FSU defensive coordinator: ‘Virginia is no joke;’ Wahoos putting up huge numbers

By Jerry Ratcliffe

While Virginia hasn’t faced a top-tier defense during the Cavaliers’ first four games, they still have posted some significant offensive numbers, the kind of numbers that have grabbed 8th-ranked Florida State’s attention.

“We better be a hell of a lot better Friday night, because Virginia is no joke,” FSU defensive coordinator Tony White said after Monday’s practice for this week’s game in Charlottesville (Friday night, 7 p.m., ESPN). “Virginia is one of the best offenses in the country — not just the ACC — the entire country.”

White, who is rumored to be the leading candidate to become UCLA’s next head coach, was more than impressed with what 3-1 UVA has done so far this season, including a 48-20 dismantling of Stanford last weekend.

“We saw how many big plays they’re scoring on,” White said. “They’re firing on all cylinders. They’re confident. I mean they are a good football team, so the things we got away with last week we’re not going to be able to get away with this week.”

The 3-0 Seminoles hammered Kent State, 66-10, two weeks after they blasted East Texas A&M, 77-3. FSU opened the season with a shocking 31-17 upset at Alabama.

“Explosive,” White said about Virginia’s offense. “They’re explosive and it all starts with their run game. You look at their run numbers and they’re running the ball on people, and when you run the ball on people you got to change [defensive] coverage, right? You’ve got to put more hats down in the box. You’ve got to get tired to the box and then [Virginia’s] throwing it over the top of people.”

Virginia is No. 5 in the nation in total offense (564.5 yards per game), No. 11 in scoring (45.5 points per game) and No. 12 in both running the ball (251.5 yards per game) and in third-down conversions (57.6 percent).

While White was wowed by the UVA offense, he has been blown away by sixth-year Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris, who ranks No. 17 in the nation in passing percentage (70.8) and No. 18 in passing yards (1,050 yards), tied for No. 24 in touchdown passes with 8, even though he has played only one complete game in four outings.

“Man, their quarterback, I don’t think he gets enough credit for keeping so many plays alive,” FSU’s White said. “I saw a stat that he had not been sacked this year. I don’t know if that still stayed true through the Stanford game, but just watching him on film, he’s really mobile. He knows what he wants to do. You can see him check with the line of scrimmage. He’s making checks on the line. He’s keeping plays alive. And it’s the off-script stuff that’s really dangerous.”

White likes the fact that Virginia has so many playmakers that his defense is going to have to focus on, but he couldn’t stop raving about Morris.

“He is electric,” White said. “He’s fun to watch. He’s kind of like a Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray type guy. Very smart. He’s putting them in and out of plays. He knows the looks. He’s getting the ball out fast. Then when you blitz them, guys are running scott free back there and trying to get him down on the ground and he’s making plays, making them miss, running around and then finding a guy open for 40 yards down the field.”

White knows offense when he sees it because his Seminole defense practices every day against an offense that is No. 1 in the nation in both scoring offense (FSU is putting up 58.0 points per game) and No. 1 in total offense (628.7 yards per game). White’s defense is giving up only 10 points per game, ranking the Noles No. 12 nationally in that category.