‘Disruptive’ defensive front leads charge in FSU’s first preseason scrimmage

The Florida State defense wasn’t necessarily set up for success in Saturday night’s first scrimmage of the preseason.

Veteran stars like Patrick Payton, Joshua Farmer, Shyheim Brown, Azareye’h Thomas and Fentrell Cypress were on limited snap counts, so the Seminoles’ coaches could get an extended look at their backups.

It was the first time the defense was able to work on full-speed tackling, actually taking offensive players to the ground, all preseason.

Plus FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller challenged his group by asking them to run some more complex schemes than they had in spring scrimmages, when the emphasis was primarily on playing hard and being physical.

Fuller was confident his older defensive players would be able to handle that extra mental load, but he was curious about his younger defensive backs and linebackers. The execution wasn’t flawless by any stretch, but it definitely was encouraging.

“We were trying to give them multiple calls and just push all that on them,” Fuller said. “To make sure the execution level is where we want. I was happy with the execution part of things, with the amount that we tried to get looked at and run.”

The highlight from the defense on Saturday might have been a defensive front that was described as “disruptive” several times by Fuller and Florida State head coach Mike Norvell.

Other than one long drive, in which the first-team offense marched 97 yards while converting multiple third downs, the defensive front made it very difficult for the offense to operate.

“Playing in the offensive backfield at times,” Norvell said. “Forcing the quarterback to have to scramble. Getting the run stopped before they could get started. … That’s what we need from that group. It’s something we’re accustomed to from that group.”

Fuller also gave Florida State’s rushing defense positive marks, but he wasn’t as pleased with the way the front-seven pressured the Seminoles’ quarterbacks.

“I thought we could rush the passer better than we did,” Fuller said.

The other two primary areas of concern were a number of missed tackles, including several on a short touchdown run by Samuel Singleton Jr., which capped off that one long drive, and some costly penalties.

When asked if those two areas have been a concern in practices, Fuller pointed out this was the defense’s first opportunity to tackle to the ground, and that the referees in regular practices will only throw flags, not actually walk off the yardage.

So if a player gets flagged for pass interference during 1-on-1s or 7-on-7s, the coaches will offer corrections, but the practice keeps moving.

“It’s different when the ref walks off 15 yards and you feel it,” Fuller said.

The secondary was credited with one interception during a red-zone portion of Saturday’s scrimmage, and there also were a handful of pass breakups.

“They were disruptive there at the catch point and had a couple nice plays,” Norvell said.

With nearly three weeks remaining before Florida State opens the 2024 season against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Fuller said he needs to see his defense clean up many finer details in their execution. But he made it clear that he loves their effort and determination.

“We play hard,” Fuller said. “I know that. I never take it for granted, because effort is hard for all of us. Through the winter, through the spring, through the summer, through now, I do feel like they will go out there and they’ll put a really good effort out there. And that is a big identity right now.”

Florida State defensive tackles Darrell Jackson (left) and Daniel Lyons are part of a ‘disruptive’ front for the Seminoles. (Gene Williams/Warchant)

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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