FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
2004 SPRING FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
By Rob Wilson
F
lorida State head coach Bobby Bowden is hoping for a productive spring session in 2004, but a large number of off-season surgeries will probably mean that full scrimmage opportunities will be few and far between. The practices will be particularly important for the defensive side of the football as Mickey Andrews and his staff must replace seven starters from the 2003 team. Offensively, the Seminoles’ only starters lost were senior tailback Greg Jones and junior wide receiver P.K. Sam, who left early for the NFL draft. “Overall, the first thing we want to accomplish in spring is to find out who is going to replace what you lost,” said Bowden who will be coaching his 29th spring practice beginning March 2nd. “Who’s going to move up to starting positions? The thing about spring training is you give everybody a pretty good shot to show where they belong. That’s the starting place every spring is to get our depth chart in order. This is the first team, this is second team, this is third team. So that’s our first goal. “Our situation is the complete opposite of what it was last spring, but the goal remains the same. Last year, we had everybody back on defense so you used the spring to develop depth there. Offensively, we were trying to replace practically the entire offensive line and Anquan Boldin among others. This year, we’ve got to find a lot of starters on defense, but it looks like your spring on offense will be mostly players trying to take someone’s position away. The good thing on defense is that we did play a lot of players last year and we’ve got a good idea of what they can do. Now, they must go out and win positions.” Complicating the effort to develop a solid first and second team coming out of spring is the fact that the Seminoles will be missing a number of key players due to injury. The offense will be without All-America tackle Alex Barron (shoulder surgery), All-America candidate wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe (leg fracture), starting center David Castillo (shoulder surgery), possible starting tailback Leon Washington (ankle surgery), wide receiver Willie Reid (ankle surgery) and fullback James Coleman (shoulder surgery). In addition, five players will miss at least the first half of spring practice with a medical evaluation scheduled following spring break to determine their status. They include: All-America candidate offensive tackle Ray Willis (shoulder scope), starting offensive guard Bobby Meeks (shoulder scope) and starting rover Jerome Carter (shoulder scope), potential starting wide receiver Chris Davis (ankle) and linebacker Ray Piquion (shoulder scope). “I said the same thing last year, but it’s true again — this is going to be a very thin spring because of injuries,” said Bowden. “It is getting to the point where nobody can field two teams and play a true spring game. So many of the players who are missing spring are either starters or pushing to be starters so it will be hard to get any continuity especially on the offensive side of the ball. “Our No. 1 priority is to determine who is going to replace the starter we lost. Then we will just focus on trying to get better as football players and as a football team. By that I mean stressing the fundamentals. Blocking, tackling, throwing, catching, running routes and defending. Use the time to make each player a better, more sound, football player.” In contrast to last season, the Florida State offense will be counted on to play in top form early in the season as young starters get a chance to develop
Craphonso Thorpe led the team in all receiving categories as a junior in 2003 and was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award. on defense. While it will not be apparent during spring, the FSU offensive line should be the backbone of an extremely talented unit. The Seminoles welcome back all five starting offensive linemen, including consensus AllAmerican Alex Barron and two-year starter Ray Willis who should also contend for All-America honors. Matt Meinrod started every game as a sophomore last year at guard , and Bobby Meeks and Ron Lunford shared playing time at the other guard position. FSU coaches used last season to develop depth on the line as well and true sophomore John Frady has proved his metal at center along with sophomore Mario Henderson who started the Orange Bowl at split tackle. Redshirt freshman David Overmyer will get his first real chance to show coaches he’s ready to play this spring, both Eric Broe and Matt Heinz could provide solid back-ups at guard if they can overcome injuries that sidelined them for most of last season. Senior Brian Ross missed all of last year after breaking his leg last spring, but he should be healthy and ready to compete at center in March. Lining up behind center will be Bobby Bowden’s first-ever four-year starter at quarterback in Chris Rix. The rising senior has a chance to set a number of Florida State passing records, and his ability to run and throw makes him one of the nation’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Consistent play will be what the coaches ask of the veteran during the spring and early part of next season. Only one scholarship player is listed behind Rix on the depth chart at quarterback and he is sophomore Wyatt Sexton. He impressed coaches last spring with his poise in the pocket and proved his arm strength during the fall, but he lacks game experience. While Greg Jones is gone along with his three years of starting experience at tailback, FSU coaches are very pleased with the performance of potential starters Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker. Walk-on Marlon Napier will be asked to carry a lot of the load in the spring with Washington out, but depth next fall must come from a talented group of incoming freshmen. Fullback looks very deep and strong as well although Orange Bowl starter James Coleman will miss spring with an injury. Junior B.J. Dean shared starting honors last year and is solid and coaches are pleased with junior Chad Canfield at the position. Sophomore Torrance Washington showed great promise as a true freshman in 2002 but missed all of last season with an injury. He will use the spring to make a case for playing time once again. The receiver position took an unexpected hit with the early departure of P.K. Sam to the NFL, but the good news for FSU fans is that All-America candidate Craphonso Thorpe’s rehabilitation of his fractured leg is right on schedule. He broke the leg in overtime against NC State and missed the Florida game and the Orange Bowl. A pair of seniors, Dominic Robinson and Chauncey Stovall, proved they could be counted on last season and will
INSIDE… 2004 Personnel Chart ................................. 2 2004 Rosters ................................................ 3 Head Coach Bobby Bowden ....................... 5 Assistant Coaches ....................................... 8 2004 Spring Bios ......................................... 9 2004 Signees .............................................. 15 2003 Final Statistics .................................. 18 Game-By-Game Review ........................... 22 1