Florida State defensive line dominates early despite limited reps from starters

Through two games, Fabien Lovett has played just 32 snaps for the Florida State defense.

He is one of the best defensive tackles in the conference when he’s healthy. And a likely 2024 NFL Draft pick. And yet through two games, the Seminoles have used Lovett very sparingly and still gotten exceptional play out of their defensive line.

“Honestly, in my opinion, I’m just getting back into mode and back getting used to things,” Lovett said this week. “I’m cool with the snap count. And shoot, at the end of the day, I make the best of the snaps I get.”

Not having to play every snap makes them all better. And more effective.

“You get a better chance to get off the ball, a better chance to beat the man,” Lovett said. “You get a break on the sideline. Anybody coming off the sideline should be fresh. If you ain’t fresh, there’s something wrong.”

Against LSU, Lovett played just 20 snaps. Yet other than a 35-yard draw right before halftime, the Tigers’ running backs managed just 14 yards on 11 carries all game against the Seminoles. That’s how dominant the FSU defensive line was that night.

Then, the following week against Southern Miss, which features one of the nation’s active career rushing leaders in Frank Gore Jr., the Eagles did essentially nothing in the run game against Florida State’s two-deep defense.

It was only after the Seminoles’ freshmen, third-stringers and walk-ons came into the game that the Golden Eagles managed to move the ball at all. That’s because Florida State’s defensive line rotation, which features multiple veterans on the interior and outside, has a lot of depth. And a whole lot of talent.

“I thought we were dominant,” Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said of the 66-13 win over Southern Miss. “There were a lot of three-and-outs in there.”

Fuller said veteran defensive tackle Dennis Briggs Jr. has probably been the Seminoles’ most impactful defensive lineman through the first two games.

Coming into the season, before Darrell Jackson’s waiver was denied by the NCAA, Briggs was considered maybe the fifth-best defensive tackle on the team. Even now, he might be the fourth-best, behind Lovett, Braden Fiske and Josh Farmer.

And yet Briggs has turned into a big piece for the FSU defense. He already has 1.5 sacks through two games. That’s how deep the Seminoles are up front.

“It’s just constant improvement,” Briggs said. “I’m just continuing to do my job and continuing to support the boys. That’s really all I feel like I’ve been doing. Just continue to do what I do.”

On the outside, starting defensive ends Jared Verse and Patrick Payton don’t have any sacks yet. But they’re not likely to be shut out for long. They’ve both applied serious pressure already on opposing quarterbacks and have helped in the run game as well. As have backups Gilber Edmond and Byron Turner Jr.

All told, when you include defensive tackle Malcolm Ray, it would appear the Seminoles have nine defensive linemen they plan on using frequently. All of whom have already made an impact in 2023.

It can’t be overstated how valuable being that deep up front can be as a season wears on. It’s how close games become easy wins, and how easy wins become 66-13 routs. Because waves of bodies, talented bodies, just keep coming at opposing offenses.

“I thought our defensive front was great,” Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said earlier this week. “It was a great forcing unit.

The one area where Florida State’s defense struggled in 2022 was against the run. Multiple teams were able to take advantage of a front that was banged-up and not loaded with a whole lot of proven depth.

Well, it’s early. But nobody is taking advantage of that group so far in 2023.

Florida State is allowing opponents to rush for less than 4 yards per carry. And the starting defense (well, first-teamers and top rotation players) has allowed opposing running backs just 85 yards on 25 carries.

Take away that 35-yard draw play in the second quarter by LSU, and that number becomes 50 yards on 24 carries.

“They’ve been remarkable,” Norvell said.

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

The post Florida State defensive line dominates early despite limited reps from starters appeared first on On3.