A revealing study on the Coaching Search.com site shows the Noles offense operates at a slower pace than the national average: 65 plays per game vs. 71. And would you believe FSU is tied with Miami for last in the ACC? No surprise that Clemson is first in snaps per game with 78, but who would've guessed that N.C. State is running ten more than the Noles?
Of course, it's not just the number of plays a team runs but how productive it is with those plays. Alabama and LSU both average the same as FSU. And the gators get off only 62 plays per game. Which probably has a lot to do with the SEC being last among all major conferences in play calls.
The speediest conference in play calling? It's the Big 12 where teams are obviously doing very little huddling as they average 74.
EJ Manuel appears to be in strong consideration for the starting QB job at Buffalo in his rookie season. Speaking on Sirius/XM, EJ had an eye-opening perspective on Coach Fisher's playbook versus what he's studying at his new team.
"The funny thing is it's easier to learn than the offense I had at Florida State. It's a true West Coast-type progression offense. That's really what I wanted when I was coming through the pre-draft process. I wanted something that I could just go in and say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, check it down and run it. That's it, it's that simple. I love it."
"The learning curve for me is a lot shorter simply because of what I had at Florida State. [The Seminoles' offense is] more complex and a little bit harder to catch on and learn. This offense is very simple. I've done a great job with it."
Here's the final installment of the long running series answering burning questions about spring's most pressing problems.
#1 Who takes over at right tackle?
by Lilburn Nole
It looks like what was the easiest answer coming into spring may be the right answer. Bobby Hart, who started the last 9 games in 2011 at tackle for the Noles, stepped up and took the RT position from start to finish this spring. Hart struggled in 2012 after not taking advantage of his opportunity last year and being a little lackadaisical in his preparation and in the weight room. The work this offseason showed that he had a renewed since of purpose and was busting it in the weight room to get better. It seems like this was the case as Hart made what could have been a messy situation in moving players around into a seamless one. Rick Trickett likes to crosstrain his players at different positions in case of injuries, etc., so Bryan Stork and others also saw time at right tackle, but Hart heads into the fall as the number one guy on the right side of the line.
If Hart is able to hang on to that position for Florida State it is big news in that it solidifies the four returning starters in their familiar positions. Cameron Erving (LT), Tre Jackson (RT), and Bryan Stork (C): all were 2nd Team All-ACC last year, and Josue Matias had an excellent season as well. If Hart is able to live up to his high billing that he had out of high school in his Junior season, it could mean Florida State having one of the better offensive lines in the country.