Jimbo Fisher pleased with Everett Golson's progression with Seminoles
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida State's Everett Golson is where coach Jimbo Fisher thought the quarterback would be at this point in the season.
Sure, two games is a small sample size, but the coach is pleased with Golson's progress as the ninth-ranked Seminoles are set to begin Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday night at Boston College.
"I think he feels good about it. I think he understands things," Fisher said Monday during his weekly press conference. "We just got to continue to get all the little details of things and the nuances of it."
In wins over Texas State and South Florida, Golson has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 465 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers are similar to what he did in his first two starts at Notre Dame last year (64.9 completion percentage, 521 yards and five touchdowns). Golson is also doing a nice job of spreading the ball around, especially in the opener when he completed passes to nine players.
One of the bigger questions about Golson was whether he could respond to adversity. He provided some clues to that last Saturday against USF. After going 1 for 9 for 6 yards in the first half, Golson went 13 for 17 for 157 yards and a touchdown in the second half as the Seminoles pulled away for a 34-14 victory.
Even in a bad first half, where Golson was hampered by a couple drops by receivers, he still did the little things. Dalvin Cook's 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the byproduct of Golson checking out of the original play, which was a screen pass.
Florida State was a strong second-half team last season. That trend is continuing this year as they have scored on all 11 with nine being directed by Golson.
"I think it's both his maturity, being able to relax at halftime, go back to his fundamentals, make good reads, and make quick passes," Fisher said. "From the first half to second Everett looked like two different people."
Golson has faced Boston College once, but that was in 2012 when he was a redshirt freshman at Notre Dame. The Eagles, who have allowed only three points in wins over Maine and Howard, The Seminoles have won the last five meetings against Boston College, but needed a Roberto Aguayo field goal with three seconds left last season to hold off the Eagles 20-17.
Boston College coach Steve Addazio, who has seen his share of Florida State quarterbacks over the years when he was on Urban Meyer's staff at Florida, sees no drop-off at the position after Jameis Winston left for the NFL and was drafted first by Tampa Bay.
Said Addazio of Golson: "He's a talented guy. They lost a great quarterback and they're replacing him with a guy who's also a talented quarterback."
The biggest thing Fisher and the offense is looking for this week is being able to recognize things quicker along with maybe a quicker start in the passing game.
With the game on Friday, Florida State will leave on Wednesday night. Fisher sees leaving two days prior to the game as a benefit not only physically but academically.
"We found out, by going that way, our rest and bodies, and it's actually helped us in school as far as our assignments with tutors and bringing all the academic folks with us," the coach said.
While Golson has found some success in his Florida State debut, Winston struggled in his NFL opener with Tampa Bay. Winston had two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Buccaneer's 42-14 loss to Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans.
Fisher isn't overly concerned.
"He had some good moments and tough moments," Fisher added. "He threw a couple of touchdowns, I believe, and a couple of mistakes. They got to keep getting better, and he will."
Fisher also hopes Golson continues to get better.
