“When you play great people, you can’t be one dimensional. Defenses today are taking the attack mode. We have to keep them off balance. When they think we are going to pass, we’ve got to run and when they want us to run, we have to keep on passing. Down and distance will dictate that."
Beyond all the X's and O's, those words seem to define Jimbo Fisher's offensive philosophy, reducing it to the simplest terms. And that was when he was still at LSU.
It's still his M.O. Here's what Paul Strelow, the Clemson beat writer at The State, said before FSU caged the Tigers last fall.
"Fisher is masterful at scripting one play off another and using multiple formations to achieve a balanced attack."
It didn't happen overnight. Not in his new job. Before he could become a masterful architect, he had to tear down FSU's offense to the foundations, bring in subcontractors like Rick Trickett, and work through old attitudes, suspensions, and countless other setbacks.
But by the end of last season, Fisher had shaped the Noles attack to a reasonable facsimile of his ultimate vision of a powerful machine hitting on all sixes.
The best example: The 16 play, 85 yard drive against Wisconsin in the Champs Bowl. Not only did it result in 7 points, it ate 7:43 off the clock -- more than half of the third quarter.
Better yet, the drive was a confidence builder the team can carry into 2009. Even 'Consin fans realized FSU's offense was in total control, having wrestled the momentum from the Badgers. Despite two incomplete passes and a 9-yard sack of Ponder, it was clear the Noles were in the zone as they drove the field and chewed the clock.
Reality check. Greg Carr caught four of the six completions on the drive (Mr. Jump Ball became a possession receiver). Two passes were caught by a pair of returning receivers (Givens and Reed).
Okay, so the first game or two (let's hope that's all it takes) will be a test to see who can team with Reed and Givens. Who will be the new go-to guys? Fortson? Commack? Owens? Goodman? Gehres? A true freshman?
Imagine if a couple of those come through. Better yet, if Chris Thompson or Lonnie Pryor add some Bert Reed-style zip as dual threats. Then Jimbo can blend a balanced attack to deliver many more drive charts like this memorable one from the Champs Bowl:
F 1-10 F15 FLORIDA STATE drive start at 11:54.
F 1-10 F15 Ponder, C pass complete to Carr, G for 6 yards to the FSU21 (Levy,
DeAndre).
F 2-4 F21 Ponder, C pass complete to Givens, L. for 7 yards to the FSU28, 1ST
DOWN FSU (St. Jean, Culme).
F 1-10 F28 Ponder, C pass complete to Reed, B for loss of 3 yards to the FSU25
(Valai, Jay).
F 2-13 F25 Ponder, C rush for 11 yards to the FSU36 (Valai, Jay).
F 3-2 F36 PENALTY WISC offside 10 yards to the FSU46, 1ST DOWN FSU.
F 1-10 F46 Ponder, C pass incomplete to Reed, B.
F 2-10 F46 Ponder, C pass complete to Carr, G for 9 yards to the WISC45 (St. Jean,
Culme).
F 3-1 W45 Smith, A rush for 2 yards to the WISC43, 1ST DOWN FSU (Levy,
DeAndre;St. Jean, Culme).
F 1-10 W43 Ponder, C pass incomplete to Piurowski, C.
F 2-10 W43 Ponder, C sacked for loss of 9 yards to the FSU48 (Levy, DeAndre).
F 3-19 F48 Ponder, C pass complete to Carr, G for 20 yards to the WISC32, 1ST
DOWN FSU (Valai, Jay).
F 1-10 W32 Smith, A rush for 3 yards to the WISC29 (Maragos, Chris;Levy, DeAndre).
F 2-7 W29 Ponder, C pass complete to Carr, G for 10 yards to the WISC19, 1ST
DOWN FSU (Brinkley, Niles).
F 1-10 W19 Smith, A rush for 7 yards to the WISC12 (Moore, Dan).
F 2-3 W12 Sims, M rush for 3 yards to the WISC9, 1ST DOWN FSU (McFadden,
Jaeve).
F 1-G W09 Ponder, C rush for 3 yards to the WISC6 (McFadden, Jaeve).
F 2-G W06 Smith, A rush for 6 yards to the WISC0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:11.
Gano, G kick attempt good.
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