FSU football: Why Adam Fuller’s defense will have a better showing against Louisville

Looking At The Last Two Contests

I I’m not going to say I don’t count the 2020 contest, but there’s not a lot to draw away from it, considering what Adam Fuller had to work with during a COVID offseason.

No offseason, while trying to implement a new scheme with a lot of players that were not very good. Fast forward to last year at the time of the Louisville game, Adam Fuller was still trying to figure out some pieces in the secondary with a few guys dealing with injuries.

There were limitations at linebacker, and I can’t stress enough how having an offense that can’t do anything affects the defense. FSU’s offense was abysmal in a three-game stretch that involved Jacksonville State, Wake Forest, and Louisville.

As the offense improved throughout the season, we also saw the defense begin to play better, complimentary football. One of the biggest issues in the 2021 game defensively was the inability to get off the field on third downs.

Louisville converted 9 of 11 third downs in the first half, but the majority were third and five or fewer yards. Louisville receivers would run near the first down markers and make a catch to move the chains.

We also have to remember Jarvis Brownlee was one of the starting cornerbacks and isn’t great in coverage. Omarion Cooper hadn’t emerged as the other cornerback, and the safeties hadn’t begun to play to the level they would later in the season.