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Behind Enemy Lines: Jimbo Fisher

Opening Statement on Louisville:

JIMBO FISHER: Got a great team coming up in Louisville, very dynamic on both sides of the ball, playmakers, kicking game. I mean, extremely well coached. You go from A to Z. They're as good as there is around, so they do a great job. Got to get better, get ready for the challenge and get ready to roll.

Q. Do you have an update on Derwin James?

JIMBO FISHER: Derwin (James) has torn cartilage in his knee. Did not have any ACL or any structural damage whatsoever. He has some cartilage damage which we'll go in and see. His time out will depend on how it's repaired. If it's torn or something left jagged they have to cut it, it's actually less time. If they sew it or pack it down or whatever they say they'll do, it will be more time. We'll do whatever's best for him. All it was is a piece of cartilage that flipped. No structural damage in any way, shape or form. Don't know how long. That's all going to depend on surgery and everything on it. As a matter of fact, he's over there right now.

Q. That’s got to be a huge blessing

JIMBO FISHER: It was. Just for his sake. It was such a weird -- I mean, it wasn't a guy diving into your leg, falling into your leg to make a great hit. Tough to balance and when he came down, it's just all the power when guys are that strong. But for him I was very happy, no structural damage in that regard. At the time I didn't think much of it. I thought he had a cramp or something because we couldn't tell during the game, and then they grabbed me afterwards. They said they weren't sure, but they were going to do the MRI that night and saw and made sure and hopefully we'll get that worked out and he'll be ready to go.


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Q. Not that you ever plan on losing guys, what’s it like to know that with your system, guys are interchangeable and you can move them around?

JIMBO FISHER: That's what we plan for. That's why we practice like we practice. And that's how we-- position, whether backs or fullbacks, H-backs. I remember when we had Chris Thompson down at Miami. No one had heard of Devonta Freeman. He gets hurt and all of a sudden he comes in but he has played enough. The way we practice, we had those young guys ready to play. September 13, 2016 His first action he had two or three touchdowns that night and we were able to upset and play a great game against Miami. It's happening. The way we practice and the way we structure our team offense and defense, we're not playing for this, but you kind of put a safeguard around to make sure that all your bases are covered the way you've got to go. We've got some great young players I think who will be able to step up and play.

Q. There’s not a scenario where Derwin James can play against Louisville?

JIMBO FISHER: No, no.

Q. Everyone knows about the talent, what do you miss in his leadership?

JIMBO FISHER: I think the presence. I mean, he has tremendous presence on the field. But I think also the way he is with his presence, that he won't allow that to be a factor either, because I think he'll be such a big part of those guys on the side of generating them, motivating them, and getting them to step up to the next level. I think on the field they'll miss him with his physical abilities and his leadership. But I think his presence on the sideline and his off-the-field things and the way he'll be with them, he'll have those guys mentally ready to play too. He's one of the few guys that I've been around since Jameis (Winston) and stuff like that that has such a unique effect on players in such a positive way. When we had to play without Jameis, and (Clemson quarterback) Deshaun (Watson) played wonderful, a great game, big game against Clemson here. And I think Deshaun did great, but Jameis had presence on the sideline for his team too. And I think he's one of those guys that has an influence that way. Those guys will want to play well and do well for him. Now we've got to go out there and play. That doesn't make that happen. We'd much rather have him on the field. He's as good a defensive player as there is in this country. But that's just the way it is.

Q. Anything you take away from last year (against Louisville and quarterback Lamar Jackson)? What do you take away from a game like that?

JIMBO FISHER: Structurally you know what he does and they're still doing similar things. They'll have adjustments and do things better. But he's progressed so much more as a player in my opinion with the poise and the leadership. But it's just passing skills and his reading. But we've played against him so we know what he's like. But that doesn't make it any easier. That guy's dynamic in all phases of the world and how he plays. So we're going to have our hands full. We've got to keep contain. We've got pressure. We've got to play Florida State football. We've got to tackle in space, but then also you slip up and they're banging you up inside with inside runs and Power and stuff. So we've got to play a complete football game and be disciplined. Have great eye control.

Q. Everyone talks about Lamar Jackson and understandably so, but what is it about that offense that people might overlook or even that defense?

JIMBO FISHER: Oh, they've got good players. I mean, just like a couple years ago in 2014 they said man how'd you go through Louisville? They had ten guys drafted. We had 11; they had ten. Last year, look at the high sticks they've got. They've got guys, receivers, players too. They've got really good players. Josh Harvey-Clemons and (Shaq) Wiggins, and the junior college guys, (James) Hearns who is a defensive end from right here in town at Lincoln. (Keith) Kelsey at linebacker, the corner, the receivers (James) Quick, and the linemen. They've got good linemen, tight end can run and kick, the backs are good players, and all two or three of the receivers, those guys are big guys. (Cole Hikutini), the tight end, is athletic. They've got really good players and they're coached well. That team, you look at the history of the players that have come out of there recently, they're as good as anybody.

Q. Do you like what you saw from (redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois) on tape?

JIMBO FISHER: Yeah, pretty much so. He had a few mistakes here and there that we'll continue to clean up and decisions and things like that. But I love the way he's progressing, very much so. Q. What type of players are (sophomore defensive backs A.J. Westbrook and Calvin Brewton)? JIMBO FISHER: Very cerebral guys, very smart, learning well. Play in space well, tackle, understand the game. Understand the game a lot. There is a lot of versatility and plays that you can put them in.

