Another mixed set of good and bad news accompanies Florida State into the off-season. The good news comes on offense, where the entire starting line returns for Chris Rix's senior campaign. Rix returning is a mixed blessing, though, as his mistakes may be less, but so was his production at several of the team's most critical 2003 junctures (Miami, Clemson). Add on the fact that the running attack gained merely 3.8 yards-per-try and ranked 77th with such stellar backs, of which they lose hulkster Greg Jones, one begins to wonder how the as-of-late-predictable Bobby Bowden will play this hand. Will he continue to line backs up in the shotgun with little conventional fullback utilization? The Noles return stellar all-ACC WR Thorpe so the field will be stretched for optimum effect, but will Rix finally show consistent aim? One of FSU's best defenses in the new milennium is gutted, with only the 20th-ranked (for pass efficiency) secondary returning any bankable presence. For the newer front-seven, this is a normal occurrence - well-broken-in and experienced backups that have eagerly waited their turns now will spend their upper-class time as starters. And they will likely pick up right where 2003's 7th-ranked scoring defense leaves off. PK Xavier Beitia returns as a senior, special teams will be added as an expected strength. But beware of the unexpected conference expansion in FSU's scheduling - this squad may miss winning its first ACC title as the Miami game is now in-conference. Expect much, but since Bowden & Co. have not out-coached many as of late, the Noles become a variable that could finish anywhere from a top fiver (up to two losses) to a bottom scraper (three to five losses).