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FSU Football: Will Alabama’s secondary be better than ‘Noles?

By Kelvin Hunt

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Derwin James (3) celebrates after a play in the fourth quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles won 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Derwin James (3) celebrates after a play in the fourth quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles won 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU football will return one of the most talented secondaries in all of college football. One website says Alabama’s secondary is better than the ‘Noles.

FSU football will tangle with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 opener with both teams likely being ranked top three in the nation.

They’re two of the most talented rosters in the country with reserves that would be starters at a lot of other programs.

Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and FSU’s Deondre Francois will be tested early against what are projected to be two of the best defenses in the nation.

One website recently listed Alabama and FSU football as the two best defensive back units in 2017:

FSU likes to call itself “DBU” as they have sent multiple defensive backs to the NFL, and will do the same in 2018 with safety Derwin James and cornerback Tarvarus McFadden likely being first round picks.

Would you consider Alabama to have a better secondary than FSU in 2017?

Thoughts

It’s had to compare the units by looking at last season’s stats. Alabama had Marlon Humphrey’s who was a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Of course FSU played most of the season without Derwin James.

The ‘Noles allowed 7.1 yards per pass and Alabama allowed 5.9 yards per pass in 2017. FSU allowed 18 TD’s and Alabama allowed 15 TD’s. FSU allowed 55.4 percent of the passes against them to be completed and Alabama allowed 53.8.

Alabama also has one more interception on the season than FSU football.

Again, FSU was playing without a player that will be drafted in the first round and Alabama had a guy that was drafted in the first round. Would Derwin James had made a difference against the likes of Clemson, North Carolina and Louisville.

Absolutely.

Alabama’s defensive line was among the best in the nation, and that too helped their secondary immensely. The FSU defensive line was excellent last year too, but I wouldn’t have considered them to be better than Alabama’s.

Next: Thoughts On Justin Fields and FSU's Chances

So all in all, these two teams could probably be 1a and 1b without it mattering too much who was ranked 1a. Both units should be great in 2017 and luckily we’ll get to see them square off in the first game of the year.

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