Fisher says team must rally around Blackman

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State true freshman quarterback James Blackman may be anxious awaiting his college football debut.

But while the Seminoles are practicing to stay in game shape during their Hurricane Irma layoff, coach Jimbo Fisher hopes the players around his inexperienced signal-caller are able to play their parts when they return to action.

After canceling the Sept. 9 game against LouisianaMonroe and postponing Saturday’s game against Miami until Oct. 7, FSU will play its second game of the season with NC State at Doak Campbell Stadium at noon on Sept. 23.

Blackman will play in relief of third-year quarterback Deondre Francois, who is out for the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee against Alabama in the season opener.

“They have to do their job — the offensive line, the receivers, the backs have to be where they’re supposed to be so [Blackman] can process the information and do the right things,” Fisher said.

“As a quarterback, a lot of your issues come when somebody else has a mess up, and they’ll let [that] problem become your problem, and you’re trying to fix it and create a problem for yourself. They have to do their job around him, which will allow him to function.”

The Seminoles had a four-day layoff from practice, but will be on a relatively normal practice schedule before their next game.

Fisher said the team will continue to pose its firstteam offense and defense against each other throughout practice to stay in shape and maintain a fast pace comparable to actual games.

But the extra work will surely aid Blackman, who will become the first true freshman to start for the Seminoles since 1985.

Fisher is also doing his part to ensure Blackman is prepared for life as a ACC quarterback.

“The big thing is to try and teach him what we do basically so you’re ready to read on run plays, pass plays, blitzes, checks, [and] just try to get as many more reps of that as possible,” Fisher said of preparing Blackman during the layoff. “We’ll try to keep him as game ready as we possibly can.”

JOE RONDONE/DEMOCRAT/AP Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher says the rest of the team needs to do its job so quarterback James Blackman will be able to do his in his first start.