FSU Football: Website Says Defense Reason Expectations Will be Exceeded
By Jason Parker
FSU football has plenty of high expectations entering the 2017 season – but one expert thinks the defense will be the reason they all will be exceeded.
For the first two thirds of the 2016 college football season, the defense for FSU football was…well, lets just be nice about it and use the word terrible. Granted, they were facing some high powered offenses like Clemson, Miami and even South Florida – but the way the Seminoles played on that side of the ball, it’s a wonder they only lost three of their first eight games.
Over the final five games of the season, an awakening took place with that side of the ball and the Seminoles’ defense played like a team possessed. Again, the level of competition wasn’t the same (sorry Boston College, Syracuse and even the offense of Florida), but credit has to be given that the unit of DeMarcus Walker, Josh Sweat, Brian Burns, Tarvarus McFadden, Marquez White, Matthew Thomas and so many more did their job at that point.
It’s that late season turnaround why one member of the FOXSports.com family thinks the FSU football defense will be the reason that the Seminoles surpass expectations this coming season – expectations that include an ACC title and College Football Playoff berth:
"…The Seminoles bring back a number of key starters, including defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Brian Burns (who combined for 16.5 sacks), as well as Tarvarus McFadden (who tied for the FBS lead with eight interceptions). And by the way, Florida State also returns Derwin James (pictured above), a potential All-American and Top 10 draft pick next spring who missed most of last season with a knee injury."
Most experts across the country believe that the return of James from that injury will be the biggest key to the season, as FSU football clearly struggled learning to play without him and he already was being used in multiple positions during spring drills in an effort to get his skill set around the ball more often.
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The defense for the Seminoles will be tested early and often, with games against top offenses like Alabama, Miami and N.C. State in the first month alone to go along with later games against Louisville and Clemson. With the offense expected to either stay the same or slightly improve under the leadership of Deondre Francois, an improved overall defense could mean special things this coming season.