Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White faces mounting scrutiny for a passive scheme that has left the Seminoles reeling.
The Seminoles (1-2) defense has given up over 1,000 yards in the last two games, performances that are frankly embarrassing, so when will the excuses finally end?
585 yards to SMU(2-1). The guys balled for “60 of the plays”; it's just the other nine plays for 10 points and approximately 250 yards that Florida State wants back. Still White still believed he could turn the defense into “one of the best defenses in the country” if he could get the players to finish the game, despite the underwhelming performance.
“Physical effort and for about 60 plays in there, they balled,” White said. “And there's nine plays that you want back, nine plays, 10 points, probably 250 yards.”
White’s defense followed up their 585 yards and 27-point performance against SMU by surrendering 567 yards and 50 points to Alabama. Another game where White’s defense failed to finish the game, letting Alabama score on its final nine possessions.
But this time, it wasn’t because of nine plays; this time it was Tony’s fault for not “staying aggressive” and “stopping attacking” the Alabama (3-0) offense.
White taking the blame for his lack of aggression and attacking raises a serious question: Why didn’t he turn it back on when the momentum started to shift or when Florida State fell behind?
White watched as Florida State’s 21–6 lead, with just under three minutes remaining in the second quarter, turned into a 26–21 deficit by halftime. But the decision to stop being aggressive and attacking is what ultimately led to Florida State giving up 50 points.
White’s defense gave up 567 yards without coming off a short week or a highly emotional or physical game. No, they had two weeks to prepare because of their bye week between the two games. Two weeks to fix the problems they had against the Mustangs. But instead, they may have actually looked worse.
“You always start with me first; it’s my fault,” White said. “I should have stayed aggressive, should have stayed attacking.”
Tony White gets paid $1.6 million a year to stop opposing offenses from moving the ball and scoring, not to make excuses or talk about accountability after failing at his job. He certainly isn’t being paid to make Florida State history by becoming the first defense in the school’s 83-year history and nearly 900 games to give up back-to-back 500-yard performances.
After their defensive performances this season, it’s no surprise that White’s defense ranks 116th in average points allowed per game (31.1), 137th in average passing yards allowed (340.7), 135th in total yards allowed (490.3), and 132nd in average passing touchdowns allowed per game.
With statistics like these, it’s easy to see why people are calling for White to be let go.
“Tony White needs to be fired this week or next. He needs to be fired. He’s awful,” Brian Smith of Locked On Seminoles said. “They need change…. It’s like a semi can run through the offensive line and just pick out where they want to go.”
Mike Norvell cannot afford to allow White to keep talking about what needs to change while the same problems keep showing up on the field. At some point, excuses have to stop, and White’s defense needs to start producing before it costs both White and Norvell their jobs.
