Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU football: Why has ‘Noles defense been dominant since bye week?

By Kelvin Hunt

FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller at the FSU National Signing Day Party on Feb. 5, 2020.Img 4487
FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller at the FSU National Signing Day Party on Feb. 5, 2020.Img 4487 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
fsu football
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Miami

Miami’s offense wasn’t anything to write home about, despite many folks crowning Tyler Van Dyke as a Heisman front-runner before the season.

I wrote he’d likely take a step back as defensive coordinators had film to study, Miami got a new coordinator, and Miami didn’t have much returning at wide receiver.

Tyler Van Dyke didn’t finish the game due to injury, which also helped the ‘Nole’s defense because freshman Jacurri Brown isn’t a good passer.

However, the FSU did what good defenses do against bad defenses, and that’s dominate. FSU held Miami to 4 of 13 on third down (31 percent). Here’s the down and distance for each:

  • 3rd and 1 (run for two yards)
  • 3rd and 9 (pass incomplete)
  • 3rd and 2 (run for one yard)
  • 3rd and 7 (run for five yards)
  • 3rd and 17 (run for 13 yards)
  • 3rd and 5 (interception)
  • 3rd and 7 (pass complete for 15 yards)
  • 3rd and 8 (sack)
  • 3rd and 8 (pass complete for three yards)
  • 3rd and 3 (run for three yards)
  • 3rd and Goal(fumble recovered on bad snap)
  • 3rd and 2 (run for three yards)
  • 3rd and 8 (incomplete pass)

That’s 54 percent of Miami’s third down plays at seven yards or more. FSU kept Miami pinned deep in their territory for much of the game thanks to Alex Mastromanno and special teamers. That helped limit what they could do offensively and forced them to punt a couple of plays that were fourth and short.

Home/FSU Football