FSU football: Top 5 observations heading into the bye week
By Kelvin Hunt
Jim Leavitt Effect
Listen, after the Louisiana-Monroe game everyone wanted a change at defensive coordinator. Harlon Barnett simply was not getting the job done and the players looked completely lost on the field.
Florida State Seminoles Football
It was so bad Willie Taggart went and hired his former defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt from in the middle of the week leading up to the Virginia game.
Leavitt is who Taggart wanted to hire initially when he took the FSU job in December 2017, so there’s clear chemistry and respect between the two.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence the Virginia game was when the ‘Noles defense started it turn around in becoming effective at stopping the run.
The defensive line has played much better and the linebackers have shown improvement at triggering downhill and filling their respective gaps (Leavitt is a good linebackers coach too).
If you know Jim Leavitt, he’s a fiery coach and the team seems to have more of an edge to them. I noted that in the NC State game Saturday night. That’s the first time in forever that I can remember FSU being the more physical defense and it’s a welcome sight.
A lot of folk expect Leavitt to be the next defensive coordinator at FSU. It makes sense and his presence is a big reason why FSU sits in a nice position going into the bye week.