After a video showing two Florida State defenders jogging during a North Carolina touchdown pass made the rounds on social media over the weekend -- even drawing criticism from former FSU players -- it was one of several hot topics during Jimbo Fisher's weekly press conference Monday.
On the play in question, the game was tied at 28-28 in the final three minutes and UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw a bubble screen to receiver Thomas Jackson. Jackson caught the ball near the line of scrimmage, slipped past defensive backs Tarvarus McFadden and Trey Marshall and raced down the sideline for a 34-28 lead with 2:31 remaining.
On the back side of the play, Seminoles linebacker Matthew Thomas and defensive end Josh Sweat are seen jogging toward the play and don't start running harder until Jackson is out of reach.
"Those loafs, those can be adjusted," Fisher said. "We do a pursuit drill every day when we start practice every day. Those guys are out there running sideline-to-sideline and that's what that is about."
Fisher said the "loafing" would be addressed with extra running at practice, and he said it also can lead to reduced playing time. But he added that loafs occur on every team in the country and said the Seminoles have had to deal with issues like that every year, including the 2013 national championship team.
When told that former FSU players had been critical of the play on social media, Fisher said that was "disappointing."
"It's funny for a player who has played, guys, they'll never know what's on a team until you're on a team," Fisher said. "And for an ex-player to do that, that's very disappointing. Or for an ex-coach.
"You can never judge what's in a guy heart until you know him and have played with him. That's very disappointing from an ex-player."
Fisher continued by talking about the team's effort and that play in particular.
"Effort is not about ability. Effort is not about scheme. Effort is not about anything," Fisher said. "Guys thinking two guys had the other guy on the ground. They relaxed for a second. No matter what, you chase the football."
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With FSU losing to North Carolina, 37-35, it was another week where Fisher was asked numerous questions about what changes might come on defense. The Seminoles are ranked 94th in total defense and 105th in scoring defense.
In their last five games against FBS opponents, they have given up point totals of 38, 34, 63, 35 and 37 points.
On Monday, Fisher was asked specifically if defensive coordinator Charles Kelly would continue to call defensive plays, and he said, "Yes."
There was a different feel than usual for much of the press conference, as the seventh-year head coach appeared testy when speaking with reporters. At one point, he came out from behind his podium to illustrate why quarterback runs are so difficult for defenses to handle.
"You have quarterback runs which put you up a guy, if you understand what I mean by that. Do you guys really understand what I mean by how a quarterback run changes?" Fisher asked. "I mean for instance, if I'm, I'll ... you won't write this because you don't care."
Fisher's comment drew laughs from reporters, but he continued.
"When I give you the real stuff, you don't wanna hear it. That's the bad part. You don't listen because you don't understand, but anyway," he said.
Fisher said the rules in college football are skewed to promote scoring, but he later said those rules are not the reason for why FSU's defense has struggled. Fisher said the coaching staff and the team would continue to go about making changes for the better.
"We're going to try to get better," he said in an unprompted closing remark. "We ain't used to losing and ain't going to get used to it. We'll coach and get better."
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