Five Numbers that Must Improve for 2015 FSU Football
By David Visser
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
17
That’s how many sacks the ‘Noles registered in the 2014 season. It’s 108th, nationally, even though many of the teams ahead of FSU played just 12 or 13 games, compared to the Seminoles’ 14. Now the Florida State defense wasn’t exactly set up to pin its ears back and fly at the quarterback, as gap responsibility and hemming the QB in were larger priorities, but this is still lower than it should be (last in the ACC), given the athletes Florida State regularly brings in to fill front-seven positions.
Sacks are indicative of more pressure on the quarterback, which forces interceptions. The Seminoles’ 35 in 2013 helped lead to a national record 26 picks. To wit: that interception record was tied this season by Louisiana Tech (38 sacks), TCU (39 sacks), and Louisville (41 sacks). National champion Ohio State was right behind those schools with 25 interceptions and 45 sacks.
FSU loses its top sack collector (Eddie Goldman, with four last year) to the NFL, and also departed is Mario Edwards, Jr. (three 2014 sacks), but help may have arrived recently in the form of new defensive ends and outside linebackers coach Brad Lawing, who’s led some impressive units in the SEC.