by TomRob
Best Case W - L Scenario? Looking at our schedule, I think best-case win-loss scenario is probably 10-2. While I think talent-wise, FSU is starting to climb back and the offense looks quite good, the trio of Oklahoma, UM, and UF probably all have better talent and depth than we do right now. You add the fact that Clemson and UNC should have stout defenses and BC will be solid as usual and I think it's impossible to foresee anything better than 10-2. I think in the best-case, we might sneak by Oklahoma, drop one ACC game, and keep it close against UF, but lose in the end.
Now what do you really think the final record will be? Realistically, I think we go 8-4 or 9-3. My gut tells me 8-4, my heart says 9-3. Losing McCray doesn't help our defensive line depth and that scares me a bit. As of right now, I say we go 8-4 with a 6-2 ACC record. I think we are going to drop games to Oklahoma, UM, and UF and then one of UNC, Clemson, and BC.
The 2010 MVP? This is a cop-out of sorts, but I think it has to be Ponder. He has a ton of pressure on him, but I think he's going to have a big year. He just has all the tools and I don't think the pressure will bother him because both he and Jimbo already put enough pressure on him that it won't faze him.
Breakout Player of the Year? I'm going to pick one on each side of the ball. On offense, I think it's going to be Chris Thompson. With Fortson's dismissal, it could easily be Rodney Smith or Willie Haulstead, but I think Thompson is going to have a solid year and get better and better. He may not put up huge stats because I think Thomas, Pryor, Jones, and Smiley will also get carries, but I think Thompson emerges from the pack. On defense, I'm going to go with Vince Williams. He isn't penciled in as a starter yet, but people forget this guy was a big-time recruit, showed some stuff as a freshman, and practice reports have been glowing. The fact that he can play WLB or MLB and is the best LB off the bench means he'll see plenty of playing time and I wouldn't be surprised if he stole a starting job at some point.
Top Newcomer? By newcomer, I'm going to pick guys who haven't played at all yet and I'm going to pick one for each side of the ball again. On offense, I think it will probably be a true freshman WR. I'm going to pick Kenny Shaw out of that group. Freshman WRs don't always get a ton of playing time and Shaw has a small frame (although he's reportedly up to 170 pounds), but of all the freshmen, he is the most college-ready in terms of route-running and hands. He may not play a lot at first, but I bet by midseason he is a solid contributor. On defense, Xavier Rhodes seems to be the no-brainer. Mark my words, Rhodes will beat out Jenije at some point. The guy has great raw talent, great size, good hands since he used to be a wideout, and seems to be flourishing in the zone scheme. I'm going to predict it now: Rhodes will be FSU's next great CB in the NFL.
Low point of the season? Unfortunately, I think it's going to be going 0-2 versus our rivals. I think we *can* beat UM and UF, but I just don't think it's going to happen this year.
High point of the season? In my best-case scenario, it would be upsetting Oklahoma. Realistically, though, I don't think we beat the Sooners, so I think our high point will be going to the ACC championship game. Going to a BCS game would top that, but given our schedule and implementing a new defense, I think reaching the ACC championship game would show true progress and pave the way for another solid recruiting class and future gains under Fisher.
When the season ends FSU fans will be saying...? "Promoting this Jimbo Fisher guy might've been the right call after all." Yeah, the way Bowden was forced out rankled a lot of people, but at the end of the day Fisher will prove that promoting him was the right move, regardless of what happened with Bowden. Given all the changes Fisher has made, I think 2010 will show that FSU is back on the way up. We'll put a better product on the field, there are promising signs off the field in regards to training and such, and our recruiting efforts are picking up. I think fans will be anxiously awaiting 2011, but not because we had a rough 2010 and are saying "Wait 'til next year."
Comments? Questions? Kudos?