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FSU football: How much did the defense improve over 2021?

By Kelvin Hunt

SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Jared Verse #5 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts with teammates after a sack on Garrett Shrader #6 of the Syracuse Orange during the game at JMA Wireless Dome on November 12, 2022 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Jared Verse #5 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts with teammates after a sack on Garrett Shrader #6 of the Syracuse Orange during the game at JMA Wireless Dome on November 12, 2022 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) /
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Metrics

  • Points allowed: 19.7 ppg down from 26.5 ppg in 2021(-25.6 percent)
  • Yards per play allowed: 4.73 ypp down from 5.19 ypp in 2021 (-8.8 percent):
  • Passing Yards allowed: 1,907 yards allowed down from 2,798 in 2021 (-31.8 percent)
  • Third down conversions allowed: 33.74 percent down from 41.27 percent (-18.2 percent)
  • Red Zone Touchdowns allowed: 55 percent of the time down from 61 percent of the time in 2021 (-9.8 percent)
  • Sacks: 34 sacks up from 33 sacks in 2021 after losing both starting defensive ends.
  • Played nearly 100 fewer snaps in 2022 compared to 2021

The FSU defense played well enough to keep to capture 10-11 wins this year. I’d say they played well enough to go undefeated because they were dealt some bad hands in critical moments, with offensive turnovers resulting in short fields, or special team failures on kickoff return.

I know some folks try to point out FSU’s defense made a living against sup-par offenses, but I have some stats that say that’s not the case. Most people would say Clemson and NC State had very good defenses in 2022. Clemson allowed 20.9 points per game. Guess what? They faced the averaged ranked No. 68 offense this season and allowed more points that FSU who faced the No. 65 average ranked offense.

NC State allowed 19.4 points per game and faced the No. 56 average ranked offense this season. I find it funny that folks will say FSU’s defense beat up on poor offenses, but then act like Clemson and NC State are in two totally different leagues defensively. Not to mention Clemson has way more talent overall.

**I got the average ranked offense number by taking each team’s offensive FEI ranking and dividing it by the number of teams.

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