FSU football: Top 3 observations from 2021 fall camp

Better In The Trenches

I went back and read some of the things I wrote around this time last year, and I lied up something.

I thought the defensive line would be elite, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. However, it’s hard to understand how the pandemic affected things without the benefit of hindsight.

One thing I feel confident about is the Noles will be better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I believe the starters on the defensive and offensive line will be improved, but the key to having long-term success will be developing depth.

The crazy part is the offensive line might have more proven depth than the defensive line at this point. I think I know what to expect from the defensive line. I think the starting front four will cause more havoc in years past, with a more attacking style.

I think we’ll see a better pass rush as the defensive tackles get better penetration upfront. That type of pressure is often more effective than pressure off the edge, as defensive ends can run themselves out of the play sometimes.

I think the offensive line will be serviceable, especially if Jordan Travis is the starting quarterback. I’m waiting to see if Dontae Lucas takes that next step in maturity and understanding his assignments. Hopefully, Darius Washington and Devontay Love-Taylor come back from their injuries and make an impact.

One thing that needs to get cleared up is centers snapping the ball, as that was an issue in fall camp.