Florida State Football: 10 Reasonable Goals for the 2012 Season

During the dynasty years of Florida State football, the only goal that was considered reasonable was winning the national championship.

Winning the ACC was considered a birth right, or even routine.

Making a BCS bowl? 

Well, the Seminoles appeared in the national championship game in the system’s first three years of existence. 

While those days are far removed, Jimbo Fisher has resurrected the Seminoles’ program and fans are starting to have big dreams once again.

However, it has been a long time, and the time is now for the Seminoles to break down the doors they have been knocking on since Fisher’s arrival. 

Here are 10 reasonable goals for the 2012 season.

Average 150 Yards Per Game Rushing

When looking at FSU’s rushing attack last season, some may wonder how the Seminoles were able to win nine games with such an anemic output (finished 104^th nationally averaging just over 112 yards per game on the ground).

In the ACC, only Duke and NC State had worse ground games than the Seminoles in 2011.

Injuries may have wreaked havoc everywhere on Fisher’s offense last season, but considering the talent available on this roster, that number is simply unacceptable moving forward.

Asking them to average roughly 40 more yards per game would be a small improvement, but one that they are capable of and thus—makes a reasonable goal for the Seminoles this fall.  

Have a Top 3 Offense in the ACC

Last season, FSU averaged slightly less than 370 yards of total offense per game, which placed them eighth in the ACC and 77^th nationally.

FSU’s talent in each segment is arguably in the top three in the league, so why should their offensive output be anything less? 

A senior quarterback with a loaded receiver unit that loses only one of its top-six wideouts from last season should ensure that the Seminoles field one of league’s top passing attacks.

If the running game comes around, and the Seminoles find a bit of good fortune avoiding the injury bug, elevating their offense to one of the best in the ACC is a reasonable goal in 2012.  

Increase Defensive Turnover Output

Florida State forced 23 turnovers last season, which was good enough to tie for fourth in the ACC. 

Grabbing 16 interceptions was good enough to finish tied with Virginia Tech for second in the league behind NC State—whose 27 picks led the nation.

However, FSU forced 18 fumbles but managed to recover just seven of them—which is a number that they can and should improve upon.  

Lead Nation in Rush Defense

Florida State’s rush defense jumped from 29^th nationally in 2010 all the way up to second in 2011, finishing only behind national champion Alabama. 

The Seminoles allowed only eight rushing touchdowns all season, and just under 83 yards per game on the ground.

Opponents averaged just 2.35 yards per carry against FSU—a number that was even better than the Crimson Tide’s unit. 

Considering that FSU returns eight starters on defense—including every significant contributor from their defensive line (although Cameron Erving moved to offensive tackle)—there’s no reason to believe that the Seminoles cannot elevate their rush defense into the nation’s best.  

Lead Nation in Sacks

Another impressive feat pulled off by defensive coordinator Mark Stoops since his arrival in Tallahassee two seasons ago has been the transformation of the defensive line and the pressure they have been able to apply on quarterbacks.

FSU tied for the national lead in sacks (48) in 2010, and slipped to sixth in 2011 (41). 

With potentially the best duo of defensive ends in the nation with Brandon Jenkins and Bjoern Werner, plus the nation’s top incoming freshman in Mario Edwards, Jr. arriving this summer, the Seminoles pass rush will once again be ferocious.  

Lead ACC in Total Defense

More so than leading the conference in total defense (which they did in 2011), the Seminoles defense needs to impose its will on the rest of the conference for them to reach their goals of winning a championship. 

The ACC is ripe for the taking, and if FSU wants to end their title drought in the league, this edition of the Seminoles defense has to channel the great units in their storied history that ran roughshod through the conference in the 1990’s. 

Considering the talent, depth and experience on the roster, this defense has an opportunity to be one of the best in FSU history.  

Defeat Miami and Florida for Third Straight Season

Jimbo Fisher may not have an official championship on his resume going into year three as the head chief in Tallahassee.

However, Florida State has claimed the unofficial state title by defeating rivals Miami and Florida in each of the last two seasons—and in turn, helped the Seminoles regain control as the dominant program in the Sunshine State. 

Considering the roster turnover in Coral Gables and the troubles on offense in Gainesville, FSU should be a comfortable favorite to make it three in a row over each of their rivals for the first time in school history.  

Win the Atlantic Division

Fisher and the Seminoles won the Atlantic Division two years ago thanks to a collapse by N.C. State on the final weekend of the regular season.

FSU was a strong favorite to get its second consecutive ACC Championship game last season, but early season back-to-back losses to division foes Clemson and Wake Forest doomed their chances one week into October. 

This year, there’s no marquee non-conference showdown (like last season’s week three tilt with Oklahoma) before they host the Demon Deacons (Sept. 15) and Tigers (Sept. 22) at home in consecutive weekends. 

Unlike last year, the Seminoles hope to have a huge leg up toward punching their tickets to Charlotte by the end of September.  

Win the ACC

FSU lost 44-33 to Virginia Tech in the ACC title game two years ago, and hasn’t claimed the ACC since defeating the Hokies in the inaugural conference championship game in 2005. 

Fisher has recruited at an elite level since taking over for Bobby Bowden two years ago, with another top-five class on its way to Tallahassee this summer.

However, considering the lack of a dominant program in the ACC—the time for the Seminoles to assert themselves is now. 

Talent-wise, FSU’s roster is stacked on par with college football’s powerhouses—and anything less than winning a league title this season would be considered underachieving.  

Win a BCS Bowl

With wins in each of its last four bowl trips, Florida State carries the nation’s longest winning streak in bowl games into the 2012 season. 

Last season’s 18-14 comeback win over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl may have been the most impressive of that streak, considering that the Seminoles trailed 14-0 late in the third quarter. 

However, considering the direction that the program is headed, Florida State wants to climb back into the conversation as being one of the nation’s elite programs.

The current standard by which such programs are measured is what they do on the biggest of stages in the sport—which means just getting to a BCS bowl is not enough.

Considering their strong play in bowls recently, if the Seminoles can just make it to a BCS game, then the stage will be set to finally announce their return to the college football world. 

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