FSU falls to Pitt, 34-31
By BOB FERRANTE
The Osceola
Tony White is often measured when speaking with the media on Sunday nights. But after Florida State’s third straight loss, he was more intense and passionate than prior interviews.
FSU’s defensive coordinator spoke for more than 14 minutes, fielding questions about pass-rush breakdowns, linebacker struggles and the third-down defense.
“You score 31 points. You’re supposed to play good enough defense to win games like that,” White said. “We didn’t. That’s my fault. The young men are thinking too much.
“So I got to tone it down. I got to tone back the packages. Make sure that they know what to do and they know how to do it.”
White’s 3-3-5 defense is new to the majority of the Seminoles, but he and the coaching staff brought in a number of transfers with experience in the scheme. That includes those making the move from Nebraska — end James Williams and linebacker Stefon Thompson — as well as cornerback Jerry Wilson (who played for White at Syracuse). FSU also landed Deante McCray, who had experience in a similar scheme at Western Kentucky, as did linebacker Elijah Herring at Memphis.