FSU football: Did Jimbo Fisher leave Noles in better shape than Taggart?

By Kelvin Hunt | Jun 28, 2020

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 2: Chief Osceola and Renegade of the Florida State Seminoles plants the spear at mid-field before the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 2, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 27 to 10. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Talent

FSU recruiting was in disarray when Willie Taggart was-hired, and his ability to salvage that class, at least on paper, was impressive.

However, he inherited one of the most talented programs in the country.

Yes, the offensive line wasn’t good, and some injuries impacted things. However, there was too much talent to play at the level they did.

Related Story. How Coaching Synergy Will Help Noles Offense in 2020. light

Yes, indeed, the talent wasn’t being developed in the latter part of Jimbo Fisher’s tenure. However, it was never developed under Willie Taggart’s regime either.

FSU went from No. 9 to No. 71 overall in SP+ metrics. The offense went from No. 37 to No. 97, and the defense went from No. 6 to No. 37. Special teams went from being ranked No. 8 to No. 96.

The Noles went from playing the fourth toughest schedule in 2017 to the No. 18 toughest schedule. I know Jimbo Fisher left FSU in a mess culturally, and the APR was awful, but the talent was there to win way more than five games.

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