+ New offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will upgrade and modernize the offensive schemes. Under Jeff Bowden, FSU tried to win games and gain yardage by relying on the kind of physical talent advantages it used to have, but no longer does, against ACC rivals. There'll be more deception, influence blocking and a broader range of pass routes.

+ Coach Bobby Bowden is convinced the defense will be better, even if the loss of linebacker Buster Davis means a new unit leader has to emerge. The top candidates are senior defensive lineman Andre Fluellen and linebacker Geno Hayes, a junior with more quickness but less hitting ability than Davis.

+ The secondary, which has extensive experience, should be the league's best. Junior corner Tony Carter and the safeties -- sophomore Myron Rolle and senior Roger Williams -- all have NFL talent.

+ Fisher is one of five new assistants on the staff. He joins offensive line coach Rick Trickett (from West Virginia) and linebackers coach Chuck Amato (from N.C. State). Bowden also hired alums Dexter Carter and Lawrence Dawsey to coach the running backs and the receivers, respectively.

- With a nonconference schedule that includes Colorado, Alabama and Florida away from Tallahassee, the Seminoles will face their share of challenges. Only five games will be played in Doak Campbell Stadium. Two of those are against Duke and UAB and should amount to little more than spirited scrimmages.

- Other than Antone Smith, who had a modest 88 carries in '06, there's no readily identifiable breakaway runner in the program. It's difficult to believe this is the same program that produced Warrick Dunn, Greg Allen and Travis Minor. Dunn and Allen alone combined for 81 TDs.

- Unless inconsistent junior receiver Greg Carr does something close to a 180, the best WR is likely to be senior De'Cody Fagg, who caught one TD pass last season. At LSU last season, Fisher had four players who caught between 35 and 65 passes. That's not likely to happen at FSU in '07.

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