According to coach Ernie Sims, his linebacking corps is a different group of football players this season. They are eager to hit someone and hit them hard, bringing a violence of action to the ball carrier.
As Florida State linebackers coach Ernie Sims observed his position group in fall camp, he noticed something different going into this season. Led by Southern Miss transfer Chris Jones, this group was chomping at the bit to hit someone, make plays, and be an equalizer on the defensive side of the ball. Sims wants them to be “apex predators.”
“I think the common thing is that these guys are eager,” said Sims. “You know, when I look into the eyes of these young men, you can see the desire. You can see the intensity. You can see that they want to have some type of impact on this defense and on this team. So, I think we all have a lot of anticipation and excitement of what this group can bring.”
Jones is the ultimate apex predator, having recorded 135 tackles and ranked in the top ten nationally in tackles per game with 10 stops per contest. With a mean disposition in his style of play, Jones immediately caught the attention of Sims and the rest of the defensive coaching staff.
In addition, Jones has offered his leadership to the other younger players in the group that want the Seminoles’ linebackers to be feared again. He is straight from central casting when it comes to suiting up in the garnet and gold as a talented Florida State linebacker.
“Well, that's the heart of what a linebacker is,” said Sims. “And you know that I mean there's a lot of people that talk about it and write about it, but not many people have actually played the position. It's a difficult position, and the demand that it takes to play the position at an elite level is very special."
Last season at Southern Miss, Jones posted eight games with double-digit tackles, including a season-high 15 stops in losses to Louisiana Tech and Texas State. He also made 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception. That type of production and style of play is exactly what Florida State needs to reverse its losing ways and become a team that excels at the game of football once again.
Jones has a golden opportunity to follow in the footsteps of one linebacker that came before him at Florida State with the same last name: Marvin Jones (no relation).
Marvin Jones was a three-time All-American at Florida State, won the Butkus and Lombardi Awards, and was a first-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 1993. He is also known for “The Hit” on a Miami Hurricanesreceiver in the 1992 rivalry game. Jones hit the receiver with such force that he went horizontal in midair before landing flat on his back.
That hit is why the Seminoles' defenses of the past put the fear of the football gods in their opponents on Saturdays and made them pray for redemption on Sundays.
To be successful this season, the younger Jones and his fellow backers must plug the gaps in the running lanes to prevent big yardage plays. No arm tackling here; they must track to both sidelines and arrive at the ball with a violence of action and make bone-jarring, helmet-splitting tackles.
That style of play will certainly help the Seminoles improve in one critical area that they were deficient in last season: turnover margin. Florida State ranked No. 105 in this category at -5. Jones and his bash brothers must force takeaways to help them hold leads, keep opponents out of the red zone, and win football games. Four of Florida State’s losses last season were by seven points or fewer.
These linebackers are being coached the right way and led by Jones, demanding of themselves flawless execution. They want to get in the opposition’s face mask with a sadistic smile and an angry demeanor. Anything short of that and this group will probably take themselves out of the game as a form of self-punishment. That is the mentality this group wants to present on the field this season. Their first guinea pig is New Mexico State on Saturday.
