2023 FSU Defense Rolls With Punches During First Scrimmage

The Seminoles traded shots midway through fall camp.

Fall camp is in full swing, and the Florida State Seminoles are knee-deep in what is expected to be a highlighted campaign for the program as 2023 and the season opener in Orlando, Florida, approaches. 

As with most preseason camps, the defense should be slightly ahead of the offense in terms of the scheme, but comparatively, one of the most high-powered offenses went against one of the top defenses, and sparks flew while the Florida State staff looked on. FSU head coach Mike Norvell and coordinators spoke with the media after their first scrimmage.

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"I was really proud of the defense," head coach Mike Norvell said after Sunday's scrimmage. "We came in with the first/second group. We got down to the one-yard line, had a big fourth-down stand on the goal line," Norvell added. "I thought they rose to the occasion. The next drive, the offense got down there and was able to punch it in."

Florida State has orchestrated many goal-line stands and scores over the past few years, and the back-and-forth that Norvell described in his interview lent credence to what he and his staff are trying to build.

"I really like our identity down there. I think we've started to draw those lines. It takes a lot of guts when they get down there because a play was given up," Fuller said. "The guys did a good job of standing up. It was kind of a collective stop, a lot of different bodies in there. It was good to see."

When asked about the identity of the team, Fuller said that defensive stands like that say a lot about his group.

"I think anytime you're trying to build identities, you know when everybody in the world knows they're going to run the football and you have to stop it and they've got to get a yard to go, I think that says a lot about that group in that moment. And I was proud of them tonight to stand up and do that."

It wasn't all defensive standouts; however, transfer tight end Jaheim Bell continued to make plays for the offense and offered up some advice for the guys on the other side of the ball. 

#FSU TE Jaheim Bell made a big play tonight against Adam Fuller's defense and he told Fuller after the scrimmage that they need to tackle better.

Fuller told Bell he appreciates his observations 😂 #Noles

— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) August 14, 2023

"Jaheim is a competitor. We've seen him in real live ball games. We've seen it out there; he's tough to tackle," offensive coordinator Alex Atkins said. "He's a competitor, you know, physical kid, so I think, well, physical player, but Jaheim is going to be fine."

Atkins attributed the defensive success partially to the length of their rushing drives as opposed to what they have experienced in practice. He said the big plays showed up, which is what the offense is predicated on but that the routine plays and finishes were something that needed to be improved.

"I think it was the first time we got into some eight, nine, twelve plus yard drives, and then we gotta know how to operate once we get down there," Atkins said. "You heard about the goal line stop, and getting in the red zone and sputtering out and having to set up a field goal. The big plays showed up. We just gotta do a better job with the routine plays"

Another player the coaches said had a successful scrimmage was redshirt sophomore defensive end Byron Turner, Jr. After seeing limited time a season ago; Turner has been turning heads while flashing in practice. 

"I think a night like tonight can build some confidence in him. Several of his teammates came up to me after the scrimmage and made comments about how well they thought he played and that's always good for a player when you're being recognized by your peers," defensive ends coach John Papuchis said. "I think especially at that position group, where you have a couple of guys that are kind of veteran in that group as well, having your peers kind of recognize that you played well can be a huge boost to his confidence."

The Seminoles take the field again on Tuesday, August 15, as they continue to make strides throughout the fall.

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