by Rich Cirminiello

Updated: July 10, 2008, 1:14 PM EST 59 comments

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After back-to-back 7-6 seasons and a lingering academic scandal, have the Seminoles reached rock bottom, or are they still descending further? It's a question the beleaguered program will try to dismiss as it attempts to pick up the pieces and make a gradual return back to glory.

Overall, the program has to figure out what it wants to be and where it wants to go. The succession plan is in effect as Jimbo Fisher is all set to take over as the head coach, handling most of the big duties now while Bobby Bowden phases himself into retirement. FSU hasn't been a superpower since it lost to Oklahoma for the national title in the 2001 Orange Bowl, and while it's impossible to bring back the good old days, there's no reason the Seminoles can't be a dominant ACC program again.

Losing five games by a touchdown or less two years ago, the 'Noles seemed to be close to turning things around, but now the close losses have become part of the reason why the program has declined.

Ever since the Orange Bowl loss to the Sooners, FSU is 10-20 in games decided by seven points or fewer. The Noles-are-half-empty fans would say the team can't close and can't come through, the Noles-are-half-full fans would point out that even though the program has slid, 20 of the 32 losses were winnable. Of course, for longtime fans dreaming of the days when a two-loss season was a failure, there's no way to put a smiley face on the decline.

This year's team will be fine, but it'll take something special, and a major change in mojo and momentum, to be a major player in the ACC title chase.

While the defense will again be the strength, the offense must make a giant step forward in Fisher's second season as the coordinator. Most of last year's unit is back, but it managed to score just 23 points a game, struggling badly to open up holes for the running game and showing no consistency whatsoever. And that's a problem.

If Fisher, supposedly an offensive wizard, can't get the attack going, will there be some controversy that he's about to be the head man? For many 'Noles fans, especially the ones that came on board this decade, the torch can't be passed soon enough. Fisher's prominence is growing all the time, but this is still Bowden's program until he says otherwise.

The team will be without a slew of suspended players for the first three games, but opening with Western Carolina and Chattanooga softens the blow. Although the schedule pretty much guarantees a bowl game, to win a rugged Atlantic Division, Bowden might need to coax career years from underrated RB Antone Smith and sporadic QB Drew Weatherford, who's finally not looking over his shoulder at Xavier Lee. It's not going to be easy, but this is still Florida State, even though the name alone doesn't carry much weight anymore.

What to look for on offense: The development of a very young offensive line. If there's going to be progress in Fisher's second year as the coordinator, there needs to be a lot more support from a line that returns just two starters and is painfully short on experience. The right side will be manned by freshmen, and there weren't enough bodies to even fill out a two-deep in the spring. LT Rodney Hudson is a budding star, but he's just one blocker in a unit that requires five and is noticeably short on talent and depth.

What to look for on defense: Better play from the secondary. The 'Noles were uncharacteristically leaky in pass defense last year, allowing two dozen touchdown passes and almost 250 yards a game. Don't expect it to become a trend. Led by the cornerback trio of Tony Carter, Patrick Robinson and Michael Ray Garvin, veteran talent returns at key positions, and the schedule is short on quarterbacks capable of exposing the cracks in this group's armor.

The team will be much better if ... the offense begins to turn the corner. The 'Noles failed to shift out of neutral a year ago, finishing 80th nationally in total offense and scoring more than 30 points just once in a September defeat of lowly UAB. While the defense will be fine, the offense needs to make a move if the program has designs on winning the division.

The Schedule: The Noles can be forgiven for starting out the year against Western Carolina and UT Chattanooga with the two other non-conference games against Colorado and Florida. The ACC road slate isn't a season killer going to Miami, N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Maryland, and getting Boston College and Clemson in Tallahassee will give Bobby Bowden's team a fighting chance at winning the Atlantic. On the down side, the Coastal games could be against the three best teams in the division: Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Miami.

Best Offensive Player: Junior WR Preston Parker. Although Greg Carr and Antone Smith may be better known on a national level, it's Parker who has evolved into the Seminoles' best playmaker. Not only did he lead the team in receptions, but when the offense needed someone to fill the void in the running game, he promptly rushed for 133 on 20 carries against Maryland. One of the ACC's most versatile gamebreakers, he'll need to come back roaring after sitting out the Western Carolina and Chattanooga games serving a suspension.

Best Defensive Player: Junior DE Everette Brown. Before last season, Brown was being hailed as one of the program's breakout players of 2007. Mission accomplished. Using a blend of power and speed, he took his first steps toward a spot on the All-ACC team, racking up 11.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 6.5 sacks. The best is yet to come for a determined Seminole with an eye on double-digit sacks and All-America recognition.

Key players to a successful season: The entire offensive line. This group will share the blame for whatever shortcomings the offense has this season. While Rodney Hudson is about to become a fixture at left tackle, he's surrounded by unproven and untested linemen who will endure a baptism under fire. Depth is almost non-existent and freshmen will be counted on heavily to log minutes in the rotation. If Hudson or C Ryan McMahon is lost for any length of time, it'll be a catastrophe.

The season will be a success if ... the 'Noles win the Atlantic Division. Yes, the program is clearly down, but this is still Florida State and the schedule breaks in its favor, with nine games in the Sunshine State and not one brutal road game that'll require an upset. The division's three toughest teams — Wake Forest, Clemson, and Boston College — must all travel to Doak Campbell Stadium this fall.

Key game: Nov. 8 vs. Clemson. Forget all the "Bowden Bowl" banter, which has been over played for years. This game matters because it could decide who wins the division and gets to play for an ACC crown a month later. Florida State's two biggest concerns on defense, the interior of the line and pass defense, is going to get tested by the balance and big-play potential of the Tiger offense.

