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2010 Seminole Fearless Forecast from Guest Prognosticator Adam Tolliver

We're inviting some knowledgeable Noles to make their picks for the 2010 season. Leadoff man is Adam Tolliver, prolific columnist for the on-line newspaper, The Examiner. Bookmark Adam's column for a savvy read on FSU sports.

Best Case W - L Scenario? "For me, the best case W-L scenario this season is 12-2. This would include winning the ACC Championship and Orange Bowl, along with FSU's first top 10 finish since 2001."

Now what do you really think the final record will be? "Realistically, I think the Seminoles will finish the season with a 9-3 record but will do so by going 7-1 in conference during the regular season. The Seminoles will win the ACC Championship and Orange Bowl."

The 2010 MVP? "As predictable as this pick may be, Christian Ponder enters the season as the Seminoles most valuable player and I think he will perform to that level throughout the season."

Breakout Player of the Year? "I like to look at both sides of the ball, so for defense I pick SS Terrance Parks to have a breakout season. Hopefully T. Parks doesn't make me look silly, but I think he has what it takes. On offense I'm a little more confident in my pick, WR Rodney Smith. He has the potential to be a serious playmaker and big time target for Christian Ponder."

Top Newcomer? "Again offering opinions on both sides of the ball, on defense I think Jeff Luc's early enrollment and physical presence puts him in a position to be effective on the field immediately. This time my shaky pick comes on offense. My gut tells me that RB/FB Debrale Smiley will be a huge factor, so I'm rolling with him. But I think we should watch out for WR Christian Green."

Low point of the season? "The low point of the season will be losing to the Miami Hurricanes for the second season in a row. The Noles have a solid chance at beating UM this season, but their defense doesn't lose much and their offense still has a ton of weapons to worry about. Losing to a rival is always bitter. I hope I'm wrong about this prediction."

High point of the season? "Snapping the 6 game losing streak to UF and handing Urban Meyer his first in state loss since taking up the HC position at UF."

When the season ends FSU fans will be saying...? "Maybe we have something special in this Jimbo Fisher guy. I think year one will be the time for Coach Fisher to really win over a lot of skeptics and people will become excited about the direction the football program is taking at FSU."

Photo Gallery from Sunday's Media Day

ChantRant was at FSU's Media Day, represented by Tallahassee photographer Chris Holder. His shots capture a first look at Florida State's 2010 football team. You can see more of Chris's photography here.

WR Jarmon Fortson no longer a Nole

On Fan Day, a time that's supposed to be upbeat and celebrate the beginning of a new season, there's bad news from FSU Athletics:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher announced that junior wide receiver Jarmon Forston has been dismissed from the team for violating team policy.

Fisher called an impromptu meeting Sunday to notify the team before making the announcement.

“We wish him the best,” said Fisher. “We’ll miss him, but we have to move on.”

No further comment will be made by the university, its coaches or players, regarding the matter.

Opponent Preview #2: BYU Cougars

by TomRob

BYU Cougars
2009 Record: 11-2 (7-1 Mountain West)

OFFENSE

Scheme: Offensive coordinator Robert Anae runs what some call a power spread. BYU often sets up in the shotgun, but usually utilizes two backs and sometimes two tight ends in those shotgun sets. The Cougars will line up in a variety of formations, though, and like to use motion as well. The Cougars still have a lethal passing attack just as in years past, but they’ve improved significantly as a running team since Bronco Mendenhall took over as head coach. The offense ranked 21st in the country last season, but might take a dip this year.

Quarterbacks: Lots of people liked to say that Max Hall couldn’t win the big game. That being said, lots of BYU fans may miss Hall this year. The three-year starter is gone and takes many wins and passing yards with him. It appears to be a three-horse race to take the QB job over, but many expect either junior Riley Nelson or true freshman Jake Heaps to win the job. Nelson (99 yards, 70%, 1 TD, 122 yds rushing, 3 TDs) brings the experience. Nelson appeared in 7 games last season, but also started several games as a freshman at Utah State before going on a mission and then transferring to BYU. A mobile option, Nelson has the edge in experience, but is still refining his passing skills. Heaps is the fan favorite, a top recruit who many thought was the best pure passer of the last recruiting cycle. While not physically imposing or having a rocket arm, Heaps has a quick release and is deadly accurate. Many think Nelson may start the first few games as Heaps learns the ropes and the talented freshman will take over by midseason.

The odd man out appears to be sophomore James Lark. Lark has a good arm and is mobile, but has not played in a live game in five years due to either riding the pine or going on a church mission. The coaches claim he will get a fair shot, but most figure he’ll be a backup. Redshirt freshman Jason Munns will get a chance to win the backup job, but might get lost in the shuffle. The kid has talent, though, as he was heavily recruited by the likes of USC and is a big, strong pocket passer so he brings a different dimension than any of the other QBs on the roster.

