FSU faces a tough
FSU faces challenge protecting Blackman from vaunted line
challenge this Saturday, when the offensive line must protect QB James Blackman from N.C. State’s Wolfpack.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State offensive linemen Alec Eberle and Landon Dickerson took quarterback Deondre Francois’ season-ending knee injury to heart following their loss to Alabama in Week 1.
Eberle, a preseason All-ACC selection, said the offensive line should assume responsibility for their star quarterback getting hit, while Dickerson, a second-year starter at left guard, said Francois’ injury was a “failure” by the unit.
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher quickly absolved the offensive linemen from the blame, reinforcing the injury was a product of a poor read during the play by Francois, who also held onto the ball slightly longer than normal.
“That injury had nothing to do with the offensive line. I mean people say that, there was not a missed block, it was a blitz read,” Fisher said. “It had nothing to do with the line.
“They’re all going to say that because it’s the right thing to do, but they didn’t have to say that because that isn’t what happened.”
Several players on the team alluded to playing this season as tribute for Francois, who will miss this season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
But Fisher hopes his players also do so with James Blackman
— the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the No. 12 Seminoles (0-1) since 1985 — in mind.
Blackman, a slender 6-5, 170-pounder, will get his first taste of college football at noon Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium against NC State (2-1), which features one of the nation’s most imposing defensive lines.
“They better want to play for James,” Fisher said of his offensive line with a laugh. “That group has a lot of pride. They’ve been maligned and criticized.
“They take it, and have a lot of pride in what they do, and they understand it. They’re the front line of everything that goes on and without them, we can’t function with any of the skill guys.”
NC State defensive ends Bradley Chubb and Kentavius Street combined for 15.5 sacks with 31 tackles last season, with defensive tackles Justin Jones and B.J. Hill clogging the trenches.
The senior foursome will likely be selected by NFL teams in the draft next year, with Chubb projected as a top-10 prospect.
NC State senior linebackers Jerod Fernandez, Airius Moore and Shawn Boone add to the team’s experienced front seven.
“They’ve been there forever,” Fisher said lightheartedly of NC State’s defense. “I go back over film for two, three, four years, it’s the same dudes.”
While FSU coaches, players and fans grew accustomed to seeing Francois
bounce back from punishing hits last season, seeing Francois need the help of FSU’s athletic trainers to get off the field in Atlanta only added to the uphill climb the Seminoles will face this season in ACC play.
Keeping Blackman upright should be among the top priorities for the Seminoles offense during the 2017 season.
FSU’s defensive line, also considered one of the nation’s best, has been doing its part to help Blackman acclimate to his new role during the team’s two-week layoff because of Hurricane Irma.
“He’s executing plays, doing what he has to do, listening to Jimbo, taking coaching,” sophomore defensive end Brian Burns said of Blackman. “Doing well.”
While Blackman’s developing frame may be cause for concern this season, Fisher was adamant in suggesting he does not share the same feeling.
Blackman’s background at Belle Glade Glades Central High was enough to convince Fisher otherwise.
“He’s been hit. He’s been knocked around. He’s been beat up. He’s a tough guy. He can play at a high level,” Fisher said of Blackman, who had 2,511 yards passing with 14 touchdowns during his senior year in 2016.
“If I thought [he was not tough], I wouldn’t have thought he could play here, you know what I mean? This kid can run, play, competitive, tough.
“You play at Belle Glade, come out of that high school system, you’re a competitor. You’ve got some toughness to you.”