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FSU Notebook: Playbook Taking Time To Catch On

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

TALLAHASSEE Florida State coach Bobby Bowden acknowledges Jimbo Fisher's playbook and style of play-calling is different and more complicated than that of former offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden. He admits that by missing FSU's final day of practice on Tuesday, starting QB Xavier Lee was not as well-prepared as he should have been entering Thursday night's 24-21 loss at Wake Forest.

Still, Bowden and Fisher expected Lee to avoid some of the mistakes (mostly missed reads and checking off to the wrong plays) he made against the Demon Deacons, the most costly being an interception late in the third quarter that Wake Forest took advantage of by driving 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Lee was later replaced by Drew Weatherford for a series, but re-entered the game once the Demon Deacons took the lead.

"You've got one quarterback that is very consistent, you've got another quarterback that has big-play capabilities but is inconsistent," Bowden said Friday. "That's where we stand. We've got to get the big-play guy more consistent and the consistent guy with more big plays. We're halfway through the season, but maybe we can do it."

Lee's step back Thursday, and Weatherford's inability to rev up the offense, has the Noles considering other options if neither Mr. Big Play (Lee) nor Mr. Consistent (Weatherford) are able to separate themselves in the second half of the season. While Lee is expected to remain the starter Saturday against Miami, third-string QB D'Vontrey Richardson is beginning to get more work in practice.

"We gave him a lot of work last week, and had him ready," Bowden said. "But again, it's a game you're ahead 14-7 most of the game, and it's not a time to experiment. We're working the other guy and sure would like to use him some. Maybe it will present itself before long."

Until then, it appears Lee's job to lose.

"There's no big controversy here," Bowden said. "It's kind of a feast or famine. He makes those big plays, and everybody gets real excited, and then he'll miss a couple. Until we get all that together, we're going to have a struggle."

RUNNING EMPTY: Junior RB Antone Smith, hyped as FSU's most important player on offense prior to the season, rushed for only 32 yards in Thursday's loss. In FSU's first three games, Smith averaged 73 yards and 4.2 yards a carry. Over the last three games, Smith is averaging 34 yards and 2.4 per carry, leaving him with only 322 yards at midseason.

"I look at the film, but I don't think it's him," Bowden said. "If we give him a crease, he is through that thing. We have had penalties that have called some of his runs back. But we really have got to take a serious look at that."

THE GOOD: WRs Greg Carr and Preston Parker continued to make big plays, with Carr recording his third consecutive 100-yard game and Parker catching five passes for a team-high 113 yards, including his first career TD reception. … Despite injuries taking a toll, the offensive line didn't allow a sack.

THE BAD: FSU, the nation's most penalized team, was flagged 10 times for 76 yards. "It's the foolish penalties we hate," Bowden said. "We try to teach go, go, go, but we've got to be more disciplined." … The defense allowed surrendered several big plays, including an 83-yard TD run and 35-yard TD pass. … Four turnovers played a key role in Wake Forest scoring 17 unanswered points after trailing 14-7.

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Wake Forest ain't no fluke. They are a pretty dang good little football team. I was so impressed with them, the way they played. That team right there does not even come close to resembling the Wake Forest I saw 10 years ago or 15 years ago.'' – Bowden on the Demon Deacons, who have now beaten FSU two consecutive seasons.

INJURY REPORT: Starting LG Rodney Hudson is expected to miss a couple of weeks after suffering a sprained right knee Thursday. LB Marcus Ball (left ankle sprain) and S Roger Williams (abdominal contusion) also went down at Wake, and are listed day-to-day. DT Budd Thacker (fractured toe), who has missed three consecutive games, remains questionable for Saturday's game against Miami.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at 850.294.3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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