Florida State Seminoles 2012

Florida State 2011 Statistics

(ACC) The Seminoles play on a grass field at Doak Campbell Stadium (82,300)

• Jimbo Fisher in his his third year as head coach at Florida State.  Last year they finished 9-4 and in his first season in 2010 they were 10-4.  After such a successful first season, Fisher received a $1 million raise to give him a $2.75 million annual salary through 2014 (the additional compensation in his extended contract came from FSU’s athletics contracts with IMG and Nike, and no public or private donations were used).
• Despite the success, last year was a disappointment for the Seminoles as they were expected to play for a national championship. Injuries were definitely an issue in 2011. Florida State lost 46 starts to injury last season, the 8th most in the nation.  But unfortunately, FSU hasn’t even won the ACC championship since 2005.
• 2012 is EJ Manuel’s last chance to prove his worth. Last year was his first year as a full time starter.  He was plagued with injuries for most of the season.  And the injuries suffered to the offensive linemen, had a direct impact on him, as FSU quarterbacks were sacked 41 times in 2011 (ranked 110th nationally). The main criticism about Manuel has been his decision making, which he is quite aware of: “Some of those times if I just got the ball out quicker and knew my reads better, it would have helped me a lot.”
  

  Quarterback EJ Manuel

• The offensive line struggled so much last year that FOUR true freshman started the bowl game against Notre Dame (Champs Sports Bowl, which they won).  If those four are in the starting lineup in the fall, the advantage is that they now all have experience.  The challenge was expected last year with the loss of two significant pieces heading into 2011.  They had to break in one of its most significant positions with a new Center and also replace Rodney Hudson at guard (one of the most decorated offensive linemen in FSU history).  Zebrie Sanders was the best player last year and this year he is off to the NFL.
• Rushing offense took a hit last year as the Seminoles dropped to 104^th in the nation (just 112 yards per game on the ground). But senior Chris Thompson missed most of last season with a back injury.  He is back this year as well as Devonta Freeman who took over as a freshman and led the team in rushing yards in 2011 (579 yards), touchdowns and yards per carry.
• This year, Florida State brings back 16 starters, seven on offense and nine on defense, and its defense should be among the best in entire nation.
• In 2011 the defense improved even more on the success of 2010. In 2010 FSU had improved their rushing and scoring defense significantly (up to 29^th and 20^th in the nation, respectively).  And last year the rushing defense jumped to #2 overall.  Scoring defense was #4 and passing defense improved from 71^st to 20^th.
• Defensive line is in excellent shape. As is the secondary, specifically the cornerbacks (Greg Reid, Xavier Rhodes).
• Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is now in third his  year with the Seminoles and his players should improve even more with the experience they have with the zone coverage system he installed in 2010.