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FSU Has Plenty To Smile About

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By STEVE ELLIS

Tallahassee Democrat

Published: August 11, 2008

TALLAHASSEE Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford expects his job to be a bit easier.

Cornerback Tony Carter already has found his to be more difficult during Florida State's preseason camp.

A receivers group with enough talent to keep FSU fresh in its three- and four-receiver look is reason for any FSU quarterback to be optimistic.

"It's the most well-rounded group of receivers we've had since I've been here in terms of size, speed and different types of guys," Weatherford, the former Land O' Lakes star, said during FSU's media day on Sunday. "We can go four wide very, very regularly and go with two sets to be honest and be fine with it."

The headaches in practice for FSU's defensive secondary, including cornerbacks, begins with five receivers standing 6-foot-5 or taller, thanks to the addition of Corey Surrency, Avis Commack and Jarmon Fortson. FSU has a good mix of speedy and physical receivers.

"Big guys and the deepest group I've seen since I've been here," said Carter, a fifth-year senior. "There's not really a drop off from first team to third team."

The newcomers, especially Surrency, who did not play high school football but earned All-American honors at El Camino (Calif.) Community College, have generated plenty of excitement.

"I'm really pleased with all three of those guys," FSU receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey said. "Fortson, Surrency and Commack, they have tremendous upside. They've got athletic ability."

With the three newcomers added to the mix, Carter said FSU's offensive coaches are throwing more at the defense with their wide receivers.

"They've been running a lot of things I haven't seen before," Carter said. "Run a lot of different type of routes. It seems like they are mixing it up and have some guys that can go deep and stretch it down the field. They have some guys that are possession [receivers].

"You really don't know what to expect coming from Coach [Jimbo] Fisher."

Preston Parker, Greg Carr and Richard Goodman are among the returning receivers who have a better understanding of Fisher's offense.

Parker and Carr accounted for seven of FSU's touchdown receptions last year. Parker added more muscle in the off-season and Carr, known as a jump-ball artist, said he worked on being more multi-dimensional as well as being a leader - something his coaches have challenged him to be this season.

"I think I've matured a lot. You can't really sit back," Carr said. "You have to come out there, be more of a leader and be like that big brother."

But redshirt freshmen Bert Reed, Taiwan Easterling and Cameron Wade also have a good grasp of what Fisher is trying to accomplish with his spread offense.

"I'm expecting [Easterling], Bert and Wade to be big contributors," Dawsey said. "I believe we're going to be three and four wideouts a lot this year so I need all of them to be ready to go."

Dawsey, who coached at South Florida before joining the FSU staff after the 2006 season, has been pleased with his group's skill. But it won't be until they put on pads that he learns about their toughness and ability to block, areas that are important to Dawsey in addition to making big plays.

But Weatherford already is seeing a difference in the returning receivers from a year ago.

"We have better timing and better understanding of the offense and what we're supposed to accomplish," Weatherford said of the coordination between quarterbacks and wide receivers. "Everything was real black and white with the ways things we're supposed to be done. Now we are able to improvise a little bit."

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