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FSU blockers working to earn their attention

Line appears like it might be the strength of the team's offense.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 4, 2002

TALLAHASSEE -- At Florida State, offensive linemen normally are not featured on promotional posters.

Quarterbacks, receivers, tailbacks, defensive ends, linebackers, cornerbacks, absolutely. The Seminoles are known for fan favorites at those glamorous positions. But the offensive line? Who would be so excited about those guys to want to hang a glossy print of them in the office?

This isn't Nebraska.

This year, it just might be.

If the No. 5-ranked Seminoles, off until a Sept. 14 game at defending ACC champion Maryland, are to rebound from a subpar season, it might be 6-foot-6, 310-pound senior tackle Brett Williams, 6-6, 336-pound senior guard Montrae Holland, 6-6, 325-pound senior guard/tackle Todd Williams and 6-4, 300-pound senior center Antoine Mirambeau leading the way.

Or, as the slogan on their poster reads: "Lay it on the line."

"That showed us they're laying the success for the season on us, that it's going to come down to us getting our job done first," said Brett Williams, the offensive captain. "It put a lot of responsibility on us but we're seniors, we should be able to carry it."

Joined by 6-6, 300-pound sophomore tackle Alex Barron, filling in for injured sophomore Ray Willis (6-6 and the runt of the group at 295) who took over for senior Milford Brown, the Seminoles overpowered a youthful Virginia defense and rushed 60 times for 397 yards and five touchdowns.

"I've stood on the sideline on a lot of Sundays and looked out and not seen something as physically imposing as that (group)," said Virginia coach Al Groh, a former NFL coach.

In the opener against Iowa State, the Seminoles ran 43 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Their average of 318 yards is eighth nationally and puts them on a pace to shatter the school single-season record of 272.3, set in 1987.

It isn't just the loss of Brown, who appears on the poster but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA, and injuries that have caused shuffling. The Seminoles also have overcome the perception that they were only adept as pass blockers.

"Pass blocking is more of a finesse thing, you set and wait for the guy to come to you," Mirambeau said. "Run blocking is aggressive."

Unlike Dr. Jekyll, the Seminoles usually haven't had a nasty, Hyde-like alter-ego.

Those guys usually play at schools like Nebraska.

"We heard that a lot when we started working (more) on the run blocking and we kind of wondered ourselves, 'Man. We've kind of forgot how to run block, maybe we are just a finesse team,' " concedes Brett Williams, who won the Jacob's Trophy as the ACC's top blocker last season. "Just like anything, it takes work."

"It just comes from coaching," added Holland, the quiet member of a segment full of comedians. "I like to be aggressive and coach (Jimmy Heggins) always gets on me in my pass protection that I'm not as patient."

So far, he and his linemates are showing both personalities.

"We have some veterans and we've got some pretty good athletes and if they continue to work hard and continue to do the things we ask them to do, they have a chance to be the best," Heggins said.

That would be a good thing for Florida State. The Seminoles' defense, although improving gradually, has given up an average of 378 yards and five fourth-quarter touchdowns. Coach Bobby Bowden frets that the defense needs a standout to emerge, someone who can make big plays weekly.

"I've always felt like you've got to play great defense or you don't make it," he said. "The offensive line is one thing that can nullify just about everything I just said because if your offensive line can protect the passer and block on the run, then you can move the ball."

And control the clock, keeping your defense off the field.

"We're still not where we need to be yet, but the kids are taking a lot of pride in it, (the slogan) lay it on the line," Heggins said.

"Our motivation is we don't want to be a bust," Holland said. "We don't want to talk about, we want to show it each Saturday by going out there and proving we are the No. 1 offensive line."

Picture that.

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