Florida State football spring preview: Will Seminoles improve in 2019?

Biggest question mark: Offensive line

Surprise, surprise: the offensive line remains the Seminoles’ biggest question mark entering 2019. If you can’t block, you can’t win. Simple as that.

The Seminoles offensive line got whipped in 2018, wreaking havoc on quarterback Deondre Francois, as well as running backs Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick, both of whom averaged less than a yard before contact.

There is no way Florida State can develop a great offensive line by the 2019 season. But if the Seminoles can just manage to roll out an average offensive line or a slightly below average offensive line, this will be seen as a vast improvement.

New offensive line coach Randy Clements will have a lot to do with this—and the Garnet and Gold Spring Game will give us an idea of what to expect. When Briles came to Florida State, many speculated Clements would follow. The two have long been a package deal. It took awhile, but Clements is finally on board—an important hire, as he and Briles are deeply familiar with one another and can thus tailor play-calling to the weakness of the offensive line.

Reports from spring practice indicate that Clements has spent much time emphasizing the point of mesh. Clements has also emphasized tempo, which at least some in this unit should be more familiar with, as well as pushing the group to move through drills faster, as the tempo will only increase as the Seminoles move toward the season.

During practice, there have been various combinations. But as of now, the projected starting offensive line includes Jauan Williams (who in 2018 ranked among the worst offensive linemen in the country), Brady Scott (if he can stay healthy), Baveon Johnson (high recruited and talented, but struggling to accurately snap the ball), Mike Arnold, and Landon Dickerson, who threw his name in the transfer portal following Greg Frey’s firing.

This isn’t exactly an inspiring offensive line, but it’s the one Clements has to work with. Reports from spring practice have been up and down, but there has been some optimism on the whole. Come April 6, we will see whether the unit has made enough improvement to protect Blackman and created holes for the Seminoles’ talented running backs, which include Khalon Laborn returning from injury—or if we’re in for a repeat of the 2018 nightmare.