Five Big Takeaways from FSU's open practice at Doak Campbell
With evening kickoffs scheduled for each of its first three games of 2017, the Florida State football team hasn't been overly concerned about getting in work under the hot Tallahassee sun this preseason.
But when the clouds cleared early Sunday afternoon, the Seminoles got all the heat and humidity they could have asked for. With about 1,000 fans watching inside Doak Campbell Stadium, FSU conducted its lone open practice of the season. It lasted slightly more than two hours, with temperatures soaring close to 90 degrees on a sun-splashed afternoon.
As usual, the team worked on a number of individual and group activities -- everything from 1-on-1 blocking and pass-rushing drills to 11-on-11 scrimmage-type situations.
And after taking it all in, these are my Five Big Takeaways from the event. This certainly should not be considered an all-encompassing list -- there often are drills going on in two or three areas of the field at the same time, so it's impossible to see everything -- but here are some of the things that stood out to me.
Wide receivers put on a show
Before we get going, we have to point out that many of the passing drills that take place in practice are heavily tilted in the offense's favor. In both the one-on-ones and "pass skeleton" drills, there is no pass rush, so the quarterbacks have a clean look at the receivers and plenty of time to make their throws.
Having said that, it's easy to see why Jimbo Fisher has been talking up Florida State's receivers this preseason. Nyqwan Murray and Keith Gavin, in particular, were each outstanding in their own ways on Sunday. Both not only have the ability to get open, but they make tough catch after tough catch in traffic.
Fisher did get onto Gavin a couple of times for not running routes correctly, but for the most part, he and Murray both received a good bit of praise, and deservedly so.
It's interesting to note that it was at this same open practice last year that fans and media got their first real glimpse of how special Murray could be. He was practically unstoppable in that practice, and he went on to become FSU's most dangerous wide receiver by the end of that season.
For much of Sunday's practice, freshman Tamorrion Terry made me reflect upon that performance by Murray. While he wasn't going against the top defensive backs -- he primarily was on the field with the second- and fourth-teamers -- the 6-4 freshman made big play after big play after big play. We have no way to know if he has a firm enough understanding of the offense to contribute this year, but just based on his size, athletic ability and ball skills, the guy looks like he could be a potential star in the making.
Senior walk-on Jared Jackson also turned in a number of impressive catches, including one diving grab on the sideline.
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