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FSU’s Defensive Collapse Has Tony White Facing Calls to Go
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- FSU’s Defensive Collapse Has Tony White Facing Calls to Go
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Seminoles (1-2) defense has given up over 1,000 yards in the last twogames, performances that are frankly embarrassing, so when will the excusesfinally end?
585 yards to SMU(2-1) . The guys balled for "60 of the plays"; it's just the other nine plays for 10 points and approximately 250 yards that Florida State wants back. Still White still believed he could turn the defenseinto " one of the best defenses in the country" if he could get the players tofinish the game, despite the underwhelming performance.
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"Physical effort and for about 60 plays in there, they balled," Whitesaid. "And there's nine plays that you want back, nine plays, 10 points, probably 250 yards."
White's defense followed up their 585 yards and 27-point performanceagainst SMU by surrendering 567 yards and 50 points to Alabam a. Another gamewhere White's defense failed to finish the game, letting Alabama score on itsfinal nine possessions.
But this time, it wasn't because of nine plays; this time it was Tony'sfault for not "staying aggressive" and "stopping attacking" the Alabama (3-0) offense.
White taking the blame for his lack of aggression and attacking raises aserious question: Why didn't he turn it back on when the momentum started toshift or when Florida State fell behind?
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White watched as Florida State's 21–6 lead, with just under threeminutes remaining in the second quarter, turned into a 26–21 deficit byhalftime. But the decision to stop being aggressive and attacking is whatultimately led to Florida State giving up 50 points.
White's defense gave up 567 yards without coming off a short week or ahighly emotional or physical game. No, they had two weeks to prepare because oftheir bye week between the two games. Two weeks to fix the problems they hadagainst the Mustangs. But instead, they may have actually looked worse.
"You always start with me first; it's my fault," White said. "I shouldhave stayed aggressive, should have stayed attacking."
Tony White gets paid $1.6 million a year to stop opposing offenses frommoving the ball and scoring, not to make excuses or talk about accountabilityafter failing at his job. He certainly isn't being paid to make Florida Statehistory by becoming the first defense in the school's 83-year history andnearly 900 games to give up back-to-back 500-yard performances.
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After their defensive performances this season, it's no surprise thatWhite's defense ranks 116th in average points allowed per game (31.1), 137th inaverage passing yards allowed (340.7), 135th in total yards allowed (490.3),and 132nd in average passing touchdowns allowed per game.
With statistics like these, it's easy to see why people are calling forWhite to be let go.
"Tony White needs to be fired this week or next. He needs to be fired.He's awful," Brian Smith of Locked On Seminoles said. "They need change…. It'slike a semi can run through the offensive line and just pick out where theywant to go."
Mike Norvell cannot afford to allow White to keep talking about whatneeds to change while the same problems keep showing up on the field. At somepoint, excuses have to stop, and White's defense needs tostart producing before it costs both White and Norvell their jobs.
