September 18, 2007
Will Xavier Lee rot on the FSU bench?
FSU backup Xavier Lee -- a former Mr. Football in Florida as a high school senior -- isn't complaining about his role for the Seminoles this season, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have an opinion. Lee is letting his father do the talking, and... boy is he ever.
"I don't have nothing against Drew Weatherford," Willie Lee said this week, speaking about FSU's starting quarterback. "He's a great kid -- he's just been given more of an opportunity than Xavier has been given."I don't understand what's going on."
...
His dad described him as "very, very sad," after the UAB game.
"He's just waiting," Willie Lee said. "He knows he can do it, but he's not worried about it for some reason."
Lee's father says that he had convinced XL to transfer to Bethune-Cookman during the offseason, where the elder Lee had played, but two hours with new Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher convinced the Lees that XL would have a role in the FSU offense this season.
FSU coach Bobby Bowden says that he understands the elder Lee's concerns.
When Bowden was told Tuesday of Willie Lee's frustrations, the coach said, "Any parent would [complain]. Parents would naturally do it. But they're not up here watching practice every day and seeing what the coaches see. You can't blame the parents."
But, after the Seminoles lackluster performance against Colorado, OC Jimbo Fisher indicated that things may be changing in the FSU lineup.
"That's the most inept ridiculous demonstration of football I've been around in my life," the offensive coordinator said. "If I'm an offensive player, I'm embarrassed to say I'm a part of this. We are going to find a way to fix it. We're going to find 11 guys who want to do it. So starting Tuesday, when we get back, I promise you ..."Fisher's mood was getting angrier. His voice was getting louder. For weeks he has given his offense some rope, citing its youth and preaching patience.
Now he was ready to hang his players.
"We're going to find out who wants to play football next week," he said. "Everything's always open. The best players ... if they ain't performing, we'll find somebody who does. We're going to find 11 football players who actually want to play, I promise you."
So does that meet Xavier Lee might get another shot at starting for the Seminoles?
"The quarterback gets all the glory and all the blame, just like the coaches do," Fisher said. "It's all part of it and it all starts with him and works its way down. I mean it is everybody."
In an interview posted on Monday, Fisher indicated to Warchant that Lee was getting the bulk of the snaps not going to Weatherford, although he did not want to tip his hand as to how Lee might be utilized going forward.
I feel for Xavier Lee, I really do. He set just about every QB record in the state of Florida while in high school, yet he has rarely seen anything beyond mop up duty while at Florida State. When he was given the chance to start, he was really, really solid. And the rest of the time, well, he's just been riding the pine.
While I wouldn't fault XL for leaving the Noles, as a redshirt junior, he really has very little opportunity left to make an impact elsewhere. So, for better or worse, Lee's future is in the hands of Fisher, Bowden, Weatherford and... to some degree, Lee himself.
XL is not beating out Weatherford in practice, by all accounts, so there's really no legitimate argument as to why he should see the field ahead of Weatherford as the "starter", per se. But there's no reason that FSU shouldn't give Lee a 10-15 play package that utilizes his extraordinary talents as a game-changer... a la the way in which Meyer used Tebow's unique talents to compliment Chris Leak last season at Florida.
It's time to see XL on the field more, dadgummit.
Hat Tip: Fanblogs own Gatorhippy
Comments:
Gator Boys said:
posted on September 18, 2007 11:17 AM — 66.231.138.222 — link — abuse?
This might be a LITTLE off topic, but from what I hear: First X Lee broke all the Florida QB records, then Tim Tebow broke all the Florida records, then John Brantley broke all the records. Is this true? All the records being broken 3 in 4 years?
misostupid said:
posted on September 18, 2007 11:35 AM — 66.62.121.9 — link — abuse?
do they record those records with pencil?
anyway, looking forward to Bobby stepping down. he is hurting recruiting and is just a sad old figure head. they need a new long term guy. i hear bill callahan will be looking for a new place soon.misostupid said:
posted on September 18, 2007 11:49 AM — 66.62.121.9 — link — abuse?
fresh quote there kev. got any tickets to michael bolton? misofunny. is gameday going to be at the Husker/Ball State game next week? those bronze statues outside the stadium moved faster than the Sker D. Big Smell strikes again.
posted on September 18, 2007 12:23 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
@Gatorhippy - One thing that Lee brings to the backfield is a true dual-option threat. Fischer has called several QB draws for Weatherford this year, and it's just like watching a cow try to run down the field. Those are perfect calls for XL, because he can actually run and make a couple of guys miss. Then again, maybe Fischer is just trying to knock Weatherford out of the game. :)
CUTotalTiger said:
posted on September 18, 2007 12:30 PM — 68.59.7.45 — link — abuse?
3 things guys...
1) There is a reason Lee is not playing. We do not see the practice and the coaches do. Perhaps he was just a bust. It happens
2) All I heard in the off season was how smart Jimbo was.... Well if he is as smart as the FSU fans say he is.... Then he knows what he is doing.
3) A twisted ankle adn Lee is in the game
gatorhippy
posted on September 18, 2007 12:58 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse? said:
CUTT (#10):
3 things in retort...
1) We all saw X play last season...
There is definite talent and ability to compete but he has not been used in an offense that works towards his abilities...
As his high school coach claims was part of the promise he received during the recruiting process...
2) If Jimbo is so smart then why hasn't he adapted his offense to make better use of the abilities of the kids...
