What's Wrong with Florida State's Defense?
ATHENS, GA. — You may have noticed that Florida State looks vulnerable on defense. You may have also noticed that the Seminoles switched bald-headed guys as defensive coordinators before this season. Charles Kelly replaced Jeremy Pruitt, who is a Nick Saban guy, which might explain why Pruitt doesn't have any hair left.
The first four games of this season would explain why Kelly doesn't have any hair left: He pulled it all out watching a defense cripple itself with bad reads and bad plays.
Florida State was a bunch of marauders in 2013, allowing just 12.1 points per game, which was first in the nation. The Seminoles were a bunch of malingerers in the first half against North Carolina State on Saturday in a 56-41 escape. They lost edge discipline, missed tackles and botched assignments.
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FSU is 66th nationally in points allowed (25.3 per game) after four games.
| Total yards per game | 281.4 (3) | 403.3 (79) |
| Rushing yards per game | 124.8 (18) | 168.3 (78) |
| Passing yards per game | 156.6 (1) | 235.0 (64) |
| Points per game | 12.1 (1) | 25.3 (66) |
One plus one equals two, right? Pruitt is no longer there, thus the defense stinks, right?
I'm not so sure this is all about Pruitt leaving for Georgia. I'm not so sure this can be tied neatly around Kelly's neck as blame.
Pruitt was a significant loss for Florida State, no doubt. He did not allow the Seminoles to play with the light switch in their heads, turning off their considerable talent, then turning it on when threatened. He was a motivator.
Pruitt is a schemer, too. He could win the down prior to the ball being snapped. He could get hybrid defensive back Lamarcus Joyner loose on a blitz against just the right protection scheme and get a sack. Pruitt could sniff a rub route coming from the offense and have his nickelback pass off the slot receiver to the cornerback outside so the nickel does not get picked leaving a receiver open.
When Pruitt left for UGA in January, Kelly and Jimbo Fisher kept the same adjustment-heavy defense for 2014. The principles are the same: affect the quarterback, take away the middle of the field and be complex on the back end. The FSU defense, which is a simplified version of the adjustment-heavy scheme at Alabama, has an answer for every formation, every motion.
It does not seem to be working as well with a new maestro. The Seminoles gave up 31 to Oklahoma State and 41 to North Carolina State.
On the second play of the North Carolina State game, the Wolfpack had a freshman receiver run a route right at the FSU safety, fake right, then go deep for an easy touchdown toss. It was simply being asleep.
On a pass play from the FSU 8-yard line in the second quarter, State quarterback Jacoby Brissett slipped out of one tackle, then another, and threw a ridiculous touchdown pass. The ball went over the heads of three FSU defenders in the end zone.
North Carolina State beat up the 'Noles with pace and passion. FSU allowed Brissett acres of opportunity to make plays.
Don't be so quick to blame it on Kelly. For now, blame it on the personnel upheaval at FSU. If it doesn't get better, then paint an X on top of Kelly's noggin.
Subtracting Stars
Florida State really misses linebacker Telvin Smith.
The NFL viewed him as merely a fifth-round draft pick, but he was so much more valuable than that to the Seminoles. Smith made sure the 'Noles were lined up in the right spots. He made sure there was edge discipline.
Smith could see the offense's formation and not have to look to the sidelines. He knew what the defense needed to be in. He slid players into position; he played with fire.
Smith's replacement is Terrance Smith, who started 10 games in 2013, but the 'Noles are also working in a new guy, inside linebacker Reggie Northrup. Watch the tape of the North Carolina State game. The Seminoles linebackers were not nearly as productive as Telvin Smith was in 2013.
Think about Alabama when you think about "Mike" linebacker Trey DePriest. He is only a so-so player, nothing like the inside backer before him, C.J. Mosley. DePriest does not change direction well, he does not play well in space, he does not run well. He is a thumper, and only OK at that.
But, man, does he know the Alabama scheme and the adjustments and how to get his guys lined up. DePriest did not play against West Virginia, and the Mountaineers went for 393 yards of offense.
The Crimson Tide used newbie Reuben Foster at that spot to call signals, and there were issues in passing off routes and who had what responsibilities against different formations. Alabama is a different defense with a veteran Mike linebacker.
"Florida State really misses the experience of Telvin Smith," said an NFC scout, who is not permitted to talk on the record to the media. "It is a complex system, and it takes time to learn when you are new to running it. They have played four games—one game against a nobody. If there are still problems after six games, then maybe you can criticize.
"But I am expecting them to play better. Charles Kelly is a good coach. This is not just about Jeremy leaving."
He's right. This is not all about Pruitt calling Georgia two days after the Seminoles won the title and him going to the SEC for the $850,000 salary, which was about a $350,000 pay increase.
Here are some things to consider before you bludgeon Kelly.
Think about the Seminoles this season playing without the best hybrid player in all of college football in 2013, Lamarcus Joyner. He was a corner, he was a safety, he was a nickel, he was a blitzer. He was the everywhere man.
The Seminoles have a player just like Joyner, just not quite as seasoned. Jalen Ramsey is going to be a better version of Joyner, and he is bigger (6'1", 204 lbs). When he learns to regularly time up those blitzes like Joyner, look out. Last Saturday against North Carolina State, he came steaming around the corner, grabbed Brissett's elbow and forced a fumble and turnover.
The Seminoles were missing defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. and nose guard Nile Lawrence-Stample against the Wolfpack. Edwards was out for the game with a concussion. Stample is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
The 'Noles lost Smith, Joyner (second round), safety Terrence Brooks (third round) and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (second round) to the draft.
No Alibis for a Powerhouse
But...Florida State is supposed to be the mirror of Alabama. Reload and dominate.
The Seminoles, if they are a true national powerhouse, should be able to backfill with All-Americans when two players are out. Look at Alabama. The Crimson Tide lost three first-round picks off the 2011 national championship team's defense and came back and won the title the next season.
The 'Noles have plugged holes in the back end of the secondary. They may be better this year than 2013. They are deeper.
"There might not be a better back end in the country," said the NFC scout.
But what about the other players, the linebackers Smith and Northrup, the defensive lineman Derrick Mitchell, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, linebacker Chris Casher? When do they arrive? I talked to Georgia players Monday night about Pruitt and asked if he was a schemer or teacher. They had to pause because Pruitt can draw up plays, but he can also teach the game.
"He shows how he wants it done, gets right down in there with you," Georgia nose tackle Mike Thornton said. "He's a teacher all right, but then he can come in at halftime and without looking at notes can diagram the play they were hurting us with and make an adjustment. I guess he's a schemer, too."
So, are the next wave of Seminoles being coached up sufficiently? Are they in the right spots?
"After about six games, they begin to define themselves as players, and you see more of what they are going to be this season," the scout said. "Even if you're recruiting well, it takes time."
Florida State's defense has behaved like those October thermometers in Florida. Hot then cold, then hot then cold. You saw it against Oklahoma State. You saw it against North Carolina State.
Florida State's showing on defense has made some so nervous they have dropped the 'Noles down to No. 4 in their Final Four, or dropped them altogether out of the playoffs. Jameis Winston can fix things against North Carolina State, but can he carry the load against Oklahoma or Oregon?
He is going to need some help.
Ray Glier covers college football for Bleacher Report. He has covered college football and various other sports for 20 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post and Al Jazeera America. He is the author of How the SEC Became Goliath (Howard/Simon & Schuster, 2013).
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