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DE Moffett Still Recovering, But Returns To Practice

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By The Tampa Tribune | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - DE Neefy Moffett returned to practice Wednesday, but continues to recover from a hip injury suffered in the first quarter against Alabama. Moffett joins two other defensive lineman, NG Budd Thacker (toe) and DT Andre Fluellen (elbow), as players listed questionable for Saturday's game against N.C. State.

"It's real stiff right now, but it's been loosening up," Moffett said. "I'm going Saturday and I'm going to give them all I can. I'm not going to be able to play a whole game, but I'll be able to come in and give them relief when they need relief."

FSU is already considerably thin at defensive end, especially on the left side, with sophomore Kevin McNeil still unable to play due to his involvement in an academic fraud investigation. Moffett is tied with LB Geno Hayes for a team-best five tackles for loss.

Thacker also returned to practice Wednesday, participating in individual drills and worked some with the scout team, but admitted his dislocated toe was still bothering him.

"I got in about a half of practice," Thacker said. "We were doing some angle steps and I was having trouble taking off. I'm favoring it a lot. I'm not taking a good step the way I was.

"[But] it's getting there. Saturday is a possibility."

Asked if he would like to be able to sit some starters this week and get them healthy, FSU coach Bobby Bowden said that wasn't an option in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

"We've got to have all the guns this week," Bowden said. "Once you lose a conference game your back is to the wall. We simply can't afford to lose another one."

OPENING UP: Bowden said after practice Tuesday he sees progress in the running game - progress he hopes will continue with Xavier Lee's running ability complimenting TB Antone Smith in the backfield.

"We're running good enough that they got to bring a safety up," Bowden said. "When [Lee] started running then [Alabama] started bringing him up. Then we started hitting some passes for touchdowns."

Smith, who already suffered a concussion this season, saw less carries in the second half against Alabama after taking a hard fall on his head early in the second quarter. He has been held out of contact so far this week, but expects to play Saturday.

"I'm a little jammed up right now," Smith said. "My neck's a little sore but other than that I feel pretty good. I actually hurt my knee more than anything else."

MULTI-BACK: Sophomore FB Seddrick Holloway came into the preseason first on the depth chart before FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher chose to insert TB Marcus Sims into the position. Now, with Sims out for the year with a fractured ankle, Holloway will once again assume the starting role.

"It's sad that [Sims] went down but I'm just going to come in and do the best I can," Holloway said. "I'm going to come out here and work hard every day and prepare myself for the game."

According to coaches, sophomore TE Matt Dunham, who made the switch to fullback earlier this season, could revert back to his old position if needed. Dunham has missed most of the season with a sprained ankle suffered in two-a-days.

"[The recovery process] is coming on a lot better than I thought I was going to be," Dunham said. "I'm at about 90 percent right now. I'm still at tight end right now until they tell me I'm going to move to fullback."

Michael McGuffee

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