There is a very big difference between practice and a scrimmage in football. Defensive coordinator Tony White was able to see just how much Florida State’s players knew (and didn’t) in Saturday’s first spring scrimmage.
“Practice, when it's controlled and coaches are on the grass or whatnot, you get a sense of a player, but you don't know them until you get the hell out of the way and you let them go and you be quiet,” White said. “And you're just watching them play.”
Coach Mike Norvell noted on Saturday that the defense gave up some big plays, but he also liked how disruptive the line played. White said the coaches made a decision to accelerate players’ development.
“Big picture, overall you're happy with the amount of install that's in, because coach (Norvell) has been really aggressive with making sure things are get getting installed,” White said. “Throw it at them right now, stress them out. So you're really happy with the amount of things that are in. Everything was called in the scrimmage, all the different situations you got. They were disruptive, and it was good to see some guys come alive for the first time.”
As White begins year 2 at FSU, this spring is one where the coaching staff is welcoming in a large group of transfers and freshmen. But there are also veterans who have played in the scheme.
When asked about FSU’s defensive line, given some significant losses but also a feeling among the coaches that there is young depth, White expressed confidence.
“You have big enough bodies to where you can do things schematically one way, but then you also got a lot of twitch and a lot of explosion,” White said. “So now it adds a different element to the room, to the game and it's good to see the guys take to that.
“Second season, spring ball, you should be that way. The things we're doing we weren't doing until, basically, almost the season last year. So coaches say, 'Hey, be aggressive. Let's go after these guys. Let's make sure, let's test them. Let's make sure that they love football.’ “
With this group, White is seeing the study time and often the results on the practice field. He also offered up a passionate response about the Seminoles’ mindset.
“And this group of guys, they're showing up. You don't have all the off-the-field bull crap and the guys who don't respect this logo and school and what Coach provides and what FSU provides,” White said. “You don't have that with this group. You got guys, they want to win as of right now, they want to win, and they're doing it with action. They're showing up in the building. You got guys showing up at 5:30, 6 o'clock in the morning, just sitting in a coach's office watching film.”
He did not call out any player by name, but it’s likely White was referencing a few players who are no longer at FSU as the revolving door of the transfer portal took place in January.
As he begins year 2, White has a better feel for the players on the current roster and they do with him and his scheme. If there wasn’t a good fit, in terms of playing style or personality, many of those players have moved on to another school. Also, White and the coaches were able to build relationships with high school recruits in the class of 2026.
White reflected on a number of freshmen who had impressed him, starting up front with defensive tackle Franklin Whitley (6-6, 276) from Greenville, S.C.
“He (Whitley) was doing stuff in the in the course of practices that you're like, ‘Wow. I didn't know you knew how to do that.’ And same thing in scrimmage,” White said. “You saw him play with his hands, and you saw his natural eyes. Natural Instincts come in there.”
White then mentioned defensive end Jaemin Pinckney (6-5, 217).
“He made some plays,” White said. “He's lanky. He's gained 10, 15, 20 pounds since he's been here, as well as learning what to do. But he ran around, made some plays.”
In the secondary, he praised Tre Bell III, who was recruited as a safety. “He knows what to do,” White said.
The defensive coordinator also took time to praise freshman linebackers Noah LaVallee (“he’s a playmaker”) and Karon Maycock.
White noted the cross-training at various safety spots, mentioning KJ Kirkland, Ashlynd Barker and Duke transfer Ma’Khi Jones.
“I expect them to be one of the better ones in the country,” White said of the safety group. “That’s just from what i see out there, from their attitudes, their demeanor, from the coaching that they’re getting.”
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