Offense

QB Drew Weatherford tore the lateral meniscus in his knee in March, not exactly a good omen for an attack that needs all the veterans it can get. He's expected to be healthy for the start of the season, when he'll renew acquaintances with top receivers Greg Carr and Preston Parker. While Carr is one of the ACC's top long ball threats, Parker is an electrifying playmaker who can also play in the backfield. RB Antone Smith is too gifted to average less than four yards a carry, as he did a year ago. The running game was 91st nationally with the blocking having as many issues as the backs. Last season's best lineman, Rodney Hudson, is making the move from left guard to left tackle. He's the brightest bulb in a unit that's going to struggle all season long.

Quarterbacks: The program is desperate for more offensive production, beginning at quarterback. Provided he can hold on to the job and recover from a torn meniscus in his right knee, senior Drew Weatherford gets one more chance to put it all together and make a break from mediocrity. He's had an up-and-down career, constantly looking over his shoulder and throwing nearly as many career interceptions as touchdowns. The hope is that Weatherford will blossom now that he's digested Fisher's system and Xavier Lee is finally out of the picture. If Weatherford can't deliver, the Seminoles won't be bashful about inserting Christian Ponder into the lineup or burning star recruit E.J. Manuel's redshirt year.

The Seminoles will lean on Preston Parker's versatility to open up its run game. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)

Running Backs: A year after being fully integrated into the offense, senior Antone Smith will again be the focal point of the offense. One of the fastest players on the team, he's capable of delivering a big final season, provided he gets more daylight to blow through and a little more help from the passing game. While Smith is a star, depth became an issue last fall and shows no signs of going away. Brandon Paul has big-time potential, but he's unproven. After Paul, there's a vast wasteland that includes the likes of senior Pat Davis, a walk-on with limited experience.

Receivers: With three of last year's top four wide receivers back for another year, the situation is solid. Junior Preston Parker blew past expectations, instantly becoming one of the most elusive and versatile young players in the country. Unfortunately, he was also active away from the field in the offseason, earning a two-game suspension for carrying a concealed weapon and marijuana possession. The one-two combo of Parker and veteran Greg Carr form one of the most dangerous duos in the country, and they'll have to be effective deep to open things up for an average group of tight ends.

Offensive Line: It's been too long since Florida State was home to a front wall that dominated at the point of attack. Way too long. This year's group doesn't have the bodies to change that trend. Rays of hope can be found in sophomores Rodney Hudson, who'll move from guard to tackle, and Ryan McMahon, the line leaders despite having just a season experience. By design, the program has begun developing smaller, faster offensive linemen who can get off the snap in an instant and won't be winded late in the second half. The starters average well below 300 pounds, which they plan to use to their advantage. However, after Hudson and McMahon, the starting five is wrought with inexperience and uncertainty. The second team will be fine as long as it only makes appearances in blowouts. Of the eight linemen on the spring roster, not one was older than a sophomore.

Defense

This is Florida State, where Mickey Andrews' kids are typically fast and nasty, but the defense showed cracks in the armor late last year, allowing more than 30 points in four of the final seven games, while being especially vulnerable on deep passes. Andrews has the athletes and the focus to make sure the late-season letdown is an aberration. DE Everette Brown was the team's sack leader as a part-time starter, LB Derek Nicholson led the team with 99 tackles, and S Myron Rolle should be ready to blossom into a star. The biggest area of concern is at defensive tackle, where Andre Fluellen and Letroy Guion leave gaping voids that need to be filled.

Antone Smith will need to find his own holes behind a young offensive line. (Elsa / Getty Images)

Defensive Line: The biggest concern on the defensive line is at tackle, where part-time starters Andre Fluellen and Letroy Guion are off trying to make NFL rosters. The most experienced holdover is junior Budd Thacker, who started eight games, missing time in the middle of the year with a fractured toe. The next big thing on the Florida State defensive line is junior end Everette Brown, who erupted in his second season making 37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 6.5 sacks. While Brown is on the brink of stardom, the additions of Kevin McNeil and Markus White give the 'Noles tremendous speed and depth on the edge. It's been years since the front four was able to frighten opponents with outside pressure, but that's about to change.

Linebackers: While it hurts losing a player of Geno Hayes' caliber to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the linebacking situation is still solid. All of the linebackers are terrific athletes with the next level speed to make plays all over the field and the tenacity to intimidate ballcarriers. Senior Derek Nicholson returns to the middle of the unit a year after breaking out with a team-high 99 stops and eight tackles for loss. Dekoda Watson will be excellent in the middle, and Toddrick Verdell and Nigel Bradham will occasionally come up with the big play on the weakside.

Secondary: Four defensive backs with starting experience return to a secondary that has to be better. There is way too much talent and athletic ability for this group to be sketchy in pass defense for a second straight year. Yeah, they'll bite a little too easily, but when these athletic playmakers break on the ball, they instantly go from defensive backs to dangerous receivers. Florida State had 17 interceptions last season and could do even more this year. They're led by 5-foot-9, 166-pound senior Tony Carter and 5-foot-11, 189-pound junior Patrick Robinson, a pair of veteran cornerbacks coming off solid seasons. Junior Myron Rolle is the prototype at rover, a smart and physical 6-foot-2, 218-pounder with two years of starting experience already behind him.

Special Teams: The special teams unit is a mixed bag that needs a lot more from the return game and a kicker who can deliver with a degree of consistency. Florida State has played in a ton of close games over the last few years, meaning improvements here could add a win or two. The graduation of PK Gary Cismesia means senior Graham Gano is likely to be handling double-duty. He has already proven himself as a punter, earning All-ACC honorable mention with an average of 43.4 yards, highest by a Seminole in over a decade. Although leg strength isn't a concern, he has yet to attempt a field goal, let alone with the game on the line.