FSU’s Pass Rush Turns In Dominant Performance Against Virginia

For much of the early season, Florida State’s pass rush felt like a unit waiting for production to catch up with its potential.

Against Virginia, it finally did.

The Seminoles overwhelmed quarterback Beau Pribula in Friday’s 38-7 win, piling up 10 sacks that punished the Virginia offense for 68 lost yards and turning what had been one of Florida State’s early-season concerns into the defining feature of its defensive performance. Virginia finished with only 205 total yards and 37 net rushing yards, with Pribula officially losing 72 yards on his 15 rushing attempts largely because of the constant punishment in the backfield. 

This was more than one defensive end suddenly taking over a game. It was precisely the collective effort head coach Mike Norvell has been waiting to see.

“They continued to work and you felt the edge that they played with,” Norvell said. “There was an incredible effort and incredible application of technique and fundamentals. Guys being where they needed to be, that was something I was proud of.

“You looked out there and saw a four-seam unit. It’s not just a d-line, it’s linebackers and safeties that joined into tonight. You felt the way that they attacked and played off of each other.”

The box score reinforces Norvell’s point.

Eight different Seminoles recorded at least one full sack or contributed to one. Rylan Kennedy led the way with two sacks and three tackles for loss. Chris Jones added 1.5 sacks, while Mikai Gbayor, Kevin Wynn, Deante McCray, Mandrell Desir, Jalen Anderson and Deamontae Diggs each recorded a sack. Omar Graham Jr. contributed the other half-sack.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) numbers add another layer.

Chris Jones earned Florida State’s best pass-rush grade at 75.7, generating four pressures on 28 pass-rush snaps. Deante McCray graded at 69.7, while Graham earned a 67.4. Mandrell Desir posted a 66.0 pass-rush grade and generated three pressures, including two hurries.

More importantly, the production came from everywhere. PFF credited Florida State with 27 total pressures.

Virginia rarely allowed Pribula to operate comfortably and when the Seminoles smelled blood, they finished.

The most emphatic sequence came midway through the fourth quarter.

McCray started it with a three-yard sack. Anderson then buried him for 13 yards on third down before Diggs finished the possession with a nine-yard sack on fourth-and-26.

Three sacks on three consecutive Virginia pass attempts.

Virginia converted just 3-of-15 third downs and went 0-for-4 on fourth down. After scoring with 6:04 remaining in the first quarter, the Cavaliers never scored again. 

“There’s been issues in the early part of the season,” Norvell said. “Guys are doing the work. I thought Tony did a really nice job of adapting the plan as he’s continuing to be around this team and this defensive front.

“I thought some guys definitely grew up. That was an experienced and good offensive line that they went against and definitely performed at an elite level.”

That last part matters.

One dominant night does not erase Florida State’s early pass-rush problems. It does, however, provide defensive coordinator Tony White with evidence that the pieces can work together.

Against Virginia, Florida State didn’t merely pressure the quarterback.

For the first time this season, it consistently finished the job.