FSU football: How much did the defense improve over 2021?
By Kelvin Hunt
I lot of folks dislike FSU football defensive coordinator Adam Fuller for whatever reason. I suppose it goes back to the awful first year in 2020 when the FSU defense was historically bad.
If you recall, I was one of the few to give him the benefit of the doubt with not having an offseason to implement anything and all the other factors associated with dealing with the pandemic.
We saw the defense take a noticeable step forward in 2021, finishing No. 43 via FEI advanced metrics.
That was a huge improvement from the No. 108 finish in 2020. FSU returned leadership and experience at every level in 2022, and many, including myself, expected the defense to finish in the top 25-30 range.
The additions of Jared Verse and Tatum Bethune from the transfer portal helped fill some voids from the 2021 squad. This year’s defense was more talented overall but didn’t have the depth needed to avoid steep drop-offs if starters came out of the game.
That was never more evident than the three-game losing streak where Fabien Lovett and Jared Verse either didn’t play or were severely limited. Not to mention starting cornerback Omarion Cooper never found his form after beginning the season injured.
Nevertheless, the defense finished with a No. 34 FEI ranking. It likely would have been higher if they didn’t miss Lovett and Verse as much as they did. That’s still a decent improvement and a far cry from the 2020 season. Let’s take a look at how much they improved in certain areas.