TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops admitted that a turnaround has happened even faster than he expected.
When he arrived in January 2010, FSU was coming off a season in which the Seminoles allowed 30 points per game and were ranked 108th in total defense.
Florida State took a step forward that fall, allowing just 19 points per game. And in 2011, the total was shaved to 15 points.
The Seminoles were second in the nation last seasonin rush defense, and fourth in both total defense and scoring defense.
Just a few years after being, statistically speaking, one of the nation’s 10 worst defenses, FSU is now one of the top 10 – and in the company of SEC defenses like Alabama and LSU.
And with the Seminoles returning all but one starter in the front seven, along with standouts like corner Xavier Rhodes and safety Lamarcus Joyner, there is a sense that the 2012 Florida State defense is even better than years past.
“We are a talented group,” Stoops said. “We have depth and experience. … I do expect us to take it to another level. Because we have some experience. And because we have some ability.”
Stoops then tells a story about how he is often animated when he is teaching, either in the classroom or on the field. He talks about how passionate he is and how the voice rises or he stomps around as he demonstrates or diagrams schemes on a whiteboard.
And then he looks around and sees the faces of his veteran players. Stoops realizes that, in Year 3 of his system, he sees the seniors and juniors still have the thirst to improve as athletes and understand football even more.
“I see the wheels spinning and I see them understanding things,” Stoops said. “And I see them really wanting to take (coaching) and that excites me. That the guys are not just assuming that we’re going to be good. That’s a recipe for disaster. I don’t see that. I see us hungry to learn the finer things to take us to another level.”
FSU’s coaches and players have firmly accepted the role of national title contender. There are questions about the growth of the offensive line, the injuries at running back and the depth at linebacker.
The biggest question on defense is deciding who will replace four key players in the secondary from 2011 – corner Mike Harris and safety Terrance Parks are now in the NFL, safety Nick Moody has moved up to linebacker and corner Greg Reid was dismissed from the team on Aug. 1.
“Everybody loved being around Greg; he brought great passion and great energy,” Stoops said. “You can’t replace Greg Reid. We can have guys try to help and step up and offset some things, but it’s hard to just flat out replace him. We love Greg and we want him to be successful, but the game is going to move on. We have to find that guy now.”
Coach Jimbo Fisher and Stoops are both giving sophomore Nick Waisome the chance to win Reid’s spot. And while they like Waisome’s speed and instincts, there are other options, including the 6-foot-3 Keelin Smith. And Terrence Brooks, who is versatile and played both corner and safety for FSU, could be other starting safety.
But no college football team is without a few holes to fill. And despite those areas, there remain high expectations in 2012. Stoops said he understands the expectations are there for FSU to have a dominating defense.
But the players and coaches have expectations, too.
“There’s no more pressure than we put on ourselves,” Stoops said. “I’m not really worried about that. It’s our job each and every day to try to get them to understand things, to push them to do better and to take things to the next level. Every play is very important to me. I tell our players all the time: every yard, every point is personal.”
Stoops, like all of the Seminoles’ assistants, is only allowed to talk to the media once a year, and that happened on Sunday at FSU’s media day. He calmly answered questions for about 30 minutes and only dodged one about his future as a coach.
With all of his success as an assistant – with a national title as Miami’s defensive backs coach in 2001, the turnaround with brother Mike Stoops at Arizona and now the transformation at FSU – has Stoops been offered or been tempted to leave Tallahassee?
For the record, Stoops never answered the question about if he received an offer this winter to run his own program. But Stoops feels he’s “more prepared than when I walked in the door” at FSU.
“I’m in a great situation,” Stoops said. “I’m in a situation here where it’s one of the top coordinating jobs in the country. We get great players. Coach has a fantastic structure. Gives me the ability to coach these guys and to be successful. What more can you ask for? It’s a great situation.
“I’m just worried about now and helping this team win. And that’s the truth. You know how special it is to win championships. It’s a fantastic feeling.”
