FSU Seminoles

Florida State is a week away from its first game, and while the veterans are counting down the minutes until there is real football to be played, it's getting a bit anxious for the freshmen.

"There are a lot of these young guys that still have a lot of work to do," Jimbo Fisher said. "They need to come on, because we're going to need them. A lot of them are doing good, but we've got to get them game ready."

Unlike last season, when FSU had freshmen in a number of prominent roles -- including four starters on the offensive line -- that need isn't quite so great this season. The advantage of Florida State's depth is that it isn't reliant on inexperienced players at most key positions.

That means Fisher can be somewhat cautious with which freshmen he puts on the field, and that's a decision he'll need to make soon.

"I think quite a few of them will get in there," Fisher said. "Some might be ready, but have a good quality number of guys in front of them, and you want to be careful not to waste a year on 50 plays. We've got to evaluate that, and in the next day or two, we'll make some decisions."

A year ago, 13 of Florida State's 22 true freshmen saw action, including eight as occasional starters. This year, only one freshman, Ronald Darby, appears to be in competition for a starting job, and the overall need for contributors is less. But a look at each player underscores the idea that there aren't many who can't contribute.

Here's our breakdown of which freshman are likely to see action, and which ones could be saddled with a redshirt.

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Earlier this week, we asked our Twitter followers to pose some questions to Florida State's linebacking corps, then we sat down with Nick Moody, Vince Williams and Christian Jones to get answers.

Here's what they had to say:

From @davidraider88: Do they feel like they have a chip on their shoulders as a position group since the media always talks about DL/DBs?

Moody: "We don't pay that stuff any mind, really. At all. If we all do good, we'll all get attention. If we all play good, they'll focus on all of us. The D-line's pressure helps us out. D-line's pressure helps the DBs out. The DBs covering helps the D-line get to the quarterback. It all works together."

From @SteveMatthews_: Which one of the O-linemen has been the toughest so far?

Jones: "They're looking real good. Tre Jackson, Josue, Menelik -- as a unit they all look real good."

From @EasySquidsJr: Which one of the young LBs has stood out the most?

Williams: "It's so funny, man, because it's been a long time since we've had some baby linebackers. … It's funny because they're just running around, don't really know what they're doing, just hitting people and -- it's like watching Pop Warner. And then they get yelled at and their eyes get big, but it's like, calm down, because you'll be fine."

OK, that's it for this week's mailbag. But follow us on Twitter at @DavidHaleESPN, @CDowlar and @ESPNNoleNation, and we'll get more of your questions answered next week.

For years, Michael Snaer searched for his swagger.

The Moreno Valley, Calif., native used that bravado to elevate his game in high school and earn multiple scholarship offers (Snaer, class of 2009, was rated No. 22 overall by RecruitingNation). The fearlessness fueled the buzz surrounding the Florida State guard’s arrival three years ago.

Although he averaged 14.0 ppg, made 40 percent of his 3-pointers and hit a pair of game-winners last season, Snaer said he questioned his potential in his first three seasons.

But the confidence he lost has returned, he said, thanks to a pair of standout performances at this summer’s LeBron James and Kevin Durant skills academies.

“I’ve been believing in myself and now, I’m at a point now, I feel like if I’m not the best, I’m one of the best two-guards in the country,” Snaer told ESPN.com. “I strongly feel that way. I’ve been up against all the guys at [LeBron’s camp], where you see all the guys at your position.

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At this point, EJ Manuel is taking a mental note of virtually everything.

After five years on campus, Manuel knows this is his last go-round with the Seminoles, so even the mundane becomes a bit more sentimental.

"Everything signifies something to me," Manuel said. "It's like, all right, it's my last third practice of the second week. It's cool. It's definitely a different feel knowing it's my last year, no matter what."

Thursday's scrimmage probably won't be a moment Manuel looks back upon with fondness years from now, but it was the last one of his career at Florida State. After missing last week's scrimmage with a sprained ankle, it was particularly rewarding to get back on the field again.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – When the decision was made for linebacker Christian Jones to make the move, he figured he should prod his former teammate for some advice on playing the weak side.

Nigel Bradham had played the role to some acclaim during his tenure at Florida State, racking up more than 300 tackles in his career, but he wasn't interested in detailing the Xs and Os. He didn't think Jones would need it.

