Ironic

[Guest HowieP1]

With all the complaining about dropped passes and the like, it seems somewhat Ironic that FSU might be looking to steal Lawrence Dawsey from us to correct their own problems in that regard.  ;D

Posted on Mon, Nov. 22, 2004

 

Change needed if FSU is to win another title

Column by Steve Ellis

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Bobby Bowden is at the crossroads with his offensive staff.

Make no changes and he can expect future journeys to end in recently familiar fashion - short of the desired destination.

Or the man who despises changes, but has a knack for making them at the right moment, can address an offensive staff whose unit is at the core of each FSU loss this season. The Seminoles have converted just 22 percent of their third downs and scored two combined touchdowns in their three loses.

And on Saturday night, FSU's offense set up its defense to fail late. Again. FSU earned just 37 yards in the first quarter and ate up just 4:02 on the clock compared to Florida's 10:58. While possession time became nearly equal by game's end, a tired FSU defense proved vulnerable to the run late in the 20-13 loss to Florida.

Being at the crossroads doesn't have to mean the end of Jeff Bowden's four-year tenure as FSU's offensive coordinator. And realistically, we should expect neither Bowden to take steps for that ending to happen now.

After 15 losses in four seasons - as many as FSU had in the previous 11 seasons before the younger Bowden took over - keeping Jeff Bowden would be a widely unpopular path.

Yet it could have a happy ending - if Bobby Bowden finds ways to help his son before the offseason begins in January. It would mean difficult decisions, and force the veteran coach to go against the cornerstone of his success at Florida State - coaching stability.

One suggestion is also the rumor with the longest shelf-life this season. Bring in Tennessee Titans tights-end coach/former FSU offensive coordinator George Henshaw to coach the offensive line and replace Jimmy Heggins. Henshaw could strengthen a position that has not fulfilled potential, and he could also provide stability and unpredictability to play-calling as Jeff Bowden's on-site mentor. The same thing could be done with another former FSU offensive coordinator, Brad Scott, who as Charlie Ward's coordinator would be a good fit for Xavier Lee. The latter seems less likely to happen, though.

The receiving corps - with its dropped passes and inability to consistently make big plays - has been a huge disappointment, and not just this season. It is a difficult position to oversee for an already busy offensive coordinator. Even defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews has help in extremely capable graduate assistant James Colzie.

South Florida receivers coach and former Seminole Lawrence Dawsey would be a popular choice. He'd bring a lot to the table as a talented and young black coach with NFL playing experience who would quickly connect with FSU receivers and boost recruiting. ACC schools are showing that an influx of NFL influence is a really good thing. And with a full-time receivers coach, the bad practice of letting receivers remove themselves from the game would end.

But you can't add a position without taking away. Do you put your arm around veteran coach Billy Sexton, ask him to take a lateral move somewhere outside of coaching at FSU to allow Jeff to take over running backs in addition to his offensive-coordinator duties? Is that fair, and is it smart considering Sexton's excellent reputation as a recruiter?

A tight-ends coach is a dispensable position under FSU's offense, but John Lilly gets high marks as a recruiting coordinator. Daryl Dickey deserves a shot to be offensive coordinator elsewhere, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him get that chance. But his departure wouldn't help fit dire needs to vacancies.

These would not be easy decisions for Bobby Bowden. But he only has to look to his defense and see what change can do. Kevin Steele - don't be surprised if he takes the defensive-coordinator position at South Carolina - has complemented Andrews' staff with new energy and ideas.

Those close to Bobby Bowden contend that, when pushed by fans and media, he is more likely to stand at the crossroads and choose the least popular road. In this case, that would be to make no changes to his staff. And that would mean no foreseeable travels down National Championship Drive.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/sports/colleges/florida_state_university/10242829.htm

[bulldad]

Concur, maybe he needs to get our guys to hold on to the ball before he tackles the FSU receivers.

[Guest bigdaddybul]

To Stand up for Dawsey these are not his recruits that he has had time to mold.  He has shown promise with the younger guys.  Look for other programs to start trying to lure him away, because of the great recruiting aspect he brings.  I think Dawsey and Hearn have done a great with the young WR.

[smazza]

there will not be any tears lost if dawsey leaves

[bulls96go]

hope dawsey stays!

hobbie must go

smith must go far away

[Bullpride08]

**** Dad, you sound a bit bitter.  These WR's have blocked better, and ran better routes than they ever did under Pajic.  The receivers are actually getting YAK, and making plays.  HOWEVER, we have had a few players that have consistently been inconsistent catching the ball- in particular Joe Bain, and Allyson Sheffield have been deplorable as receivers.  JB Garris has dropped a few too, but JB's a freshman convert from QB, and I know JB from his HS days, he will improve, it's in his blood.

Look at the youth, and they look **** good in a short period of time.  It hasn't taken much time for Garris, Chambers, and Peyton to not only become good players but intricate parts of this offense.  

Dawsey's just getting started, and if he lands the WR's I am expecting him to in this next class that mans going to help set USF on fire- OF COURSE LETS JUST HOPE A QB STEPS UP TO DELIVER THEM THE **** BALL!

[bulldad]

I'm not bitter, but as an ex-Qb it is very frustrating for your receivers to drop the number of passes that we have this year.   Hell if my guys had caught every pass that they had dropped I could have completed onver 40% of my passes.  When a qb is struggling, as ours is, your wrs have to step it up.  They can't drop the quick slants.  Look at the Cinci game.  We would have moved the ball much more effectively if they would have held on. Sure there are going to be dropped balls, but not the amount that we are dropping.  Sorry guys, our WRs are letting us down.