2017 Florida State Defense - Charles Kelly

The 2017 Florida State Seminoles defense, led by defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, was a unit built on speed, aggression, and physicality. Despite facing challenges during the season, particularly with injuries and inconsistency on offense, Kelly's defense remained a critical part of the team's ability to stay competitive.

Charles Kelly was a long-time assistant coach with experience across various defensive positions before taking the role of defensive coordinator at Florida State. He had been part of FSU's coaching staff during their national championship-winning season in 2013 and worked under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Kelly was known for his strong secondary coaching and aggressive defensive schemes, with a focus on creating pressure and forcing turnovers.

Kelly’s defense relied on a 4-2-5 scheme, which emphasized versatility and speed, especially in the secondary. The scheme allowed for more defensive backs on the field to counter modern spread offenses and put pressure on quarterbacks. Kelly utilized a variety of blitz packages, often bringing pressure from the linebackers and safeties to disrupt opposing offenses. While the defensive line had moments of strength, the Seminoles struggled to consistently generate pass rush.

The unit's strength was in its secondary, which, under Kelly’s guidance, was designed to create turnovers and limit big plays downfield. However, the season was plagued by missed tackles and breakdowns in coverage, leading to mixed results.

Charles Kelly left Florida State after the 2017 season, but his time there contributed to the development of several NFL-caliber players, particularly in the secondary. His aggressive, fast-paced style of defense was well-suited for the athletic players he had at his disposal, although injuries and inconsistency held the unit back from reaching its full potential.