The 3-2-1: Evaluating the USF win and where FSU goes from here

No. 1 -- Jimbo Fisher is turning up the heat on players, coaches

I don’t know if this Florida State team can fix what ails it in time to accomplish the majority of its season goals, but Jimbo Fisher clearly isn’t resigned to let it come up short. If body language could be translated into words, Fisher’s on Saturday would have said, “I’m not putting up with this crap anymore.”

From the very first play from scrimmage, when FSU’s defense gave up an 84-yard touchdown pass, to just after the final seconds ticked off the clock, when he shared a stern message and a fist bump with star tailback Dalvin Cook, Fisher was red-lining the entire game. He lit up players after poor plays, he lit up coaches too. And from the sounds of it, the admonishments continued in the locker room.

Even in his postgame press conference, Fisher was as curt as he’s ever been. When asked about impressive performances, such as the strong running of Dalvin Cook and Jacques Patrick or the improved blocking of the offensive line, he would only say that players did “OK” or that they “did their job.” When asked about the defense’s struggles, he said the team needs to learn to play 60 minutes of football and that the players need to “do their job.”

The entire press conference lasted four minutes, which was easily the shortest I can remember in his seven years as head coach. That’s not because we didn’t have questions; he just wasn’t going to give more than three- or four-word answers. Sometimes when a coach does that, it’s because they’re upset with the media and believe they’re being treated unfairly. This didn’t seem like that – it felt like an extension of the way he acted on the sidelines.

After four games, I think Fisher is beyond frustrated about this team’s lack of maturity. How do you come off of a game in which you gave up a school-record 63 points and surrender quick touchdowns on the first two drives of the very next game? How do you not stay focused when you’ve got a chance to put away a team on the road?

I don’t know if this team can get back into the ACC championship hunt. A return to the College Football Playoff is an even longer shot. But a coaching staff’s job is to get the most out of their players – to help them accomplish everything that is possible given their skill set and circumstances. The 2016 Seminoles haven’t come close to approaching that bar yet, and Fisher clearly recognizes that and is addressing it.

No. 2 -- The big plays given up on defense are astounding

When Fisher took over as head coach in 2010, then-defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said his top priority was limiting big plays. He knew the Seminoles didn’t yet have enough talent to shut down every opponent they would face, but he wanted to make sure that those offenses had to at least work to march the length of the field. Even if it meant creating fewer turnovers and generating less tackles for loss and sacks, he wanted opponents to have to execute 10- or 12-play drives instead of racking up chunk yardage.

Over the next four years, FSU’s defense made tremendous strides in that area, culminating with brilliant performances by the 2012 and 2013 groups. In 2012, Stoops’ final year at FSU, the Seminoles ranked No. 2 nationally in fewest plays allowed of 10-plus yards. They ranked No. 4 for fewest plays of 20-plus yards. The numbers were similar in 2013.

The last three years – all under Charles Kelly – have been a mixed bag, but mostly bad. The 2014 defense was gashed repeatedly for big plays and ranked No. 104 nationally in gains of 20-plus yards. The 2015 squad seemed to turn that around, allowing just 44 such plays in 13 games, to rank No. 12 nationally.

But this year again has been a disaster. Through four games, the Seminoles already have given up 28 plays of 20-plus yards. That ranks No. 126 of 128 teams. Only Rice and Hawaii have allowed more, and those are two of the worst teams in college football.