It almost seems antithetical to what was expected: Florida State’s defense has performed better as the competition has become tougher. Originally the youth of the defense and lack of depth at key positions made it seem like it would take this year’s defense a while before its talent could shine through.
These first three games couldn’t have turned out much better. Not only has the defense developed a chemistry not seen last season, it has become a reliable and intimidating aspect of the team that is letting its young studs perform while being anchored by veterans.
After giving up 16 points to a prolific Texas State offense and 14 points to a less-than-stellar South Florida offense, the Seminoles shut out Boston College in impressive fashion on Friday night. The Eagles did not get past FSU’s 38-yard-line and were forced to punt seven times throughout the game.
Florida State yielded only 195 yards on Friday and forced a pair of turnovers including a fumble that was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Jalen Ramsey. It was a nice refresher for fans that were accustomed to seeing Jameis Winston and an NFL-talent filled offense constantly save FSU from large deficits a season ago.
So how exactly has Florida State revamped its pressure and made its defense formidable again? The answer lies in these four key details:
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 18: Sherman Alston #6 of the Boston College Eagles is tackled by Trey Marshall #20 of the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Alumni Stadium on September 18, 2015 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
1. Underclassmen Contributions
Usually underclassmen don’t see the field much because they either struggle to grasp the playbook, or aren’t physically ready for the college game. That does not seem to be the case for the Florida State freshmen and sophomores.
With talents like P.J. Williams, Ronald Darby, Mario Edwards Jr., and Eddie Goldman departing for the NFL, it was a given that some younger guys would be thrust into the action. How they have played since then is nothing short of encouraging.
Defensive end Josh Sweat has already started a game this season even though he’s only a true freshman, which is unbelievable considering that just a year earlier, he had torn his ACL and dislocated his left knee. Sweat now has nine total tackles and is showing why he was at one point the top overall recruit in the nation.
He is joined by sophomore Jacob Pugh on the opposite side with redshirt freshman Demarcus Christmas and sophomore Derrick Nnadi in between both of them. Pugh now has 12 total tackles and one sack, but his impact is even more than the numbers show. He has been one of the defense’s most consistent pass-rushers while also displaying some of the versatility required to be a defensive end in FSU’s scheme. Pugh has had some trouble keeping contain, but has played very well in general.
Christmas and Nnadi have surpassed what most expected and have become serious forces on the inside of the defensive line. Aside from Eddie Goldman last season, contributions from interior linemen were hard to find. Some of that is expected since the position requires a physical stature that few high school recruits have. Now that both Christmas and Nnadi have had a year to bulk up, learn the playbook and gain experience, they have taken the opportunity to impress. The two have combined for 13 tackles, two for loss, and a sack.
As a side note, keep an eye on how FSU uses safeties Trey Marshall and Derwin James. The two are a sophomore and freshman, respectively, and both have seen action in the secondary rotation. Marshall struggled early and against South Florida, but that can partly be attributed to his sudden insertion once Lamarcus Brutus was ejected for targeting. James has been used primarily on blitzes and to help stop the run.
2. Defensive Line Performance
Four of the aforementioned players in the previous section are on the defensive line, and they are only half the reason for how the unit has excelled. The other half are upperclassmen who provide leadership and bring valuable experience to what is a relatively young group. Players like Nile Lawrence-Stample, DeMarcus Walker, and even Giorgio Newberry have made their mark in an admittedly short period of time.
The line’s success seems to have emerged from surprising performances on the inside. Often times, the opponent’s run plays don’t have a chance to succeed because an FSU defensive tackle has already met them before the line scrimmage. Even if the tackle doesn’t get made there, it is usually enough to disrupt the initial play and allow the ends to collapse in or allow the linebackers to blast through the gaps (which they have done very well these first three games).
USF experienced this first hand when it tried to run up the middle. Nnadi simply got a great push on the inside and tackled Marlon Mack for no gain on a third down. On this play, Derrick Mitchell Jr. bullies his man into leading Mack right into the hands of an unblocked Sweat for a minimal gain. Against Boston College, it was Nnadi on this stop, who forced the runner to the left and allowed Walker to make the tackle.
