Fansided

College Football 2018: Biggest question facing every Top 25 team in spring practice

By Nicholas Ian Allen

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 25
Next
TALLAHASSEE, FL – FEBRUARY 7: Head Coach Willie Taggart of the Florida State Seminoles talks with the media during his National Signing Day Press Conference at the Dunlap Champions Club inside Doak Campbell Stadium on February 7, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 3rd ranked Florida State defeated Charleston Southern 52 to 8. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – FEBRUARY 7: Head Coach Willie Taggart of the Florida State Seminoles talks with the media during his National Signing Day Press Conference at the Dunlap Champions Club inside Doak Campbell Stadium on February 7, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 3rd ranked Florida State defeated Charleston Southern 52 to 8. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Can Willie Taggart turn the offense around?

Jimbo Fisher won a national title at Florida State, but many fans and analysts believe the Seminoles are actually better off with new head coach Willie Taggart. The Noles took a huge step back in 2017, and though some of the shortcomings in the first half of the season can be blamed on injury, there were whispers Fisher was losing the team.

Taggart, who has often called Florida State his dream job, should finally settle down after years of bouncing around from job to job, from his alma mater, WKU, to USF and Oregon, finally appears to be settled. That should pay off in recruiting, which has long been his strongest asset. However, Taggart’s updated offensive philosophy should also pay dividends.

Oregon averaged 440.9 total yards of offense per game and 6.1 yards per play in Taggart’s only year in Eugene. The Ducks ranked No. 30 and No. 38 in FBS, respectively. In his last year at USF, the Bulls ranked No. 11 in total offense (511.5 yards per game) and ranked No. 6 in yards per play (7.17). Comparatively, Florida State ranked 100th and 62nd, respectively, in 2017 with averages of 351.9 yards per contest and 5.66 yards per play.

That success is good news for the Seminoles, who have a wealth of talent on offense highlighted by Heisman candidate Cam Akers. Though he split carries as a freshman, Akers ranked sixth in the ACC in rushing, having gained 1,025 yards with seven touchdowns while averaging 5.28 yards per carry.

Akers and Jacques Patrick have the benefit of a veteran offensive line (four starters return), and though there are questions at quarterback, both Deondre Francoise and James Blackman have starting experience. The Seminoles must work in some new receiving options to replace wideout Tate Auden and tight end Ryan Izzo, but talented options remain and more are on the way after the strong-to-the-finish recruiting class Taggart and his staff signed in February.

Home/College Football