious difference maker here. He makes plays when there clearly are none. He may play the Quarterback positon but he’s literally a Linebacker and Running Back that is a threat as soon as he tucks the ball. He looks for punishment and has no intentions of sliding. With his physique its hard to really call it a “bad idea” seeing he isn’t your typical Quarterback behind Center.

The Defense is stingy…when it wants to be

The Defense racked up another multi-interception game, with Detaro Levine leading the way with two interceptions. Once the defense is able to finally clamp down and not allow opposing offenses to get in a rhythm and march down the field on occasions to score the defense can finally make that leap from Good to Elite. But currently the past two games they have given up entirely too many points. Freshman DL Zaveri O’Born is a monster. He was moved from DT to DE where there was no drop off in production from him. He finished the game with 1.5 sacks.



THE BAD

The Defense. The defense while being very good at creating takeaways, has not been very good at consistently keeping opponents off the scoreboard. While Memphis boasts a very, very good Quarterback who definitely has an NFL future, they gave up 27 points to a clearly inferior team. The Noles gave up another big performance on the ground also. Memphis RB Steve Shelby had 24 carries for 165 yards, a week after the Noles gave up over 200 yards on the ground. So far this season the Noles have one of the worst rushing defenses in the country. They must clean that up if they plan on making a run for an ACC title this season.

Notable Changes:

There were a lot of notable changes to FSU's Defense this week vs Memphis. Not sure if those changes will continue for the coming weeks. Firstly, CB Tyler Gardner started at "Ace" (Strong Safety) this week in favor of veteran DB Kyle Moore. The Coaches believed that Gardner's coverage ability and speed would help them in passing situations, and early on it proved to be right as he opened the game with a Pick 6.

DT Zaveri O'Born who started the first two games of the season at NT, started this game at DE, while Freshman DT Angelo Jackson got his first start of the season at NT. O'Born finished the game with 1.5 sacks on the night.

On the offensive line, with the suspension of OT Bob Martin, and the injury to Kevin Lewis, T Derique Smith started at Left Tackle (he started at RT last week) and Chris Merrick moved from LG to RT. Sanderson Hall got his first start as a Seminole at Left Guard.

Changes:
CB Tyler Garnder - Ace (previous starter S Kyle Moore)
DT Zaveri O'Borne - DE ( previous starter DE Aransu Seay)
DT Angelo Jackson - NT (previous starter DT Zaveri O'Born)
OT Derique Smith - LT (Kevin Lewis - Injured)
OG Chris Merrick moved from LG to RT
OG Sanderson Hall started at LG (RT Bob Martin suspended)

Box Score

Spoiler

Memphis Tigers at Florida State Seminoles
Sep 18, 2029 1 2 3 4 F MEM (0-2) 0 14 6 7 27 #24 FSU (2-1) 10 12 7 17 56 Top Performers PASS: Sarderrious Minter - FSU - 16/33 287 2 TD RUSH: Steve Shelby - MEM - 24 Car 165 yards REC: Jamar Reid - FSU - 5 catches 86 yards 1 TD	Team Stats Comparison MEM FSU First Downs 12 19 3rd Down Efficiency 34% 47% 4th Down Efficiency 0-0 1-2 Total Yards 492 675 Passing Yards 249 287 Rushing Yards 187 267 Penalties-Penalty Yards 4-45 5-60 Turnovers 5 2 Time of Possession
Scoring Summary
Memphis Tigers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT A'Kannis Ashley 24/40 249 3 4 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Steve Shelby 24 165 6.8 Alex Herron 6 15 2.5 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jason Horne 8 65 8.1 E. Houston 6 76 15.2 1 Steve Shelby 4 29 7.2 1 C. Edwards 3 20 6.6 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD R. Lawson 7 W. James 8 1 J. Reed 8 1.0 Florida State Seminoles PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Sarderrious Minter 16/33 287 2 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Sarderrious Minter 13 160 12.3 2 Kartrelle Gaither 21 77 3.6 1 Zaleel Hamby 7 13 1.8 Gus Matthews 2 17 8.5 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jamar Reid 5 86 17.2 1 Carmelo Clancy 3 35 11.6 Kennard Thomas 2 75 36,5 1 Benito Tipton 2 42 21.0 D. Davis 2 36 18.0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Judah Jackson 16 Detaro Levine 8 C. Landrum 8 2.5 Tyler Gardner 10 1 1 Sapomo Onwtagwu 7 Zaveri O'Born 5 1.5 Angelo Jackson 5 1.0

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