One thing is for certain there is not a shortage of quality candidates for FSU defensive coordinator job. We have discussed Steve Clinkscale, Jay Valai and Jim Leonhard. Today we will discuss Scott Symons from SMU. He has turned SMU into a top 20 scoring defense. We expect FSU to hire a DC within the next week and Symons could be at the top of the list.
Why Symons: The Go-Go offense. He has coached under HC’s who like to run a ton of plays (Hugh Freeze-Liberty) and now (Lashlee-SMU). One thing that Marion will like to do is run a ton of plays. He is going to try and get that number between 80-90 plays a game. That puts a ton of pressure on your defense. Symons has already coached with guys who run tempo and put their defense under fire. He is able to keep opposing teams from scoring a ton of points. SMU gives up around 20 PPG. SMU has 32 sacks which is 15th in the nation. They are 11th in interceptions. Symons SMU Mustangs are 12th in Yards per play. His stats on defense are very respectable.
Why not Symons: Is he an elite DC? His defense at SMU is 5th against the run. That is an elite defense. Anytime you can finish in the top five of rush defense that is quite impressive. Where there is some concern is SMU is 33rd in pass defense. SMU does not have the talent that FSU does on the back end but that means there are some breakdowns on the backside of the defense. He has not recruited in Florida which is a big concern for me. Not sure if he is a life long DC or can Symons become a HC one day?
Final Thoughts: He has been coaching for 12 years and of those ten have been as a defensive coordinator. He is young (37 years old). I don’t know enough about him to judge him as a potential head coach down the road. That is one box that must be checked in my opinion regarding potential P4 OC’s or DC’s. He coached at West Georgia (D2), Arkansas State under Eli Drinkwitz. He has coached under mike Norvell at Memphis. He has coached under Rhett Lashlee at SMU. He checks the ACC box but Symons has yet to coach in the SEC. He has yet to recruit any big time prospects which is a concern. He also has no ties to Florida. I think Symons is a good candidate if Mike was searching for a DC in year one. There is pressure on him after a bad season in which the defense was not good. He is someone that I like but would be further down the board.
Why Symons: The Go-Go offense. He has coached under HC’s who like to run a ton of plays (Hugh Freeze-Liberty) and now (Lashlee-SMU). One thing that Marion will like to do is run a ton of plays. He is going to try and get that number between 80-90 plays a game. That puts a ton of pressure on your defense. Symons has already coached with guys who run tempo and put their defense under fire. He is able to keep opposing teams from scoring a ton of points. SMU gives up around 20 PPG. SMU has 32 sacks which is 15th in the nation. They are 11th in interceptions. Symons SMU Mustangs are 12th in Yards per play. His stats on defense are very respectable.
Why not Symons: Is he an elite DC? His defense at SMU is 5th against the run. That is an elite defense. Anytime you can finish in the top five of rush defense that is quite impressive. Where there is some concern is SMU is 33rd in pass defense. SMU does not have the talent that FSU does on the back end but that means there are some breakdowns on the backside of the defense. He has not recruited in Florida which is a big concern for me. Not sure if he is a life long DC or can Symons become a HC one day?
Final Thoughts: He has been coaching for 12 years and of those ten have been as a defensive coordinator. He is young (37 years old). I don’t know enough about him to judge him as a potential head coach down the road. That is one box that must be checked in my opinion regarding potential P4 OC’s or DC’s. He coached at West Georgia (D2), Arkansas State under Eli Drinkwitz. He has coached under mike Norvell at Memphis. He has coached under Rhett Lashlee at SMU. He checks the ACC box but Symons has yet to coach in the SEC. He has yet to recruit any big time prospects which is a concern. He also has no ties to Florida. I think Symons is a good candidate if Mike was searching for a DC in year one. There is pressure on him after a bad season in which the defense was not good. He is someone that I like but would be further down the board.
