College football

FSU defense going backward

It was invincible in the first four games, but past two have revealed a lack of depth and experience.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published October 20, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - For the first month of the season, the Florida State defense provided the perfect security blanket for its largely inexperienced offense.

It shut down opponents, ranking among the nation's elite in the most telling areas (yards and scoreboard), and forced turnovers that gave the offense better field position and more scoring chances. But of late, the defense hasn't imparted that same sense of Brink's-like protection.

In a win against Wake Forest on Oct.8 and then an upset loss at Virginia last week, FSU has allowed an average of 370.5 yards - an increase of 116 from its first four games - and an average of 25 points - more than double the 12 it had conceded.

Sacks fell from nearly five a game to a total of four against Wake and Virginia.

And after averaging three takeaways a game, the Seminoles haven't forced any in consecutive games.

What's going on?

"We've got to get back to the focus point we had when we were preparing for Miami," defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "We somehow or another got in this track where there seems to be a little bit different focus in terms of preparation and performance. That's something we as coaches have to help our team regain. That's our mission this week."

But coaches can only do so much without the benefit of a waiver wire or trades.

The ability of Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans to escape pressure and find receivers revealed a weakness that FSU had been masterfully camouflaging - a lack of depth and experience on the defensive line and in the secondary.

"If we had to play against Marques, I think that he would probably expose some of the same things on our team," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "He's just that elusive. And right now, besides being elusive, he's having a really good year with his decisions."

Coach Bobby Bowden is hopeful the Seminoles won't have to contend with another player quite like Hagans and that certainly should be the case this weekend at Duke with freshman Zack Asack.

Still, Andrews said his players were guilty of "some critical mistakes in judgment" that Hagans' strengths only accentuated.

"Playing hard and playing dumb are two different things," Andrews said.

Pass rushers sometimes took incorrect angles at Hagans, allowing him to avoid sacks. When they had a chance to come up with a turnover, the Seminoles didn't make the play.

"It's something a good team can't do without," senior safety Pat Watkins said of takeaways. "In order for us to be successful, we've got to create turnovers."

It also didn't help that defensive backs were too often out of position and, at times, paid for it. Redshirt freshman cornerback Tony Carter, who had been the team's steadiest despite opponents looking to take advantage of his size (5-foot-9, 160 pounds), had a night to forget last week.

He drew three penalties, two on the opening drive that resulted in a touchdown, and one late in the fourth quarter that gave Virginia a first down and allowed it to run off more time.

"It humbled me and made me realize I have to work harder and not make those mental mistakes," Carter said. "You're on the road in a hostile environment and it's like everybody's against you and you mess up on national TV, so all that stuff is going through your mind. ... I know I can play physically with those guys, but mentally I have to get myself together and regroup."

He may have company in that task. In the waning seconds of the first half, Hagans avoided the rush (again), sprinted to his right and spotted tailback Wali Lundy wide open for a 16-yard score that gave Virginia a 23-10 lead.

"You've got to keep them from getting in the end zone some way," Andrews said. "Three plays and they scored. That's an area that concerns you because you have to finish."

That had been the defense's trademark in September. It stopped Miami on three plays inside the 10 in the final minutes. It stopped Boston College six times from the 2. It hadn't allowed Miami, the Citadel or Boston College to score in the second half.

"I'd say there's never been a great defense that didn't have (raw) ability," Andrews said. "(Former assistant) coach (Jim) Gladden used to say this and we all agreed with him, but we'd have a little chuckle when he would say it: "The best ability is dependability.'

"You can be minus a few great players, but if your guys are playing near to perfection, playing as well as they can, the mental part of it will carry you a long way."

FSU also had some mental gaffes against Wake Forest, which can befuddle a defense with misdirection and the option. Wake's biggest plays were a nifty end around by receiver and former Dixie Hollins star Kevin Marion for a touchdown, a fake punt and a trick play involving receiver Nate Norton throwing a pass. Those three plays accounted for 127 of its 415 yards.

"You've got to do everything you can," senior linebacker A.J. Nicholson said, "and do it right. And if you do that, the best should come out. When we play our best, we're one of the top teams in the nation."

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:20:19]