Florida State football: 5 fixes to make before 2019 season

Florida State football is broken, but not beyond repair. What are the five major fixes the Seminoles must make before the 2019 season?

Florida State came into the 2018 season with high expectations. The energy quickly deflated as the Noles much-hyped, spread-tempo offense sputtered, looking disorganized and inefficient with little improvement as the season progressed.

The Noles were hamstrung by poor quarterback play, questionable coaching, a disastrous offensive line, zero run game, and a backbreaking schedule. With Florida State missing a bowl for the first time in 36 years, the Noles have a lot to fix.

5. Quarterback 

The Noles haven’t been right since Alabama injured quarterback Deondre Francois in the 2017 season opener.

Following the injury to Francois, the 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year was replaced by James Blackman, who did well to guide the Noles to a 7-6 record in a tumultuous season that saw head coach Jimbo Fisher leaving.

Francois returned in 2018, but he wasn’t the same.

This year, the Noles missed on Sam Howell, the No. 3 pro-style quarterback out of North Carolina. Which is fine.

Howell was a good prospect with a big arm and the ability to run the ball, but the Noles have other options, including Louisville transfer Jordan Travis, who has already enrolled, and Lance LeGendre.

With Justin Fields off the board, the Noles might be tempted to fixate on Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts. But there is no reason to believe that Hurts, who has won championships at the highest level, would transfer to a rebuilding program with a porous offensive line.

And that is OK. The Noles have plenty of other options.