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FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell Talks Defensive Depth, Johnny Wilson After Practice

"Every play that they play, we want it at an elite level."
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The No. 3 Florida State Seminoles (2-0, 0-0 ACC) were back on the practice fields Tuesday morning in preparation to open conference play against the Boston College Eagles (1-1, 0-0 ACC) on the road on September 16. 

READ MORE: Florida State At Boston College: Tuesday Practice Observations

FSU head coach Mike Norvell spoke with the media after Tuesday's practice, which he said was a good response to some of the mistakes that showed up last weekend.

"I really liked the guy's mindset today. We got a lot of good on good work going against each other.  I thought the speed was good," Norvell said. "I thought you saw some guys really responding from areas we talked about needing to improve in, and overall, I thought it was a really good day."

The Seminoles are coming off a 66-13 victory over Southern Miss, which highlighted an offense that put up over 500 yards on the night. FSU star wide receiver Johnny Wilson had his ups and downs in the rout, but the stat sheet doesn't always reflect impact. Wilson responded with a solid practice.

"I thought Johnny had an exceptional day today, and he was great in what he did. His execution, finishing plays, but it's not shocking to me when you have guys that embrace improvement," Norvell said about the 6-foot-7, 237-pound wide receiver. "That's what you want to see."

Florida State fielded 102 against Southern Miss, giving newcomers valuable experience and playing time. Some of the more seasoned defensive linemen saw limited action. The number of reps given wasn't a reflection of talent or ability but a showcase of the depth that has been built upfront. 

"Everybody wants to play, but there's also an understanding that we want those guys, every play that they play, we want it at an elite level—chasing the ball, giving it their all, and when you have good players, you can do that."

Norvell goes over Boston College prep, building a championship defensive line, and more in his full interview below.


READ MORE: Kickoff Time, TV Channel Announced For Florida State's Crucial Road Game Against Clemson

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