Personnel changes could spark a turnaround in FSU football | Analysis

Florida State football has gone 10-21 since 2024; however, the Seminoles’ double-overtime loss to the No. 1 University of Miami offered a glimpse of their potential. Player grades from PFF, on a scale where 60 is average, offer insight into changes that could help FSU build on that performance as it returns from its bye week to face Clemson University.From passing distribution and tight end usage on offense to the pass rush and linebacker coverage on defense, the data identifies several potential areas for growth. With five games remaining, including four Atlantic Coast Conference matchups, the team still has a chance to turn those changes into improved results down the stretch.“The bye week is a great chance to take a step back and look at the quality control aspect,” head coach Mike Norvell said in a press conference on Oct. 26. “What are the best ways we can put guys in position to be successful … are there tendencies that have shown up on our end based on personnel, based on concept, based on scheme?”Leaning into Daniels’ strengthsSenior quarterback Ashton Daniels’ surface-level numbers are somewhat underwhelming, but his advanced metrics paint a more favorable picture. Despite eight interceptions, PFF has charged him with five turnover-worthy plays. Daniels has completed 58% of his passes but averages 8.9 yards per attempt, suggesting the passing attack is more efficient than his completion percentage alone indicates.More: Ashton Daniels makes FSU history in 38-7 victory over VirginiaPFF’s grades also show how the ’Noles can maximize Daniels’ skill set. He has posted an 84.2 grade on deep passes and tallied 11 big-time throws. He also excels in the intermediate game, registering an 83.1 grade on throws of 10 to 19 yards past the line of scrimmage. His grade drops to 60.8 on short-area throws, yet he has attempted 53 of those compared to 33 intermediate and 35 deep passes.Never miss a beat: Sign up for the FSView NewsletterPressure plays a role, as Daniels has been pressured on 42.5% of his dropbacks. Still, he has thrown more screens than deep passes, 36 to 35, a sign the short-heavy approach is partly by design. Pending offensive line play, the Garnet and Gold could improve their efficiency by pushing the ball downfield more often.Young players earning expanded rolesSenior tight end Desirrio Riles and junior tight end Landon Thomas have dominated the tight end snaps, combining for 518 compared to 81 for third-string sophomore right end Chase Loftin. Riles and Thomas have earned run-blocking grades below 50, while Loftin has recorded a 65.2 mark in that area. Riles and Thomas are adequate pass blockers and receiving threats, but Loftin could see more opportunities in running situations.On the defensive line, sophomore defensive end Darryll Desir looks poised for a breakout second half. He missed three of the first five games due to injury but played a season-high 38 snaps against Miami, logging a personal-best 78.3 overall grade. Over 107 snaps, his 18.9% pass-rush win rate leads the team.With fifth-year senior defensive lineman Deamontae Diggs and junior defensive lineman Jalen Anderson producing below-average grades at defensive line in his absence, a healthy Desir could claim a starting role alongside senior defensive lineman Rylan Kennedy.Florida State needs more from its linebackersThe Seminoles’ top two linebackers have fallen a bit short of expectations, especially in coverage. Junior linebacker Chris Jones is an above-average run defender and pass rusher, but his coverage grade sits at 49.0. Senior linebacker Mikai Gbayor has fared even worse at 44.3. When either is the primary defender in coverage, opposing quarterbacks have completed 24 of 31 passes for 289 yards.FSU could go several directions in search of upgrades. Senior linebacker Omar Graham Jr. has played nearly as much as Gbayor while grading 11.7 points higher. Redshirt junior linebacker Caleb LaVallee has graded out at 62.5 overall across 164 snaps. Both have outperformed Jones and Gbayor in coverage, registering grades of 60.1 and 62.6, respectively.Defensive coordinator Tony White’s scheme generally uses three linebackers, but given the ’Noles’ depth up front, they could trade a linebacker for an extra lineman in certain packages, allowing a faster pass rush to compensate for deficiencies in coverage. Graham and LaVallee profile best for passing downs, while Jones, who has stuffed a fourth-and-1 run in three straight games, should stay on the field for early downs.“We’ll go back and look at it to see where we can put guys with the strengths they have,” White said in a press conference on Oct. 19. “If a guy’s not a man-cover guy and I call a bunch of man, then I’m the dummy, right?”These adjustments could help the Garnet and Gold make the Miami performance the norm rather than the exception.“We can line up with any team in the country and compete,” Jones said in a post-game press conference after the Miami game. “It just comes down to execution.”Max Teply is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.This article originally appeared on FSU News: Personnel changes could spark a turnaround in FSU football | Analysis