FSU football is the favorite by many to win the ACC this year – but what are some of the conference’s coaches saying about the Seminoles?
In just a matter of weeks, the 2017 college football season will begin with FSU football being the runaway favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 16th time in a 26 season period – and the first time since winning their third straight conference crown following the 2014 season.
Needless to say, big things are expected from the Seminoles in conference play – from both the media who cover the conference and from the other coaches in it. Each season, Athlon Magazine gets the thoughts of coaches from each conference about other teams and post them anonymously for all to see.
While one coach praised the team and another raved about Derwin James, one coach decided to point out an area on offense that has raised some questions entering the upcoming season – the five men up front:
"“They’re very average up front, especially losing Rod Johnson early, which I know caught their staff by surprise. They’re not as good on the offensive line as they were a few years ago, and you saw that with how many times (QB Deondre Francois) got hit last year.”"
That same coach went on to praise Francois for his athletic ability and his arm strength, while saying that keeping him healthy is the top goal due to the questions about who is backup will be during the upcoming year.
Another coach took a chance to compliment a player who hasn’t even played a down yet as a college football player – running back Cam Akers:
"“I think he’s every bit as fast as Dalvin Cook, but he’s probably a more fluid athlete. Cook had that acceleration, but I think Akers in the long run can do more things.”"
You have to give it to whichever coaches made those comments, because both of them are spot on. If FSU football is going to have any chance of making it to the College Football Playoff and living up to the preseason hype, both the play of the offensive line and Akers are going to play a major role.
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It will be interesting to see if the line can make up for all the damage they did last season – hopefully, they at least took Francois out for a nice dinner or bought him a new back brace after all the hits he took last season.