FSU football: How special teams could be difference maker in 2020
By Kelvin Hunt
Defense Helping Special Teams
I expect this FSU football defense to be much improved over the past two years. They return what should be a dominant defensive line and experience at all three levels.
Florida State Seminoles Football
Plus, Adam Fuller has proven he’s capable of improving defenses tremendously in year one at two different places.
So how does that tie into helping special teams? One of the biggest issues plaguing the Noles has been the inability to get off the field on third downs. Opposing offenses have converted third downs on average, 38.47 percent over the past two seasons.
That means the likelihood of the defense getting a three and out is low right? Which means the offense is converting at least one first down before having to punt. That translates into a relatively poor field position for the FSU offense, because the opposing punter will have a good shot of pinning FSU deep or the punt results in a touchback. Either way, that means FSU has to cover most of the field to score a touchdown.
An FSU defense that can get off the field on third down likely means better field position for the FSU offense.