"The one thing he told me," Jones said, "was, 'Get ready, because you're going to like it.' "

On the other side of the field, senior Nick Moody is quickly acclimating himself to a new role, too.

For four years, Moody was a safety, where he started 16 games during his career. But when Jones was moved to the weak side, coach Jimbo Fisher began pondering a switch for Moody, too.

Again, the change wasn't born of desperation, but of logic.

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Florida State heads inside Doak Campbell Stadium for its second scrimmage of the fall today, with the season opener just nine days away.

On one hand, there are few major questions still looming for coach Jimbo Fisher as FSU closes in on the start of the 2012 season. On the other hand, there's precious little time to find answers for the handful that still remain.

So, with that in mind, here are five particularly interesting storylines that today's scrimmage might help answer.

1. How healthy is EJ Manuel?

The FSU quarterback hasn't shown much discomfort since rolling his ankle Aug. 15, an injury that caused him to miss the first scrimmage of the fall. But given Manuel's history of injuries, it'll be nice to see him get on the field under game conditions and test the ankle out.

After the last scrimmage, Fisher said he was happy to get some extra work for backups Clint Trickett and Jacob Coker, but at some point getting Manuel and the offense ready for the season will take on more significance.

2. Who's going to win the field corner job?

Ask a coach or player about FSU's secondary, and odds are you'll hear the name of Ronald Darby come up quickly.

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Only nine days remain before Florida State opens up the regular season against Murray State, and Jimbo Fisher said he's still in evaluation mode when it comes to a handful of spots on the depth chart.

"There's two or three positions -- maybe more -- that we're still evaluating," he said.

Start with right tackle, where Daniel Glauser and Menelik Watson -- both junior college transfers in their first season at FSU -- have split reps with the first-team offense throughout fall practice.

Glauser appeared to have the edge early, then Watson stepped in with the No. 1 unit for much of last week. A minor shoulder stinger kept Watson off the field Sunday and Monday, however, and Glauser used the time to stake another claim to the starting job.

It's an open competition still, Fisher said, but he's closing in on what he expects will be his starting five.

"I think we're pretty close to it," Fisher said. "I think we're pretty close to having eight or 10 guys we can put into the ballgame without worrying about -- maybe more."

Beyond right tackle, the starting cornerback job also remains up for grabs, and there's a chance sophomore Nick Waisome and freshman Ronald Darby could continue battling for reps even after the season begins.

Wide receiver Rodney Smith said both players have looked solid during fall practice, and he believes both will be on the field against Murray State.

"Both of them -- the job's open," Smith said. "Darby's something new and different, and everybody wants to see the new guy on the field. But Nick's a good player, too, and you'll see him out there, too."

Greene sits out

Wide receiver Rashad Greene missed most of Wednesday's practice with a stomach flu but should return within a day or two.

Greene was a full participant in Tuesday night's practice, but the earlier start time and lingering illness proved too much Wednesday.

"He was throwing up and all that good stuff," Fisher said. "The flu bug's got him, and he was just getting drained in the heat."

Joyner returns

With two freshman track stars added to an already healthy mix of options at kick returner this fall, there was some buzz that Fisher might dial back the workload for Lamarcus Joyner on special teams, particularly given his significant role at safety.

As it turns out, Fisher is sticking with what works -- at least for now.

"Kick returner will be the same," Fisher said. "We've still got Karlos (Williams) and Lamarcus right there. But we've definitely got a few options."

Florida State was tops in the ACC in kickoff returns last season, averaging nearly 25 yards per return with Joyner and Williams sharing duty. Joyner led the way with 397 kickoff return yards last season, averaging better than 30 yards per return.

Onside drills

Florida State's special teams worked on kicking and covering onside kicks Wednesday, giving senior Dustin Hopkins a chance to work on his technique after college football tweaked its rules on executing the play.

The new rule requires onside kicks to hit the ground twice before it can be recovered by the kicking team -- a rule designed to minimize the risk of injury.

Fisher said he likes the rule, but admits it will make it far tougher to execute the play in key situations.

"I don't think there's any doubt (it's tougher)," Fisher said.

Still, Hopkins drilled his first attempt Wednesday about 12 yards on two hopes, and Kelvin Benjamin raced down the sideline to grab it.

"(Hopkins) is doing a real nice job of it," Fisher said. "I think we have some guys that can get it and when they kick it to us, we got some guys with some really good hands and good size."