Q. Did you learn anything about the depth of your running back situation?

JIMBO FISHER: Yeah, we've got some good backs. I mean, I love the way Jacques (Patrick) runs. You saw Amir (Rasul) come in and do good, but Ryan Green and Patrick didn't have as much chances on the run. But I'm pleased with their progress the way they're catching the ball, rubbing the ball. (Johnathan) Vickers had some really nice blocks, couple of short yardage runs that were nice. Those guys are progressing very nicely.

Q. The fact that Louisville had two pretty easy games to start off effect what they do show or have shown?

JIMBO FISHER: Well, I mean, they're going to run what they run. It's like us, you have certain plays and things, but you're basing it on what you do and how you do it. Everybody's going to have tricks hidden and trick plays and things like that. That's part of it. That's why I say conceptually. But at the same time, people say you hide all those things, and then you don't rep them, so how do you know how you're going to rep live? There is a double-edged sword to that. You hide all that stuff and don't rep it, or would you rather have it repped and polished and know you can execute it when you have to execute it. But Bobby (Petrino)’s always got tricks. They always do things. They'll have a great plan, there is no doubt.

Q. You said after the Charleston Southern game that protection wasn’t great, or at least took some sacks on deep throws?

JIMBO FISHER: Well, we got protection twice. Two times with a missed protection on a lineman. The receiver did run around. We're looking at the post and looking at the corner. He kept it high when he should have just grabbed it off and taken the sack. The other time we had two protection issues on deep balls. We had one we got a hold on, which was kind of picky which was there. The other one we just had a bust on and didn't slide to the side. The other one we had to hold it the one he threw to (Ryan) Izzo and he dropped it, remember. He didn't want to leave the ball down the sideline there. A really nice throw. There was just one decision where he rolled out and he got frozen because he thought he was going to break off and he didn't. Just threw it away quick enough. I always say with young quarterbacks, it's not them doing their job, it's when somebody around them doesn't do what you expect to and how they react to that. For the most part he's been great on that. That was just one time they got him.

Dalvin Cook is the most dangerous offensive threat for the Seminoles.

Q. Talk about (junior running back Dalvin Cook), he broke a nice run there?

JIMBO FISHER: He really ran well all night. When you go back and watch the film, I was pleased. One run he didn't finish like I wanted him to finish. But other than that, I thought you go back and watch his runs and he ran well, ran with his eyes really well. Made really good cuts, wasn't double cutting. In other September 13, 2016 words was seeing the one cut and made it. The two bounce runs were good, inside run was good. The last run was phenomenal. The screen he took his eyes off a guy and got popped right there. But other than that he's getting better and better each week and playing himself really back into shape. Not shape, but he's playing really well. Now last week everybody thought he was bad. He had 192 yards of offense. He had a 100-yard receiving game and 91 yards rushing against a pretty good team, so he'll get back. Everybody expected him to have 200 yards every game. I say this, everybody expected Deshaun Watson to go 0 for 500 every game. You don't just walk back out there and turn it on. People playing for you and doing things, and each year's different. Just because your numbers aren't the same doesn't mean you're not playing as well. It just maybe other things that feature, what's going on. But we're pleased the way he's playing. Again, he's still really getting into it. I like his progress where he's at right now.

Q. How is (junior running back Dalvin Cook) carrying the extra weight?

JIMBO FISHER: His speed and everything has been extremely good. He's still as fast or faster as he has been.

Q. Is that something that (junior running back Dalvin Cook) has to get used to?

JIMBO FISHER: He had it all summer. He ran with it all summer and ran with it all fall. He's been great with it. Like I say, his numbers, speed. You're only talking four or five pounds. It's not like you're talking 15 pounds. He played last year at 206 to 208. This year he stays anywhere from 211, to 213, 214. I mean, 5, 6, 7 pounds, it's good weight.

Q. How good is it for the ACC to have a top ten matchup that isn’t Florida State-Clemson?

JIMBO FISHER: I think it's great. I said this all along. Everybody keeps talking about the kick. Our conference is really good, guys. I mean, a couple years ago we had 11, they were talking about it. We had the most players of any division drafted in college football with us playing all those guys. I mean it wasn’t those other leagues. It is great, great football in the ACC and I'm glad that people are starting to see it.

Q. How big of a benefit is it?

JIMBO FISHER: Oh, I think it's critical. It keeps adding to your confidence. It adds to -- what am I looking for -- it adds to credibility. You're saying it and saying it, and I know when you play in it, but I mean it's there. It's there.

Q. For your team to get Ole Miss to start off, now Louisville what is like to get them used to this environment?

JIMBO FISHER: It's going to be that way the whole year. You're everybody's Super Bowl. You're ranked up there high, that's what you do at Florida State. You get used to going into those environments and hopefully it's like going to work every day. That's what it is and you respect it and you do it. You put your work in, don't get caught up in the clutter and the hype. You concentrate on what you do and how you prepare and how you play, and learn to have the great process of getting ready. That's what we got to do. We have to have the process of getting ready. Great practice habits, we're still trying to develop that to the extent we want it. Each team has to go through that. No team has it magically like that. That's part of grinding it out and hopefully we'll get there. You better get there quick with the schedule we've got.

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