FSU football: Why isn’t ‘Noles defense forcing more turnovers?

First, the FSU football defense has been the most consistent between the offense and defense. They allow nearly 10 points less than last year, with the toughest part of the schedule already complete.

It has been the offense that’s failed to capitalize in the red zone or when they have great field position, and largely the culprit behind three consecutive losses. Can the defense improve?

Absolutely, but it’s a unit that’s been playing without arguably its best player for the past five games, and others have missed time or playing limited lately. Despite those factors, one narrative floating around is the defense needs to create more turnovers. Mike Norvell said as much in his post-practice press conference Tuesday.

I wish they would create more of them too, but it’s not because they aren’t trying to do it. Adam Fuller’s defense had 20 takeaways in the 2021 season, the same number as Clemson in one less game. I can assure you he hasn’t stopped coaching to avoid trying to create turnovers.

I can point to instances in each game where FSU defensive players actively try to strip ball carriers(often giving up more yards instead of making the tackle). We’ve seen defensive backs in position for interceptions and not make them.

Playing more aggressively doesn’t necessarily mean a defense will force more turnovers. Turnovers are random and based on luck, mostly. Jammie Robinson’s interception against NC State was luck.

Here’s another example of the randomness of turnovers from year to year. FSU had elite defenses in 2012 and 2013. The 2012 defense had 22 takeaways, and the 2013 defense had 35 takeaways. A lot of the same players played on both of those defenses.

Those two defenses have nearly the same sack totals, a trillion passes defended, tons of fumbles forced, and tackles for a loss. However, the major difference between those two teams?

The 2013 FSU football offense was so much better than the 2012 version that they scored more points and put teams in predictable situations because they were way behind on the scoreboard. FSU in 2022 has ONE game where they didn’t turn the ball over on offense. Ironically, it was their best offensive game, and the game the FSU defense had two takeaways.

If anything, a team’s offensive ability to score points in a game helps create more opportunities for turnovers than anything else. I think it’s safe to say the FSU offense hasn’t exactly put pressure on opposing teams by lighting the scoreboard up, aside from the Boston College game.

Take Tennessee, for instance, because their defense only has two more takeaways than FSU( one against Alabama last week had nothing to do with the defense) and allows more points per game, but their offense is prolific, and that team is undefeated.

If FSU’s offense was as good as Tennessee’s? They’d be undefeated too. The backend of the 2022 schedule isn’t as daunting as the first seven games, and I expect the offense to perform better.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the number of takeaways on defense increases at the same time.