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FSU credits better effort for defensive performance against Miami

 
FSU linebacker Jacob Pugh, left, and defensive end DeMarcus Walker celebrate a sack of Miami’s Brad Kaaya.
FSU linebacker Jacob Pugh, left, and defensive end DeMarcus Walker celebrate a sack of Miami’s Brad Kaaya.
Published Oct. 10, 2016

MIAMI — Florida State had no complex explanations for the defensive transformation that fueled Saturday night's 20-19 win over No. 10 Miami.

"It was nothing that clicked," cornerback Tarvarus McFadden said. "We just came out and played like how we know we're capable of playing."

If the defense had played like that all season, the No. 23 Seminoles wouldn't need a miracle to re-enter the ACC championship conversation.

FSU's defense entered Hard Rock Stadium ranked No. 125 nationally in yards per play and had just given up 538 yards to North Carolina a week earlier — its most since Oregon's rout in the 2015 Rose Bowl. Two five-star talents, end Josh Sweat and linebacker Matthew Thomas, caught flak for jogging during one of the final plays.

"I feel like that put a bad name on us — especially me," Sweat said. "To me personally, I had to come out and give it my all."

Sweat did. And so did the rest of his defense.

Linebacker and Dade City native Jacob Pugh sacked Brad Kaaya on the first play of the game to set the tone. Kaaya lost a tooth on one hit and was noticeably shaken afterward.

FSU's defense kept coming. The 'Noles held the nation's No. 9 rushing offense to 62 yards (2.2 per carry). A secondary that allowed open seams through the first five games tightened up. FSU broke up more passes Saturday (four) than it did over the previous three games combined (three). The Seminoles (4-2, 1-2 ACC) held the nation's No. 4 scoring offense to 19 points — less than half of its previous average (47).

"Y'all seen what's been going on for the past few weeks," said McFadden, who ended one potential scoring drive with an interception in the end zone. "We definitely needed a performance like this."

That performance came thanks to a few minor tweaks. Defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi re-entered the starting lineup and led FSU with seven tackles, including 2½ for a loss. Former five-star receiver Ermon Lane made his debut at safety and had four tackles, behind only Nnadi and Pugh.

But the biggest improvement had nothing to do with personnel or schemes.

"Just effort," said end DeMarcus Walker, who sealed FSU's seventh straight win over the Hurricanes with a blocked extra point in the closing minutes. "Just effort and attitude."

The fact that both were lacking for most of the first five games of the season still frustrates them.

"That's what kind of makes me mad now," McFadden said, "because we could have been doing that all year."

They didn't, but there are reasons to believe Saturday's success against UM (4-1, 1-1) is a sign of things to come.

All of FSU's first five Division I-A opponents ranked in the top 20 nationally in yards per play, and four were in the top 10. This week's opponent, Wake Forest, is No. 114, and no remaining team on FSU's schedule is inside the top 30.

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And after a month of well-publicized struggles, the Seminoles have a confidence-boosting affirmation of their potential.

"We're on a roll now," Pugh said. "We don't plan on stopping."

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.