Second of five pieces from the Blog Chant Rant on FSU’s Spring Practices.
This isn’t really a question of who will play, as the limited depth will require one of a select few to get the job. It’s more a question of who is going to step up and make the leap to a high caliber player able to provide the Seminole defense with a consistent pass rush. Florida State has the task of replacing three NFL caliber defensive ends in Bjoern Werner, Tank Carradine, and Brandon Jenkins, though Jenkins missed almost all of last season with injury.
While they will be lacking in experience, however, they will not be lacking in talent. In the mix are former 4-star recruit Georgio Newberry (RS Soph.), and 5-star recruits in Mario Edwards Jr. (Soph.) and Chris Casher (RS Fresh.). Edwards slimmed down as the year went on in 2012 and saw his contributions increase earning two starts after Carradine was lost for the season. Casher will be interesting to watch because, though he is talented, he has missed the last two football seasons. I expect Casher to be close to 260 lbs by the time the season rolls around and his size and athleticism should allow him to jump right back in at a high level
The depth for the defensive end position got a much needed boost when FSU landed top 5 DE DeMarcus Walker this recruiting cycle and had him enroll for the spring. He has the size to come in and contribute right away, and going through a spring practice is huge for him and his ability to provide depth in the 2013 season. If he can establish himself as an option this spring, than FSU should feel much more comfortable heading into the fall with 4 capable ends. (Update: Walker hasn’t seen the field yet this spring because the NCAA Clearinghouse is checking into one of his high school classes.)
After moving to TE last season, but missing the entire year with an injury, Dan Hicks (RS Sr.) is moving back to his defensive end position this spring. This will also help to provide additional depth and experience at the position. Hicks will be another one o keep an eye on during spring practice to see how he makes the adjustment back to the defensive side of the ball.
by Lilburn Nole for ChantRant.com
Edit: You have to love the name Tank Carradine for a kid at DE. Its like Tank McNamara and David Carradine (“Grasshopper”) were married and adopted a kid who turned out to be a stud football player. They have DEs with the first names “Tank”,” Bjoern”, and “Georgio”. You have to give their staff credit for that.
It doesn’t seem like they have actual problems anywhere so far.
My guess is that Chryst is not sweating this as much as some would think. While many believed Shell was the next coming of Tony Dorsett, the reality is that was never the case.
The best Shell could have/can hope to achieve is to become a back along the lines of Maurice Clarett. Close in height, weight and speed or lack thereof.
Chryst has coached a lot of backs, good ones. He knows what he has or doesn’t have in Shell, both physically and mentally.
While Bennett and Crockett look to be the next up and solid contributors, I look for James Connor to make an impact in the fall. Unlike Shell, he looks like someone who would relish the role of being a true power back.
However, the problem for Pitt will be lack of speed out of the backfield. This would be the case with or without Shell.
Still think we will see Chryst and Rudolph using Boyd out of the backfield on occasion in order to inject some speed. While having the build of a wide receiver, a pretty thin one at that… Boyd runs like a back. 5,700 yards in HS tells he is durable despite the appearance.
Bottom line… all is not lost. Far from it.
This is a cool change of pace to the constant rumors/panic associated with potential transfers. Stating the obvious, FSU has talent everywhere. Their roster is loaded with 4* & 5* players. One positive for Pitt is that FSU does lack experience at many positions (including QB). Pitt returns a lot of starters on D and that will have to be what keeps us in the game. HTP!
Here’s the latest… a welcome to Shell from ASU’s current runningback.
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Damarious Randall @TheRealDRandall
S/O to @RushelShell for becoming a #sundevil #fearthefork y’all go follow him show em some love …
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Spring Practice is only 2 weeks. Surely all personal issues can be handled before or after.
PC as we all know isn’t a great communicator. And this could come into play when trying to talk someone ‘out’ of doing something, as in transferring.
A lot of these kids probably have doubts occasionally, hell even older ppl have doubts sometimes. It pays sometimes to have someone there to reassure them, that they did the right things, are progressing on the right path, etc.
And it’s usually the ones with better communication skills that are good at reassuring ppl and help them overcome their doubts, fears, whatever.
We’ll see how this plays out, but we really can’t afford losing our few highly touted athletes/recruits. Because we just don’t get many of them at the moment.
That’s the bottom line.
atleast tino isnt there to throw the kicker under the bus(ND)
..speaking of Tino, can you believe he tweeted McShay and asked him to look at his pro day film..? Dude, go be a GA somewhere.
