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FSU's 2-Year Defensive Swing
Seminoles.com's Brandon Mellor takes a look at the defensive transformation by the Florida State football team over the past two seasons.
Mark Stoops has turned FSU's defense back into the ACC's best in just his second year in Tallahassee.


Mark Stoops has turned FSU's defense back into the ACC's best in just his second year in Tallahassee.

Nov. 29, 2011

By: Brandon Mellor, Seminoles.com Senior Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State's offense may have puttered to the regular-season finish line but there's no denying that Mark Stoops' defense capped off the 2011 campaign with a bang.

The Seminoles (8-4) will now wait to officially learn where they will conclude the season when bowl announcements are made this Sunday. No matter where the 'Noles go, though, they will bring with them a dominating defense that is fresh off an inspiring performance against Florida in Gainesville.

FSU played this season with just three seniors in the defensive rotation -- linebacker Nigel Bradham, cornerback Mike Harris and safety Terrance Parks -- so on paper the Seminoles will return eight starters next year.

If numbers don't lie, than the future looks particularly bright for a Seminoles team that has made a drastic turnaround in the two years since Stoops, defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot and linebackers coach Greg Hudson moved to Tallahassee.

Here is a look at where Florida State ranks defensively (both nationally and in the Atlantic Coast Conference) on this day in 2011 as opposed to exactly two years ago.

 

2009 Statistical Averages -- Rankings

2011 Statistical Averages -- Rankings

Total Defense

 443.58 -- 108th nationally/12th ACC 274.58 -- 6th nation/1st ACC

Rush Defense

 203.25 -- 109th nationally/12th ACC 81.83 -- 2nd nationally/1st ACC

Pass Defense

 240.33 -- 87th nationally/11th ACC 192.75 -- 20th nationally/1st ACC

Pass Eff. Defense

 153.73 -- 113th nationally/12th ACC 119.11 -- 32nd nationally/3rd ACC

Sacks

 1.75 -- 73rd nationally/10th ACC 3.00 -- 10th nationally/2nd ACC

Tackles for Loss

 5.33 -- 76th nationally/8th ACC 7.67 -- 7th nationally/1st ACC

Scoring Defense

 30.75 -- 98th nationally/10th ACC 15.17 -- 4th nationally/1st ACC

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