Jeff Bowden Discusses Upcoming Season

FSU offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden spoke to the Tallahassee Democrat about the upcoming season. Here's what he had to say:

TD: We in the media have used the word “predictable” in describing some of your offenses in the past. It's not a word you like, but is that what we're really talking about with this season's offense - that defenses will find it less predictable?

Bowden: I hope so. I don't want to let a defense dictate everything we do. But to a degree, without being hard-headed about some things, they can dictate a little bit whether you are pass to run or run to pass. We are going to bust our fanny to try to be less predictable.

TD: To that end, what has to happen?

Bowden: Here's one thing that I think will help us this season and the seasons to come. Two of the three guys lining up at fullback can catch the ball out of the backfield. And the tight ends (group) I think we are fixing to have, have the same kind of ability. There will not be situations this fall where we have to put one guy to run block and then substitute him to bring a guy in to catch passes. These guys have potential to be good run blockers and in pass protection, and catch the ball.

The fact that (freshman tight end) Caz Piurowski is 6-foot-6, 6-7, he's going to present some problems down the road, as will the other freshman coming in.

TD: Will we see Drew Weatherford working more out of the I-formation as we did in the spring?

Bowden: It will be about the same. Now that you have a fullback that can come out of the play-action pass and catch the ball in the backfield, now your play-action passes, which means being under center, will be more effective. Those two positions (fullback and tight end) are going to help our run, play-action pass formation.

TD: Everybody wants to know about Xavier Lee. What are your plans for him? His shoulder seems ready to go.

Bowden: I'm going to see what he will allow me to do. I don't want to advertise some of the things I'm thinking about with him.

TD: Is Drew the best quarterback you've had as a coordinator?

Bowden: He has the potential to get to the show. I thought he had a heck of a freshman year in every way. Everything I put on him, he handled as well as I have seen.

TD: Who are some of the younger players or lesser-known players fans should keep their eyes on this fall?

Bowden: It is interesting to see how some of these guys are going to help us - guys like Robert Hallback, who was a walk-on. Joslin Shaw has done things quietly, right and well. (Fullback) Joe Surratt - his time has come.

TD: A lot of your offensive linemen did well during the summer strength and conditioning program.

Bowden: Jacky (Claude) and Dumaka Atkins are starting to look like brick houses a little bit. John Frady tested real well. The linemen are just going to be such a blue-collar bunch. I don't know how many All-Americans they have but they have a bunch of fighters. The one thing that they can take into next season is they've already lined up against the best they are going to see, and they've done really well. Hopefully that gives them the confidence because that's all they lack right now.