Florida State fans got a taste of the upcoming football season on Saturday when the Seminoles held their annual spring game. The players were split into two teams: the Garnet and the Gold. A final score of 38-17 in favor of the Gold prompted some very quick — too quick really — reactions from fans that were a little disappointed with various players. Some more important parts from the contest can be read about in our recap article, including the optimistic development that true freshmen might be some of the best players for the year.
After reviewing the spring game, there were a few recurring patterns that became clear. Some of these patterns were positive, and give hope for what should be an interesting season. Others were…less than encouraging. It is only a spring game, so expectations need to be lowered and developments need to be taken lightly at this point. Nevertheless, there are a number of things that can be taken away from Saturday’s intrasquad contest.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – APRIL 11: Sean Maguire #10 of the Garnet team drops back to pass against the Gold team during Florida State’s Garnet and Gold spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium on April 11, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
1. QB situation got a little bit murkier
No, this does not mean that Sean Maguire has lost his presumed starter spot. It was not an absolutely catastrophic performance that shook the coaches’ faith in his leadership. It was simply a decent showing that allowed a couple other quarterbacks to narrow the gap.
Maguire finished the day 22 of 44 passing with 289 yards and two interceptions. At face value it looks like his performance was sluggish, but it should be noted that he helped drive the offense down the field three times for what amounted to 17 points. Dalvin Cook punched it in twice near the end zone and Roberto Aguayo showed once again why he is the best college kicker in the land.
Both touchdown drives would have stalled if not for Maguire making good passes and keeping them chugging along. He definitely started slow as Derwin James returned an interception 41 yards for a score on the second play of the game, but as he got into a rhythm, he looked much more like the Maguire we’ve heard about in camp. He was especially impressive on the deep throws, hitting Ja’Vonn Harrison and Jesus Wilson in stride on two huge plays. The one to Harrison streaking down the right sideline was reminiscent of another pass we know Maguire for.
But there is still a reason that many clamored for another quarterback. Maguire didn’t handle pressure well at all, often forgetting all the necessary mechanics and just letting loose. It also didn’t help that redshirt freshman J.J. Cosentino and early enrollee De’Andre Johnson each had good games of their own, combining for three touchdowns and over 300 yards passing. It’s important to keep in mind however that Johnson and Cosentino were facing second and third stringers that could make a lot of quarterbacks look good, while Maguire was going up against starters and rotational guys.
As referenced before, this one game did not make Sean lose his spot. Bud Elliot of Tomahawk Nation made sure to point out that the team has had three scrimmages with this one being the only one the fans get to see. Head coach Jimbo Fisher would’ve made a change if he truly believed that Maguire was not better than his competitors. But we can still appreciate the fact that the battle is still going on and if Cosentino or even Johnson can impress from here on out, there will be a discussion to be had.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – APRIL 11: Ermon Lee #1 of the Gold team is pursued by Malique Jackson #28 of the Garnet team during Florida State’s Garnet and Gold spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium on April 11, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
2. Wide receiver situation for next year is fine
If there’s one position other than running back that fans can rest easy about, it’s wide receiver. FSU already has Ermon Lane, Travis Rudolph, and Jesus Wilson back for next year, with both Lane and Wilson having impressive outings at the game. Rudolph had a more quiet game, but once again it was only one scrimmage.
Thankfully the talent doesn’t end there. Sophomore Ja’Vonn Harrison came onto the scene with 94 yards on five catches after getting a chance to start, while true freshman George Campbell racked up 99 yards on two catches with a touchdown. Campbell’s touchdown was especially impressive considering he broke two tackles and streaked down the sideline for a score.
It has long been known that Campbell has the ability to be a superstar, and Fisher has talked about Harrison’s potential for a while. The fact that both of them came through in the spring game is yet another reminder that this team quite obviously has the talent to win every game. The experience is what is needed to see championships.
Some questions still linger over the group, mainly surrounding guys like Lane and Wilson. Can Wilson avoid a second-half slump like he did last season? Will Ermon have a decreased role in the offense with the emergence of Harrison? Will either reach the full potential that was evident when they first came to FSU? The spring game helped show that they certainly have the ability to. Whether or not that actually comes to fruition will be discovered later.
3. Pass-rush was almost non-existent
The injuries to FSU’s defense meant that the planned first team could not all be there and participate. It certainly looked to contribute to the lack of a pass-rush on Saturday, but it still doesn’t fully explain why FSU’s line couldn’t get much push at all.
One of the 2014 team’s biggest negatives was that it could not generate pressure on the quarterback consistently. Players like Demarcus Walker and Lorenzo Featherston showed potential, but they were still young. Mario Edwards Jr. failed to ever put up the sack numbers that some had hoped, but he’s off to the NFL Draft. The fact of the matter is that on Saturday, the offensive lines for both teams were giving the quarterback days to throw despite previously having seen very little playing time.
The bright spots from an injury-stricken defense were Featherston and camp surprise Rick Leonard. Leonard actually shared the defensive MVP of spring award with Walker, a player who can hopefully improve the FSU pass-rush for the upcoming season. With what looks to be a very young secondary, the Seminoles will need to find a way to improve when it comes to rushing the passer.
4. Secondary looked fine
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the spring game was the fact that the defensive secondary looked fine aside from a few missed tackles. True freshman Derwin James jump-started the performance with an interception return for touchdown on the second play of the game, and the rest never looked back.
Even with Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams gone, the starting pass defense performed admirably. Jalen Ramsey was the clear leader of the defense and overall playmaker throughout the game (even getting reps as a kick returner). He still has his absurd rip move that caused a fumble later in the game, and he was always near the tackle when it occurred if he wasn’t the one making it. Ramsey will be fun to watch this season as he looks to be a potential first round pick.
Trey Marshall was also stellar at the star position — Ramsey’s former spot. It’s unusual to see a player come right in and show good awareness at that spot, so Marshall’s performance is certainly encouraging for the future. He had already gotten some reps during the Georgia Tech game and showed that he could be a valuable player when the time comes. That time is now. Overall, it was a solid outing by the secondary.
