FSU football defense: Improve these 3 areas and be elite in 2023
By Kelvin Hunt
Third Down Conversions Allowed
FSU football ranked No. 37 nationally, allowing third down conversion rates at 35 percent. FSU was solid in third and long, ranking 10th nationally with 40 sacks last season.
However, they ranked 39th in tackles for a loss. It goes back to winning on early downs and creating havoc to put opposing offenses in more predictable down and distances. It’s more difficult for offenses to have success when it’s second and 12 or second and 10 instead of second and five.
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Georgia’s defense only allowed offenses to convert 26.63 percent of the time. It goes back to what I said earlier. The faster the defense can get off the field, the better field position the offense will likely have and the less red zone opportunities they’ll have to defend.
I think this was a key reason why FSU coaches added the likes of Darrell Jackson, Braden Fiske, and Fentrell Cypress from the transfer portal.
That added beef in the trenches will make it more difficult to run. Better coverage in the secondary could result in more coverage sacks, and both will ultimately decrease third down conversions.