FSU football: 5 biggest questions going into 2022 fall camp

[caption id="attachment_57991" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrnFSU football will get its much-anticipated fall camp underway on Wednesday. It seems like forever since the Florida game last year, right?rnrnLast year the Noles went into fall camp with the COVID cloud remaining as the team slowly crept to 85 percent vaccination status.rnrnThose issues seem to be a thing of the past as a bit of normalcy has crept back into our lives. That normalcy allowed everything to go fairly smooth this spring and summer and the players and coaches took advantage.rnrnFSU football is a month away from taking the field against Duquesne, a home game that should feature a quietly optimistic fan base that knows they will start the season off with a win for the first time since 2016.rnrnIt will be a chance to set the tone for the season, and an opportunity for what we hope are many players to gain some valuable experience.rnrnThere are question marks, but fewer than last year as we have a better idea of what to expect from this team.rnrnHere are my five biggest questions going into the 2022 fall camp.rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_62483" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Offensive Line rnBelieve it or not, the offensive line almost missed the cut this year. I believe this unit will continue to improve, but there are still too many question marks to leave them off.rnrnWhat will be the starting five? We have a working rotation of Dillan Gibbons, Darius Washington, Robert Scott, Maurice Smith, Bless Harris, Kayden Lyles, D'Mitri Emmanuel, and Jazston Turnetine.rnrnThat's eight bodies with college experience, something FSU hasn't had in forever and an ideal number the coaches like.rnrnThen there are others like Thomas Shrader, Bryson Estes, Lloyd Willis, and Zane Herring, which puts the coaching staff at potentially 10-11 guys capable of playing snaps.rnrnThe trick is finding the right combination amongst the group. The good news is many can play multiple positions, which is valuable if injuries happen.rnrnWhich combination is the best? Will Maurice Smith hold off Kayden Lyles for the center position? Will other transfers crack the starting lineup? That's what I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open for as fall camp takes place.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Pass%20Rush" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_59753" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Pass Rush rnFSU football was in a similar spot last season, with transfers Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas coming in to boost the pass rush.rnrnThe only problem is both had question marks. Johnson was largely unproven although he had flashed at spring camp, and Thomas had dealt with injuries before and after he got to FSU.rnrnThose guys proved to be two of the most productive defensive ends in recent memory and helped improve the FSU defense tremendously. Both have departed, which opens up a new lane for players like Jared Verse, Dennis Briggs, Patrick Payton, Derrick McLendon, and others.rnrnWho's going to separate themselves from the pack? The odds are favorite would probably be Briggs and Verse, but McLendon got valuable experience last year and was somewhat productive in limited snaps.rnrnHow much regression should be expected? After all, Jermaine Johnson was an NFL First-Round Draft pick and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.rnrnKeir Thomas was a undrafted free agent signee. I'll be looking to see who flashes and whose name I hear the most from coaches and players throughout fall camp. If the Noles can find a consistent pass rush in 2022? This FSU defense will have the potential to be filthy.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Cornerback%20Spot" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_61498" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]rn Cornerback Spot rnThe FSU secondary should be a strength for the Noles as that unit finally began to figure things out as last season progressed.rnrnJammie Robinson to safety, Akeem Dent at the other safety spot, Omarion Cooper emerging mid-way through the season at the boundary cornerback position, and Kevin Knowles emerged at the nickel back position.rnrnHowever, the departure of starter Jarvis Brownlee into the transfer portal left a void the coaching staff has to fill at field cornerback.rnrnThat's the cornerback on the widest part of the field if the ball is on one of the hash marks. A few guys like Renardo Green were competing for that spot this spring, and that spot seems to still be up for grabs.rnrnIt's an important position, and one Brownlee struggled to excel in coverage, although he was solid against the run.rnrnThere's a bevy of guys on the roster vying for that spot along with Green: Azareye'h Thomas, Sam McCall, Demorie Tate, Jarrian Jones, Greedy Vance, Kevin Knowles, and Travis Jay.rnrnThe first three are former top 100 players in their respective recruiting classes. I think a few of those guys could be an improvement over Brownlee, but we'll have to see how it all shakes out in fall camp.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Wide%20Receivers" /]rnrn rnrn rn Wide Receivers rnThe wide receivers were atrocious, and Camren McDonald was too inconsistent last year. There's no sugar coating it, and they have to improve drastically if the Noles expect to win 7-8 games in 2022.rnrnHowever, the coaching staff raided the transfer portal with four additions, three of which will likely contribute in 2022, provided Winston Wright heals from injuries suffered in a car wreck.rnrnTransfer Mycah Pittman looks to be the most sure-fire option, but Ja'Khi Douglas picked up from where he left off in the last three games in spring camp.rnrnCan Malik McClain take that next step? What about Johnny Wilson, who could be a matchup nightmare? Then there's Winston Wright and if he can get healthy. No question, the receiver room has upgraded with talent.rnrnHowever, it's a question of how quickly they assimilate into the offense.rnrnCan someone like Jackson West or Wyatt Rector provide production at the tight end position? Can Camren McDonald find an extra level in his final season?rnrnI like these guys to improve in the passing game, coupled with better play from Jordan Travis and an improved offensive line. We'll just have to see who emerges over fall camp.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Quarterback%20Depth" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_63251" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Quarterback Depth rnThe FSU quarterback position is totally different than it was at this time last year. Jordan Travis is the unquestioned starter and the questions continue to revolve around how well his backups develop.rnrnThe coaching staff must have felt strongly about the latter since they didn't pursue a transfer quarterback. A lot of people expected that to translate into a strong spring game performance from Tate Rodemaker and freshman AJ Duffy.rnrnHowever, that wasn't the case, so we go into fall camp with all of our hopes and dreams dependent upon the health and development of Jordan Travis. I believe Travis is good enough to lead the Noles to eight wins if he can stay healthy.rnrnHowever, that's been his challenge, and FSU's chances of winning games drop steeply once Travis is no longer in the game. How much have Travis, Rodemaker, and Duffy developed over the summer months?rnrnWill Rodemaker or Duffy be serviceable in the event Travis has to miss time? I'm not sure, and I hope it doesn't come to that, but fall camp should give us a better idea about the most important question out there.rnrn[story_link_next description="8%20Most%20Winnable%20Games%20In%202022%20For%20Noles" url="https://chopchat.com/2022/07/23/fsu-football-8-winnable-games-2022-schedule/" /]

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FSU football: 5 biggest questions going into 2022 fall camp

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