Running Backs: BYU looked like they could rely on their ground game until the new QB got settled, what with three-time 1,000 yard rusher Harvey Unga returning. However, Unga was kicked out of school for an honor code violation in the spring and his appeal to be readmitted was denied this summer. Thus, BYU loses one of the West Coast’s top RBs and one of their best overall players. BYU will likely use a committee approach to replicate Unga’s production.

Christian Ponder helps ease the transition from the Bowden years to the future according to Fisher

"For me, one of the biggest reasons I came to Florida State was Coach Bowden, and to have the opportunity to play for him was unreal, something I've always dreamed of. And I think a lot of people were frustrated with the way it happened and a lot of people didn't want to see Coach Bowden go. I mean, he was here for 34 years and everyone was used to seeing him here. Anytime you have a change like that, it's hard to take. But the way Coach Fisher's handling things and the things that we're doing and he's doing and the things he's implementing, that's allowing us to progress and to keep taking those extra steps we need to take to move forward."
-- Christian Ponder to Sporting News

More encouraging news for Seminole fans about DE/LB Glen Stanley

Today's skinny on Glen Stanley, FSU's late addition to the 2010 defense, comes from the reporter who covers his JC team. Brian Wright, Sports Editor of the Eastern Arizona Courier, has nothing but positive things to say about Stanley's 2009 season.

What impressed you most about Glen?

Wright: "He's got all kinds of speed. He's in the backfield on every single play. And he's a guy who just really loves to play the game."

Is he a fast learner? He'll need to be to contribute early at FSU.

Wright: "Actually, he had one of his best games in one of the first games of the season. And from my standpoint, he was pretty much having a big game every single game I saw him play. I think the most impressive thing was how fast he could get into the opponent's backfield after the snap of the ball. And I think that's a combination of his pure speed and his instincts as well."

Did Southern Cal recruit him as a defensive end?

Wright: "I know that when he was brought in to USC they were recruiting him as a linebacker. I talked to our coach about that (Eastern Arizona Coach John O'Mera), and he said that with his ability he probably could become a linebacker if they chose to make him one and they worked on it."

Apparently Stanley himself has no problem with moving to linebacker. Here's what he said when he signed with Southern Cal back in February.

“As a linebacker I bring speed and I am very aggressive. I like to get a quick jump off the ball. At USC they would play me at the SAM and I would do a lot of blitzing off the edge and a lot of covering the tight end.”

And who was Stanley's inspiration and role model at LB?

“I used to watch YouTube on Derrick Brooks and I know that his success came from going in the film room and studying, so I try to do a lot of studying in the film room. He was a playmaker and I think am a playmaker too.”

Glen Stanley's JC coach has some reassuring words about the latest addition to FSU's defense

Digging for the backstory on Glen Stanley, we spoke to his junior college coach. Stanley played one year for John O'Mera at Eastern Arizona Community College. And in O'Mera's words, the Noles got a good one in the young man originally from Ocala. Consider this interview a strong seal of approval for the new hammer in Mark Stoops' defensive toolbox.

Tell us about Glen's 2009 season at Eastern Arizona.

O'Mera: "He did a great job for us. The opposing offense had to stop him to think they had a chance to beat us."

Did he play mostly at defensive end?

O'Mera: "He did a little bit of everything for us, but his specialty is the pass rush. He is so quick and fast, those tackles had a tough time getting a hand on him. Even though he did some big-time things at linebacker, we probably should've left him at defensive end the whole time and not even messed with him.

"So if I had to give a recommendation, I'd say he'd be an unbelievable pass rusher for them. He can play the run, but his specialty is getting to that quarterback. There's something about the quarterback knowing he's going to get hit every time."

Do you think Glen has all the tools?

Expectations for 2010: No Excuses Now?

by PJD3883

It has been like a lifetime since Florida State throttled West Virginia in the Gator Bowl and sent Bobby Bowden out a winner. Finally, the 2010 season, and our first in 34 years without Bobby, is just a little more than a month away.

What type of expectations should we have? I believe our expectations should not be lowered and I'll explain why.

SCHEDULE

We have had three  7-6 seasons in the last four  years. The three  7-6 seasons all began with a Monday Night Game. Coincidence? Not hardly.

Three times we've had to open seasons by playing three games in 12 days. Granted the second game was against a lightweight but valuable practice time was lost. There was hardly time to put in a game plan, let alone correct mistakes and make any needed changes from the Monday night ballgame.

It was the fourth or fifth week before we could develop a routine and/or consistency to our weekly schedule. This year we have no barrier. This season we open with a lightweight on a Saturday, just as we did in 2008 when we compiled a 9-4 record.