I'm usually not an advocate of saying someone should get fired. However, when it gets to the point where a coach is literally stealing money, and the product on the field continues to get worse?
It's time.
I watched FSU take on the North Carolina Tarheels Saturday afternoon and got disgusted the longer I watched. North Carolina's defense isn't even a top 75 unit, and it made the FSU offense look like they were playing the 2023 FSU defense.
The FSU defense, which to their credit, hasn't been the biggest issue all season, couldn't get off of the field on third down to save their lives. North Carolina converted third and long situations at will, and it's a situation that's been constant all year.
This is NOT FSU football, and there's a standard to uphold. I know there are only three games left in the season, and firing coaches during the season doesn't help many things. However, it's time for Mike Norvell to show he's ready to overhaul this joke of a product on the field. Here are four reasons it's time to announce some coaching firings during the season.
Alex Atkins Gotta Go
The biggest issue this season has been the offense or lack thereof. FSU hasn't scored more than 21 points in a single game ALL season. Let that sink in! Wait, it gets worse. The FSU offense hasn't scored more than 14 points since that game.
One of the biggest reasons behind that is the terrible offensive line coached by Alex Atkins.
The issues didn't start this year because FSU didn't have much of a running game last year. They can't run the ball at all. They can't pass block. They can't do anything, and that falls on the offensive coordinator, Alex Atkins.
He will get a pay raise next year with this terrible product. Yes, he has a few quality offensive linemen committed for 2025, but he hasn't shown he can develop high school players at all, so it doesn't matter if FSU signs them or not. It would probably be two years before they'd ever get on the field with the offensive line coach anyway. What little bit of recruiting he does is offset by the product on the field.
I'd move Chris Thomsen to offensive line coach for the final three games. He has offensive line coaching experience and has put players in the NFL.
Adam Fuller Gotta Go
I've been a long-time supporter of Adam Fuller. It's been amazing he has gotten this defense to keep FSU in games, despite the atrocious offense. However, the rate at which opposing offenses convert third and long is maddening.
I will say that they are often guys in a position to make tackles, but they almost never make the play. That was the one thing that made me hesitant to say get rid of him. However, it's time.
The FSU defense allowed North Carolina to convert 11 of 16 third downs on Saturday. They allow over 45 percent third down conversions on the season.
They allow over 4.5 yards per rush and have no reliable pass rush. The defense isn't coordinated well, and they don't tackle well. They play soft and have poor football IQ.
They are terrible at blitzing, telegraphing when they do it, or starting the blitz from well beyond the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs give too much cushion on third and short. There were times when North Carolina players caught passes, and there were no FSU defenders within 10 yards.
I'm sure some of the defensive play has been affected by how atrocious the FSU offense has been. However, Adam Fuller gets paid way too much money and isn't that great of a recruiter.
Ron Dugans Gotta Go
I know there are rumors that FSU wide receiver coach Ron Dugans won't be retained for next year. I'm not against that move either, because the FSU wide receivers under his guidance have been awful overall.
You know it's crazy when Keon Coleman told recruits NOT to come to FSU after heading to the NFL. If that doesn't tell you all you need to know, I don't know what to tell you. FSU failed to sign a single high school recruit a few years ago and currently has zero high school commits for the 2025 class.
That's enough alone to fire him.
The FSU receivers play soft, refuse to block on running and passing plays, and don't get me started on the drops.
FSU running backs coach David Johnson has experience coaching wide receivers and can fill that gap over the next three games.
Why Firings Need To Get Announced NOW
Those are the three firings I'd start with. The fans have checked out on this season. There were hardly any fans at the game on Saturday, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
That's one of the first signs that fan support has eroded, and ultimately, FSU is depending on fans to contribute to The Battle's End Collective. The local economy depends on FSU fans to attend home games to make a living.
How do you think these fans feel watching this product after donating their hard-earned money to help pay these players? Do you think they will continue to donate money and spend money to attend the final two home games? Absolutely not.
If Mike Norvell waits to make moves, he'll risk even more fan apathy and may not get those fans back. Now, if he announces some firings, it doesn't solve any problems, but it at least lets the fans know he's going to do something about the issues at hand when the season ends.
Of course, he can't make any hires until after the season(why I suggested what I'd do until the season was complete). However, it at least announces to the college football world that FSU has openings and will look to upgrade its staff. That could possibly expedite the hiring process once the season is complete.
The earlier Mike Norvell can get new coaches on staff, the earlier they can start the process of adding players needed at key positions and work to start turning this program around for the second time.