FSU Football: Despite record, James Blackman should start next week

FSU football is more than likely going to keep the ball in the hands of the true sophomore against Notre Dame, which is reluctantly the smart move.

For many college football programs across the country, including our beloved FSU football team, one of the most popular positions on the team is always the backup quarterback. They tend to get a thunderous applause when they enter the game – heck, Sean Maguire got it when he would replace Jameis Winston during the magical 2013 national title season.

Five years later, there has been a segment of the Seminoles’ fan base (including some staff here at Chop Chat) that was clamoring for James Blackman – who spent 12 games as the starting quarterback last season – to take the job back from the man he replaced last year and who had started the first eight games of this season, Deondre Francois.

Some of the argument among those FSU football fans is that Blackman would be a better fit for the offense under head coach Willie Taggart and is more mobile (a legit take) while others are just looking for a scapegoat for the disappointing start to the season (because Blackman would do so much better with this offensive line through a whole year).

This comes after Blackman had started 12 games last season and won seven of them – with only three of those coming against teams that finished with a winning record while averaging less than 185 yards passing each game and just over a touchdown and a half each contest. I don’t say that to disparage Blackman, but those are the facts.

Saturday, Blackman got his chance to get a start this season after Francois wasn’t able to practice much this past week after being beaten up most of the season. Much like last season for FSU football, Blackman got his first start of the year against NC State – this season, throwing for 431 yards and four touchdowns while still losing the game to the Wolfpack.

That performance – the most yards a FSU football quarterback has thrown for since Jameis Winston did so in the 2013 season – has renewed the calls for Blackman to gain the starting job back. While I never think a player should lose their starting job due to an injury once they get healthy again, it might be time to swallow the pill and do so.

At this rate, the 2018 season is a lost one for Francois and quite frankly he is either on the fast track to declare early for the NFL Draft or get his degree and transfer to another school for his final season of eligibility. You can tell that D12 was not always that comfortable with the new offense and only did well when the Seminoles resorted back to pro style plays.

Blackman has been praised for his leadership and seemed to have a connection with the young receivers during Saturday’s game – which can only be built through game experience in the final three weeks against Notre Dame, Boston College and Florida.

I stil don’t believe that James Blackman is a better quarterback at this time – though I do think he has the ability to win FSU football a title before he leaves – but it’s a situation where you risk losing both players and the entire team if this situation is not handled the right way. Thus, No. 1 needs to be under center next weekend in South Bend.