Jimbo Fisher may have traded in his Florida State garnet for Texas A&M maroon, but, he still has to deal with Clemson football in 2018.
After claiming the 2013 National Championship, Florida State began to slowly regress under Jimbo Fisher. The Seminoles went 13-1 in 2014, with an appearance in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Then, the ‘Noles went 10-3 in both 2015 and 2016.
Florida State’s backslide under Fisher came to a head this season, going 7-6. For sometime there it appeared that the Seminoles wouldn’t become bowl eligible.
Fisher eventually left Tallahassee for a 10 year, 75 million dollar contract at Texas A&M. Before jumping ship at Florida State, Fisher had loss three straight to Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
Familiar Faces
Fisher may have escaped his troubles at Florida State, however, he still has to deal with Clemson for at least two more seasons.
Clemson and Texas A&M have a home-and-home series set to begin in 2018. Fisher will face the Tigers much earlier than he is accustomed to as the two programs will face-off in week two next year.
I expect Clemson to route the Aggies next season. While I recognize that Texas A&M has a talented roster, their offense does not matchup well with Clemson’s elite defense. The Tigers are returning the best defensive line unit in the country and that’s not up for debate. If Kellen Mond is the starter in College Station, the Aggies are in for a long afternoon.
Mond, a former four-star recruit, is a dynamic athlete, but, he lacks the discipline as a passer to threaten the Tigers defense.
Over the last three seasons, Florida State averaged just 19 points versus Clemson and that is with a team full of Jimbo Fisher’s players. Yes, Florida State was without starting quarterback, Deondre Francois this past season, but, fellow true freshman, James Blackman is a much better passer than Mond.
In 2017, Blackman completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,230 yards and 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions; whereas Mond completed just 51.5 percent of his passes for 1,375 yards and 8 touchdowns to six interceptions.
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I’m not sure that Mond will fare well in Fisher’s outdated, complex pro-style offense. Especially facing Clemson’s dominant front seven.