Scouting FSU: Defense

The FSU defense is one of the best units in the country and the Bulls offense and skill players will have their hands full in this one. While Coach Fitch says the offense has faced great defenses in the past, I don't think the team has ever faced one with the level of skill and depth this unit has.  Let's see what Daniels and company will be facing in this one.

Starting on the defense line, at the left end position is junior Bjoern Werner (6-5 255-pounds). This monster has 15 tackles, 9 tackles for loss already, and 6 huge sacks on the season (gonna be a long day at the office for this line). Behind him on the depth chart is senior Cornellius Carradine (6-5 265-pounds) who has 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. Carradine has moved over to the other defensive end spot at times and making life really tough for anyone. Behind Werner is redshirt freshman Toshman Stevens (6-5 245-pounds) who has 6 tackles on the year. At the right defensive end position, behind Carradine, redshirt freshman Giorgio Newberg (6-6 273-pounds) who has 6 tackles. Carradine and Newberg are replacing Brandon Jenkins who is out for the year with a foot injury. Expect to see Carradine and others rotate to the right side to take over and add more pass rush off the edge. At the defensive tackle position is senior Everett Dawkins (6-3 300-pounds) who has 7 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Behind him is redshirt junior DeMonte McAllister (6-2 285-pounds) who has 10 tackles and freshman Eddie Goldman (6-4 320-pounds) who has 4 tackles and one tackle for loss. At the other defensive tackle spot is redshirt senior Anthony McCloud (6-2 310-pounds) who has 7 tackles. Behind him is sophomore Timmy Jernigan (6-2 298-pounds) who has 10 tackles and 2 tackles for loss and redshirt freshman Nile Lawrence-Stample (6-1 314-pounds) who has 4 tackles. This is a tough group that always seems to be chasing down a quarterback. Werner is a key to block, but the others are just as good. At strong side linebacker is redshirt senior Nick Moody (6-2 237-pounds) who has 2 tackles.  Behind him is redshirt freshman Terrance Smith (6-4 212-pounds) who has 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss on the year.  At the middle linebacker position is redshirt senior Vince Williams (6-1 247-pounds) who has 12 tackles and 1.5 tackle for loss.  Behind him is senior Telvin Smith (6-3 212-pounds) who has 9 tackles and 1.5 tackle for loss.  At the weakside linebacker position is junior Christian Jones (6-4 232-pounds).  Behind him is freshman Reggie Northrup (6-1 220-pounds).  The linebacker unit has rotated in a lot of players so far this season, so we will see a lot of names, a lot of athletes, keeping everyone fresh throughout the game.

At cornerback is redshirt junior Xavier Rhodes (6-2 217-pounds) who has 11 tackles and has 1 interception.  He is their best cover corner and will try to take Andre Davis completely out of the game, much like Ball State did last week.  Behind him is redshirt freshman Keelin Smith (6-3 185-pounds) who has 6 tackles and sophomore Tyler Hunter (5-11 190-pounds) who has 7 tackles.  At the other cornerback spot is sophomore Nick Waisome (5-10 176-pounds) who has 3 tackles.  Behind him is freshman Ronald Darby who has 4 tackles.  At free safety is junior Lamarcus Joyner (5-8  195-pounds) who has 12 tackles on the season.  Behind him is Hunter.  At free safety is sophomore Terrence Brooks (5-11 197-pounds) who has 17 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.  Behind him is sophomore Karlos Williams (6-1 230-pounds) who has 5 tackles.

Overall, this is a great defense that is going to make life tough for the Bulls on offense.  It will be a challenge to get the ball moving on them.