FSU football: How Fabien Lovett’s return impacts the 2023 defense

Production

FSU football saw their run defense drop from No. 30 in 2021 to No. 58 in 2022 with Fabien Lovett out.

Safety Jammie Robinson leading the team in tackles the last two seasons, peaking with 99 this year, tells us the defensive line didn’t make enough stops. The defensive tackle position only accounted for 11 percent of the tackles made in 2022.

They accounted for 14.2 percent of the tackles for a loss. I think that changes in 2023 if Fabien Lovett can remain healthy and the transfers stay near their production level from last season. Darrell Jackson had 4.5 tackles for a loss, and Brandon Fiske had 12 at Western Michigan.

Even if we cut Fiske’s production in half due to a major step up in competition, that’s still more than Robert Cooper or any other defensive tackle on the team last year.

If we factor in Joshua Farmer’s development (6 TFLs last year) and the other players? I think we’ll see a linebacker lead the team in tackles instead of a safety in 2023.

That means a better run defense and better secondary play because the defensive line’s collapsing the pocket up the middle. That means Adam Fuller should produce an improved defense for the third consecutive season.