FSU Football: Why Lance LeGendre fits better than Sam Howell would have
FSU football is going to be in the market for a quarterback who can both run and throw the ball in the Gulf Coast offense under Willie Taggart.
FSU football knows that when it comes to an entirely new offense what type of quarterback they need to succeed. When head coach Willie Taggart took over the team last year with his Gulf Coast offense, it became evident that it was going to need a lot of work as the team was used to Jimbo Fisher’s pro-style offense.
Deondre Francois, known as a dual-threat quarterback himself coming into the program, had gotten used to Fisher’s pro-style and that showed last year. Failing to execute reads correctly and exercise his option to run were evidence of familiarity with a slower tempo, pro-style scheme. The offensive line issues did not help, even with using nine different combinations and moving players to positions they weren’t used to playing. In all, it was a disaster.
FSU football had its sights set on a particular dual-threat quarterback, Sam Howell, only to have all of Nole Nation gasp when offensive coordinator Walt Bell, whom had recruited Howell, left for Massachusetts and Howell in turn flipped and signed with North Carolina. This wasn’t a huge shock given the relationship between Bell and Howell, but it did leave Florida State back where it started: in need of a dual-threat quarterback.
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For the 2019 class, Florida State locked in on two quarterbacks and looking at them one has to wonder if the Noles manage to sign either one if Howell was really that big of a loss. In particular, FSU football has been working hard to recruit one of them, Lance LeGendre from New Orleans.
No doubt Howell’s stats speak for themselves, but with Bell gone and Briles now on board there’s a new sheriff in town who knows the perfect quarterback for his offense. Was Howell it? Not by far. When LeGendre took his official visit last weekend, he met with Briles who explained the fast-paced offense. So fast in fact that Briles doesn’t even use a playbook. He made it clear to LeGendre that he was the type of dual-threat quarterback he needed to pull it off.
Depending on the site, Howell is often listed as a pro-style quarterback, even though he is dual threat. LeGendre is a complete dual threat. What is most important is how comfortable he is with the Run Pass Option. He executes reads correctly, quickly, and demonstrates confidence doing so. He is mobile in the pocket which enables him to extend plays, and is extremely quick on his feet.
He will use his mobility to open up running lanes, but in a moments notice will throw a quick pass or even go to the far side of the filed and throw a pass to the outside. He improvises when he has to and it seems to pay off. When it comes to the speed of Florida State’s offense, which now should be even faster with Briles, instinct and improvisation will be key, and LeGendre has both.
In the only nine high school games that are shown on MaxPreps, LeGendre had 745 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns and 228 rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns. When you’re almost even on rushing and passing touchdowns, you’re a complete dual threat.
Howell, compared to LeGendre, appears a little more pro-style. LeGendre is quick and gritty, and instinctual when it comes to the Run Pass Option. Although he is taking an official visit to Maryland this weekend, it is believed the Noles are first on his list.
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If the Noles do manage to have him sign next Wednesday then with our new offensive coordinator and how well LeGendre’s style of play matches that, Howell’s flip could have indeed been a blessing in disguise.