 |
| FSU's defense was dominant all day long..........keeping their top 10 ranking. |
|
|
 On Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
October 1, 2005
By Ira Schoffel for MCSPOLL.com
Master Coach Dick MacPherson understands why many college football fans are skeptical about the Florida State Seminoles, who moved up to No. 4 in this week’s Master Coaches Survey.
The Labor Day season opener between FSU and Miami on Monday Night Football was supposed to be an opportunity for both schools to showcase some of the nation’s top athletes. But instead of seeing the next Charlie Ward or Michael Irvin, many fans were disappointed to watch two defenses slug it out for 60 minutes.
The Seminoles finished the game on top, 10-7, and broke their six-game losing streak to the Hurricanes. But because both offenses struggled, Florida State’s victory appeared unimpressive.
But after going “On Location” to Tallahassee, Fla., this past Saturday to watch the Seminoles play host to Syracuse, MacPherson said he is convinced that FSU should be mentioned with Southern Cal, Texas and the nation’s other championship contenders.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” MacPherson said. “Not only is Florida State in the top 10 or top 5, but they’re going to even get better. They’ve got the players to get better right now.”
MacPherson believes Florida State will continue to improve as the season progresses because the Seminoles entered this season with inexperienced players throughout the lineup. Quarterbacks Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee are redshirt freshmen, several of their top receivers are freshmen and sophomores, and they had to replace three starters on the offensive line.
Still, they managed to put up 490 yards of offense and cruise to a 38-14 victory.
“They’re trying to find their way at quarterback and trying to fit their pieces on offense,” MacPherson said. “They’re playing with young players, and they’re coming.”
But make no mistake; MacPherson said the key for Florida State is a dominating defense. The Seminoles sacked Syracuse quarterback Perry Patterson seven times and limited leading rusher Dominic Rhodes to less than 3 yards per carry. FSU now ranks in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.
“They’re really a great defensive football team,” MacPherson said. “They’ve got a front four that puts a lot of pressure on you all by themselves. They without a doubt have the best three-linebacker defense in the country. And then they’ve got those real fast cover guys.”
The one weakness on Florida State’s defense was supposed to be its secondary, which lost its top three cornerbacks from 2004. Starters Leroy Smith and second-round draft choice Bryant McFadden (Steelers) graduated, and top backup Antonio Cromartie tore his ACL during off-season workouts.
But first-year starters Tony Carter and Gerard Ross have been sheltered by the Seminoles’ ferocious pass rush. FSU ranks second nationally with 20 sacks through four games.
Though he said “the jury is still out” on Florida State’s offense, MacPherson said the Seminoles’ defense will give them a chance against just about any opponent.
“They’re gonna be trouble all the time because anybody who plays good defense is always going to be in the game,” MacPherson said.
NEXT WEEK....
 On Location with John Robinson - Georgia at Tennessee
Photos courtesy of the Florida State University Athletics.
|
