Who benefits the most from FSU's change in play callers? Let's start with two of your biggest investments: Quintrevion 'Tre' Wisner and the Florida State Seminoles. Wisner brings a solid resume to the table, with over 1,000 rushing yards in two seasons at Texas. But the real question is: how will his skills align with Florida State's new offensive coordinator, Mike Norvell?
Initially, concerns arose about Wisner's fit. He excelled as an outside zone runner, ranking in the 83rd percentile in YPC, but struggled with inside zone runs, only achieving a 63rd percentile. However, things have changed since Gus Malzahn's departure. Norvell's run game philosophy is expected to be more diverse, with a focus on horizontal movements and stress-defense runs.
Wisner's top YPC averages by concept (min. 50 attempts over the last two seasons) reveal a preference for horizontal runs:
- Outside Zone (5.4 YPC)
- Cross Lead (4.7 YPC)
- Split (4.7 YPC) - A variation of Outside Zone
- Inside Zone (4.2 YPC)
- Counter (4.1 YPC)
The key here is that Malzahn's offense didn't heavily feature Wisner's strengths. Wisner's ability to push runs horizontally and find cutback lanes aligns better with Norvell's scheme, which emphasizes horizontal movements. Norvell's past experience in tailoring his offense to personnel suggests a similar approach at Florida State.
Additionally, Ousmane Kromah, another FSU addition, averaged 9.4 YPC on outside zone runs last season, indicating a strong fit for Norvell's philosophy. Wisner's proven track record in the Transfer Portal and his higher price tag relative to his position make him a valuable asset in an offense that better suits his skills.
In summary, the change in play callers benefits Wisner by providing an offense that leverages his strengths, particularly his ability to excel in horizontal runs. Norvell's flexibility and willingness to adjust the scheme offer optimism for a successful partnership.