You have to play the cards your dealt...
3) Ponder is by all means an adequate backup...
If X can help win now...
Why wait until Weatherford gets hurt?
1st_and_NOLE
posted on September 18, 2007 7:10 PM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse? said:
Ok, this is a complicated situation to a degree. There's a lot of stuff going on with the FSU QB situation.
After the Clemson game Fisher was asked if he even thought of putting XL in. Fisher simply said "no." Why? Because FSU has a lot of young guys on offense that were (and still are) trying to learn the new offense - including freshmen OL men. So, during the game, DW was actually telling the young guys where they needed to be and what to do. During the Clemson game, when FSU got a delay of game penalty it was because DW was telling the young guys what their jobs were.
So, to start the season NO ONE knew the offense as well as DW did. He really worked hard at learning the new offense and plays. XL worked hard as well but simply didn't pick it up as easily or quickly as DW. So, for the first few games XL wouldn't have been able to help the young guys know their assignments like DW could.
The feeling I get from sources around the program is that Fisher may be waiting for XL to grasp the offense better. I think Fisher loves XL's upside but it means nothing if XL doesn't fully know what to do.
I think he'll get playing time (maybe even win the starting job) once he can not only learn HIS job but also learn the offense well enough to know everyone else's job on offense.
gatorhippy
posted on September 18, 2007 9:03 PM — 70.121.185.56 — link — abuse? said:
First&Nole (#13):
Yeah, I think we all understand that...
What I'm curious about is why not work an obviously gifted athlete into the offense in another manner such as the slot and/or WR as I pointed out in post #1...
If Fisher can get Carr and Fagg to play up to their potential and then throw X into the mix with Drew under center...
Well, it can only help...
JMHO...
1st_and_NOLE
posted on September 18, 2007 9:19 PM — 71.14.108.232 — link — abuse? said:
That's a good point.
So far this year, we've had a ton of problems with dropped passes. Also, WRs have run very poor routs and cut them off short.
I guess if the position players aren't doing it right Fisher is hesitant about letting a player from another position try to do it.
I can't say for sure but until the offense executes better running gimmick plays probably won't be effective.
I'd just like XL to continue to grasp the entire offense so he can give himself a chance to compete.
gatorhippy
posted on September 18, 2007 9:25 PM — 70.121.185.56 — link — abuse? said:
Right on...
I'm not even saying run gimmick plays...
Just get somebody that wants to play every down and be effective in there...
Seems like maybe even Lee might not be interested in trying sometimes though...
As Kev pointed out above...
TE
posted on September 19, 2007 10:15 PM — 70.180.45.10 — link — abuse? said:
Sorry guys...I guess that screwed up post at the top of the site lets the cat out of the bag...Either my own lack of familiarity with the blog editing software, or the blog editing Cookie Monster just ate an opus of a dandy that I actually did NOT save in Word...So, you'll have to wait a while as I reconstruct it all for your viewing pleasure...
I hope you guys all enjoy what I've got to say...and how I say it...
Thanks to Kevin, and my apologies for the jacked up 1st try...
gatorstud said:
posted on September 21, 2007 10:11 AM — 69.95.111.248 — link — abuse?
1st and nole......let me ask you this...and i am only asking cause i havn't paid much attention to what is happenin to the noles.....
but why aren't fisher and company using spurriers old method of the two headed quarterback system.....it seems to me that both qb's have different styles of play....so why not use it to your advantage and try to confuse defenses.....is lee that inexperienced that fisher doesn't want to use him just yet....from what i am hearing it just seems that deciding on one which qb is more suitable...is really becoming a problem there....just curious
go gators...and hokies
Jperry said:
posted on September 21, 2007 9:40 PM — 74.236.107.126 — link — abuse?
This stuff is not rocket science. Weatherford is an average QB. Weatherford is not going to take the team anywhere. The coaching staff screwed up and should have started Xavier two years ago and he would be a seasoned QB now. It's not like Weatherford has done anything in the mean time. But now we have a waisted talent on the bench that I don't blame if he leaves. I don't care what the coches say about practice, you don't need to be a chemistry major to play football but you do need talent. Let's just be nice and say Weatherford is limited with his play making ability's. I would much rather watch Xavier throw an interception here and there, than the painful expierce of Weatherford try to make a play in the pocket. Even if the offensive line is that bad, more reason to play an athletic QB to add another threat. As a former division one football player I can't understand why the coaching staff would not be playing the most talented person. And it is obvious Lee has the talent and I think Bobby would have seen that 10 years ago. In case you don't remember Ward was not the most accurate passer his first year but they new the potential was there. It might be time for a head coaching change.
gatorhippy
posted on September 22, 2007 9:32 AM — 70.121.185.56 — link — abuse? said:
Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi theorizes that the reason we're not seeing Lee get reps is because the actual back up may be Richardson...
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-bianchia2207sep22,0,3865765.column
Third paragraph down in the link...
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gatorhippy
said:
posted on September 18, 2007 10:12 AM — 70.121.185.56 — link — abuse?Kev, you nailed this...
With guys like Fagg & Carr not living up to potential at WR and Antone's backups not producing at RB...
Why is Lee at least not being used in a slot or wideout position...
I watched X play at Seabreeze a few times and the kid is obviously an athlete; quick and elusive with a cannon...
10-15 play package for him under center complimented with Lee working in at the slot or split out wide with Weatherford under center would certainly give opposing defenses something to think about...