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What Jimbo Fisher and his staff have done is recruit well and build depth.
Florida State is simply loaded at defensive back, even without Greg Reid.
Reid could have been part of one of the nation’s top defenses, but the senior
cornerback was dismissed by Florida State last week because of his multiple
off-field problems.
Four years ago, losing a player like Reid would have been difficult for the
Seminoles to overcome. But now Fisher feels they have plenty of options to take
over Reid’s spot.
FSU opened up its preseason camp on Monday afternoon, and Fisher quickly named
six potential cornerbacks to take Reid’s spot.
“That’s why we recruit secondary guys like we do,” Fisher said. “You have
plenty of options.”
Fisher said that Nick Waisome, for the moment, has the No. 1 job (Xavier Rhodes
has the other starting corner job). Waisome arrived at FSU as a heralded
prospect, the No. 8 corner by Scout.com in the 2011 class.
Waisome is 5-foot-10, about two inches taller than Reid. And, much like Reid,
Waisome is known for his instinctive play, speed and technique.
Fisher said he and defensive coordinator Mark Stoops have sought what they
consider “multi-dimensional players” on the recruiting trail. They landed the
nation’s top corner, Lamarcus Joyner, a few years ago but moved him to safety
before the 2011 season (and Fisher said Monday that Joyner could move back to
corner).
And Terrence Brooks has also played both positions for FSU. The Seminoles also
signed a Scout.com five-star corner, Ronald Darby, in February. And coaches
could decide to move Rhodes’ backup, the 6-foot-3 Keelin Smith, over to Reid’s
spot.
While FSU has options, the players aren’t experienced. Waisome had just one
tackle a year ago as a true freshman, and Smith took a redshirt.
Brooks, a junior, has the most experience, but he was a reserve in 2011. He had
17 tackles and saw significant playing time during FSU’s bowl win over Notre
Dame, sealing the victory with a fourth-quarter interception.
FSU likes to use nickel packages (five defensive backs) because the Atlantic
Coast Conference has so many strong passing teams. This year, there are eight
ACC teams that return a quarterback who threw for 2,600 yards or more the
previous season.
And that’s why Reid figured to be an essential part of that group of five. FSU
was already losing corner Mike Harris and safety Terrance Parks to graduation.
While the continued development of the sophomore-laden offensive line may be
the biggest key for FSU going into the season, now the task of replacing three
essential positions in the secondary is just as much a challenge.
FSU opens with Murray State on Sept. 1 and then plays Savannah State a week
later. The Seminoles will be able to get away with mistakes in the secondary against
Football Championship Series competition.
But then the Seminoles’ secondary will be tested in home games against Wake
Forest and Clemson. Both teams feature quarterbacks that are coming off
impressive seasons — Wake’s Tanner Price threw for 3,017 yards, 20 touchdowns
and six interceptions, and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd led the ACC in passing yards
(3,838) and touchdowns (33).
After struggling against top quarterbacks, allowing big plays that in part led
to losses, FSU rebounded and was 20th in the nation in 2011 against the pass
(allowing 192.3 yards per game). This year, FSU may need to rely on the
pressure up front — from arguably the nation’s top defensive line — to force
quarterbacks to get rid of the ball faster and make life easier on the
Seminoles’ inexperienced defensive backs.
FSU has one of the nation’s best defenses even without Greg Reid. He would have
helped, for sure, against teams that have two or three standout receivers.
And Reid was also FSU’s punt returner, a playmaker at times and at others one
who was prone to fumbling. But Fisher feels FSU also has options for returners
and will look to a receiver like Rashad Greene or Kenny Shaw or a new recruit
like Darby or Marvin Bracy.
There is very little concern about replacing Reid the punt returner. And Fisher
is right that the Seminoles have enough talent and depth at corner. But the
question now becomes how quickly that talent steps in and fills Reid’s shoes.
If FSU is to challenge for an ACC title and be in contention for a national
title, the young corners must deliver.