The defensive line in both the USF and Boston College games were crucial in ensuring the opposing offense would not find any sort of rhythm. In the first three games of this season, the line has done just that. Some growing pains have been spotted like the reoccurring quarterback scramble for a first down, but expect the defensive front to be more disciplined as the season goes on.
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 18: Darius Wade #4 of the Boston College Eagles is sacked by Derrick Nnadi #91 of the Florida State Seminoles at Alumni Stadium on September 18, 2015 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
3. Winning the Turnover Battle
Part of this admittedly has to do with the opposing offense and its own ball security. Nevertheless, the defense has done exactly what it’s needed to do in regards to forcing turnovers. So far, it has forced four — two fumbles and two interceptions.
While the numbers are not exceptional by any means, it’s important to realize just how valuable the mentioned turnovers were. One of the interceptions was against South Florida with the Bulls threatening to score. On a fade pass to the right, junior cornerback Marquez White read the play from the very beginning and was able to stay in bounds for a momentum-shifting play. It snuffed out one of South Florida’s only opportunities to score and helped regroup a Seminole defense that had recently seen Brutus, a starting safety, get ejected.
The other game-changing turnover came Friday night when Jalen Ramsey snatched a ball off the ground and returned it for a touchdown to gain some much-needed separation from Boston College in the fourth quarter. Terrance Smith dove in with his helmet to knock the ball loose before Ramsey palmed it and sprinted 36 yards for the score. FSU at this point was only up 7-0 and was struggling mightily on offense. The defense took the scoring into its own hands at the most opportune time.
Compare this defense to last year’s. Often times in 2014, the turnovers were game-savers after FSU had dug itself into a deficit. The Clemson fumble, Ramsey intercepting a final Miami heave and Terrance Smith’s pick-6 after three FSU interceptions were prime examples. While these were all welcome and game-saving plays, it’s preferable for a team to build the lead with turnovers rather than try to rely on them for a win.
Also, don’t be surprised if the interception numbers ramp up with the upcoming opponents. The secondary has largely been untested because of the run-heavy teams its faced. If teams start to sling it around more against this defense, it could cost them dearly with Ramsey and company leading the charge.
4. Linebacker Surprises
Perhaps the biggest concern for the defense coming into 2015 was the linebacker unit. It still is for the large part, but there is a difference between worrying about depth and worrying about production — the former is what remains.
Thankfully, Florida State seems to have found the answers at the position aside from seniors Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup. Ro’Derrick Hoskins is a redshirt sophomore, who is currently tied for the most tackles on the team with 16. Tackles can be a bit misleading however, so the question is whether or not the numbers are showing an accurate picture of his impact with the team.
The good news is this: The numbers aren’t lying with Hoskins. He has shown superb ability at hitting the gaps in the offensive line and he is rarely found out of place like some of the younger players. Hoskins has a bright future with the team if he can continue to perform like this.
Nothing really needs to be said about Smith and Northrup that hasn’t already. If there’s one thing to add, it would be that they seem much more comfortable now that they have a line who can give them some initial help during the play. Smith is back to his play-making self and Northrup is the sure tackler that FSU fans have grown to love. This part of the linebacking corps is in good hands.
Unfortunately not all is completely well with this position group. It was announced shortly before Friday night’s game that Tyrell Lyons, who had been getting serious reps in the first two games, would miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear.
An already thin unit took another hit and now it becomes even more crucial that the remaining healthy linebackers stay that way. Lorenzo Phillips will definitely be getting more time in light of the news, but he’s about the only one who can adequately replace what has been lost. Lyons’ injury probably won’t drastically change the season’s trajectory, but it does bring up questions on how the defense will rotate as the team gets further into it.
A 3-0 start has fans speculating about the 2015 Seminoles’ potential. It’s important to realize that they still have deficiencies and will be facing much better offenses as the season goes on. But for right now, the defense has taken a step up from last year and seems to have found an early balance with its players. Any comparisons to previous defenses might be a bit premature, but this one appears to have the potential to become great.
