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Without playmakers like Deion Sanders, FSU allows 364 yards a game.
By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 9, 2002
TALLAHASSEE -- Fear not Florida State fans. Coach Bobby Bowden knows exactly what's ailing his team's defense and what it will take to make it as dominating and intimidating as it has been in past years.
"You can solve everything by putting one Deion Sanders out there," he deadpanned.
The No. 9 Seminoles, 121/2-point underdogs for their showdown at No. 1 Miami on Saturday, don't seem to have a Sanders or a Derrick Brooks or a Peter Boulware, someone who routinely would make the game-turning hit or interception.
"What you don't see is a bunch of playmakers," defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "You don't see guys who are making plays like we've had in the past."
The Seminoles are allowing 364 yards a game, 59th in the nation, which includes 260 passing, 102nd nationally. They also are giving up an average of 22.3 points, 42nd nationally.
The Hurricanes are No. 3, No. 3 and No. 10 in those categories, respectively.
"It's frustrating because I don't think we're as bad as we're playing and yet we're not playing like a good defense, which means we're not a good defense yet," Andrews said. "And too many people are making mistakes."
The Seminoles aren't just giving up yards, they're giving them up an acre at a time. To anyone and everyone. Most recently, Clemson had four pass plays of at least 41 yards.
Through the first five games, Bowden fretted about his cornerbacks. After the Clemson game, he is more concerned about his safeties -- sophomores B.J. Ward, Jerome Carter, Kyler Hall and Claudius Osei.
"We definitely have concerns," Bowden said. "I can't ever remember this many in the secondary."
Andrews said a common thread in almost every big play is that someone has been in position to make a play but didn't. In the waning seconds of the first half Thursday, for instance, Clemson quarterback Willie Simmons threw deep down the right sideline for J.J. McKelvey. Cornerback Leroy Smith seemingly had him covered, and Hall came closing in for what looked to be an interception.
"All he has to do is go get the ball at its highest point," Andrews said.
Hall didn't.
McKelvey's 59-yard play set up the Tigers' third touchdown.
"At some point, a football player's got to come out of them," Andrews said.
The defensive line shares the blame. It continues to struggle pressuring the quarterback, which doesn't help the defensive backs. The few defenders with the potential for prime-time plays haven't delivered as expected.
Junior defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, slowed by an Achilles' tendon injury and double-teamed consistently, has just four tackles for a loss. He had five against Georgia Tech last season.
Junior linebacker Michael Boulware is second on the team in tackles with 42 and coaches say he consistently grades out well, but he has no sacks, no interceptions, no forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries. Last year, he had three sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also scored two defensive touchdowns, including a 73-yard fumble return against Miami.
"Me and Mike have been struggling to make a lot of plays," Dockett said.
"It's definitely very frustrating," Boulware said. "I'm used to making a lot of big plays, getting my hands on the ball and stuff, and it's not happening right now. ... I don't think I'm trying hard enough. ... I feel myself more hesitant instead of just going after (the quarterback). I'm trying to break myself of that habit."
Other players have teased fans and coaches with snapshots of flare but haven't produced the whole slide show.
Senior defensive end Alonzo Jackson had an interception return for a touchdown in the opener against Iowa State and had four sacks against Louisville. Senior middle linebacker Jerel Hudson combined with teammate Kendyll Pope to stop Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace at the 1 on the game's final play and had an interception on the goal line against Louisville. Junior cornerbacks Stanford Samuels and Rufus Brown each had an interception against Clemson in the second half, helping the Seminoles limit Clemson to seven points and 100 yards after the break.
"There's room for improvement from every single player we've got," Andrews said. "But they showed it meant something to them the second half (against Clemson) and if we can build from there, take our mistakes and correct them, and learn to play smarter and more aggressively ... I told our guys on the sideline, "If we'll play as hard as Greg Jones runs, we'll have the best defense in America.' That's what we're going to do, play as hard as he does."
'Cause Deion isn't available.