FSU football: Top 5 concerns going into 2022 season

By Kelvin Hunt | Aug 7, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, FL - DECEMBER 2: A general view of a Florida State Seminoles Helmet on the field before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on December 2, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State defeated Louisiana Monroe 42 to 10. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

3 of 6

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Third Down Offense and Defense

If the Noles were better in these two categories last year, they would have won seven or eight games. However, their inability to sustain drives or get off the field on third down defensively was frustrating.

The offense usually began drives with poor field position due to special teams and only converted third-downs 34 percent of the time.

That meant more punts and fewer scoring opportunities. The Noles struggled once they got behind the chains, and couldn’t do much when it became obvious passing downs.

Defensively, FSU allowed teams to convert third-downs 41 percent of the time, which is much too high. This area improved as the season progressed, but early the culprits were usually blown assignments and missed tackles.

Adam Fuller took a lot of heat, but most of the time, players were in a position to make a play and didn’t. The team returns too much experience and production on both sides of the ball to not improve in these two critical areas.

If they can improve offensively closer to 40 percent and get conversions allowed down to 35 percent or lower? That’s going to change some things in the wins and losses columns.

Home/FSU Football