FSU football: Noles exceed defensive goals against North Carolina
By Kelvin Hunt
Allow Less Than 40 percent of less on third down conversions
The FSU defense had been terrible on third downs in its first three games of the season. It was so terrible, they held Notre Dame below 40 percent on third downs, and still was allowing teams to convert nearly 50 percent of the time.
Florida State Seminoles Football
North Carolina came into the FSU game averaging an outstanding 51 percent on third-down conversions.
One problem for FSU was allowing Notre Dame to avoid having to convert third downs, as they only faced eight in the game.
That wasn’t the case against North Carolina as the Noles harassed Sam Howell all game and kept the run game in check on the early downs.
North Carolina faced 12 third downs and only converted two of them, which equates to 16.6 percent.
It wasn’t a goal, but the Noles stood firm in fourth down situations, with the Noles not allowing a single fourth-down conversion in the game.
If they can maintain that effort the rest of the season, this FSU defense will be a forced to be reckoned with just as we thought they’d be in the preseason.