College football

Sexton has QB job, for now

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published March 19, 2005

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden turned to a poker analogy to set the stage for what looms as a focal point of spring training.

Even with graduation of his top receivers, his two-time All-America offensive tackle Alex Barron, standout defensive tackle Travis Johnson and starting cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and Leroy Smith, Bowden likes his hand, save for one big unknown:

"We're a quarterback away from where we want to be," Bowden said Friday, a day before the football team begins practicing. "If you get that daggum quarterback in there who can get the job done, you'd fill out that straight."

For now, rising fourth-year junior Wyatt Sexton is No.1.

He started seven games last season and showed a strong arm. But his lack of mobility allowed defenses to gamble - and win - with all-out blitzes too often. Sexton isn't going to suddenly become an athlete like Chris Rix or the redshirt freshmen who will be pushing him for the starter's job, Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee.

"But how good a runner's (Tom) Brady? Can he run better than Wyatt?" Bowden said of the pocket-passing, ultra-accurate Super Bowl-winning quarterback. "I don't think so. And you could probably name a lot of them up there in the NFL who can't run any better than Wyatt. So what's the answer? Know who to throw the ball to. Know who to throw the ball to immediately."

Will Sexton, criticized by the staff at times in his career for not showing passion and singularity of purpose, grasp that?

"If ol' Wyatt will commit himself, really commit himself, which I think he will, I think you'll see some improvement," Bowden said.

That doesn't mean he'd hold on to the job, however. Bowden said the plan is to work Weatherford, the former Land O'Lakes star who appeared in one play before a season-ending ankle injury last season, and Lee an equal number of reps in a wide-open competition to complete that straight draw.

"If we're all even at the end of the spring, I think Wyatt will have the job because of his game experience," Weatherford said.

The Seminoles open with arch nemesis Miami, which has won six straight in the series. As an Atlantic Coast Conference game, it takes on even greater implications.

All three quarterbacks will start on the same footing as the Seminoles incorporate different schemes following a disappointing offensive showing (an average of 372.5 yards, the team's worst since 1981) last season after hiring of a new offensive line coach, Mark McHale, who had been the line coach and offensive coordinator at Marshall.

"What I hope is by the end of spring training, somebody has really separated himself. That's what you'd like," Bowden said. "Then (you could) say, "Boy. No doubt, that guy's No. 1.' "

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:01:18]