Golson's learning curve will determine success at FSU – Palm Beach Post
Jimbo Fisher was enjoying his lunch at the ACC spring meetings last week when he was asked a hypothetical question:
“If a quarterback joined your program in May or June, would he have time to learn the system by September?”
Mark Wallheiser
FILE – In this Oct. 18, 2014, file photo, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, right, greets Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson after Florida State won 31-27 in an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla. Former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson says he is transferring to Florida State, where he will have the chance to replace Jameis Winston. In a statement to Fox Sports, Golson said Tuesday, May 19, 2015, after much consideration he will spend his fifth year of eligibility with the Seminoles. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)
Fisher kind of shrugged his shoulder and said, “yes,” knowing exactly who the questioner was asking about.
Soon, we will find out if he was right.
Florida State found its successor to Jameis Winston on Tuesday when former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson announced he would join the Seminoles as a graduate transfer. Golson’s announcement was first reported by Fox Sports.
The Palm Beach Post reported Friday that Golson was leaning toward choosing FSU over Florida, Georgia and Alabama, among others.
Golson, though, was offered no promises and will have to beat out redshirt junior Sean Maguire when camp starts in August. Most believe that is a formality, considering Golson threw for nearly as many yards in one game last season against Arizona State (446) as Maguire has in his career as Winston’s backup (455).
Golson, who missed the 2013 season while serving a school suspension because of an academic violation, graduated from Notre Dame on Sunday and has one season of eligibility remaining.
Golson released a statement in which he thanked Fisher and FSU “for allowing me to become part of the Seminoles family. I can’t wait to get started. Go Noles.”
But Golson has a lot to learn between now and the Sept. 5 opener against Texas State. Golson will be playing in a system he has never seen — except for that one night last October when he nearly led the Irish to an upset win over FSU at Doak Campbell.
Notre Dame, where he started two years, including leading the Irish to an undefeated 2012 season and a spot in the national championship game, runs a spread with some pro-system stuff sprinkled in.
Fisher, speaking on ESPN 97.9 in Tallahassee, called Golson, “a thrower who can run. … not a runner who can throw. He can create plays with his feet, can throw on the run, can run zone read stuff. There’s a lot of versatility he brings to the table. I think he’s a complete football player.”
And while former FSU quarterback Danny Kanell said on twitter that “it’s tough to learn playbook with no spring,” ESPN analyst Ed Cunningham believes that Golson will have a smooth transition into Fisher’s pro-style offense.
“[They’re] different systems, but they challenge their quarterbacks, expect them to make a lot of decisions on the field,” Cunningham said. “The X’s and O’s will be different, but I think it will feel very similar for him.”
Golson, 6-foot, 200 pounds, was not under center very often at Notre Dame, but he has the arm strength to make throws from the pocket in addition to the ability to do damage with his legs.
Fisher has made adjustments before, most notably when Christian Ponder ran his offense. Ponder averaged 8.5 rushing attempts in his 35 games at FSU, while Winston averaged 5.4 in his 27 games.
The number, though, that FSU followers cannot shake is 22, the total turnovers by Golson in 2014: 14 interceptions and eight lost fumbles. Golson’s struggles the final half of last season was a big reason Notre Dame finished 2-5 after winning its first six games.
Golson has thrown 41 TDs with 20 interceptions in his career. In two years, Winston threw 65 TD passes with 28 picks. Winston’s QB rating was 163.3. Golson’s is 138.2.
Fisher is not concerned about upsetting the chemistry of a team that accepted Maguire as a leader in the spring. And defensive leader Jalen Ramsey backed that notion when he tweeted: “YESSSSS!!! Welcome to the family EG! #Nolenation The Rich Keep Getting Richer!”
So much so that Phil Steele, who publishes a yearly college football preview magazine, said FSU should be the favorite to win the ACC and jump into the preseason top 10.
“I no longer even worry if Florida State will be in the top 10. I just worry how high they will be,” Steele said.
Many believed 2015 was going to be a rebuilding year for FSU after winning 27 of 28 games the last two seasons, having 11 players selected in the 2015 NFL Draft (29 in three years) and losing all but three starters on offense. But the coaches were pleased with the development of the offensive line during the spring and see a stable of receivers and a strong backfield returning, which may have convinced Fisher that he needed a more polished quarterback to lead that offense.
And considering Golson has played in 25 games and was on college football’s biggest stage following the 2012 season, there is nobody Fisher could have brought in with more experience.
“If I’m a Florida State fan right now, I would be so happy,” Cunningham said. “This is a huge win.”
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