Info in quotes comes from the Seminoles.com press release.  Fisher had some great comments to Andrew Carter (video) that didn't make the press release (which is often filled with fluff).  Absolutely check out the Andrew Carter link.  Both the offense and defense made plays today.  That is what happens with a good football team.  A good defense will take advantage of young quarterbacks, and considering the defense held Secord and Trickett to a combined 42 yards on 6-16 passing and 3 interceptions, that is exactly what they did.  The first string offense lit up the 2nd team defense, per usual, as Ponder had a ridiculous 17 yards per pass (and should have had even more if not for 2 drops.  He was 7-11 for 188, with 2 drops and one overthrow of Bert Reed on a deep post).  Fisher was not happy with the receivers lack of focus (drops, assignments, routes, sloppiness), and at the end of practice (4 minute drill I think) he ran the ball 10 times in a row (and scored) to show the wideouts that FSU can function without them (Datko referenced this in his comments).  And he told the media he would play the guys who play the best, even if it means freshmen.

The defense is adjusting to all the new information being thrown at it and judging by some of the comments and statistics, the defense gave the offense a lot more looks today.  Those looks include corner blitzes, zone blitzes, and multiple fronts (including some 3-4).

"It was an improvement on last week," Ponder said of the scrimmage. "I think we definitely improved."

Fisher concurred, though he still sees plenty room for improvement before the Seminoles hit the field inside the stadium next week.  "I thought the defense made a lot of improvements today," Fisher said. "I saw a pass rush, some pressure, making plays in space. Greg Reid had a phenomenal day making plays in the secondary...

"Offensively, I thought we had some holds and things that hurt some drives. We overcame them."

Fisher definitely was not happy with the offense, which is still very much his unit, but he had to be happy with the defense at times.

Scoring was sparse over a stretch of six series of straight-up scrimmaging. Quarterback Will Secord led the unit on a seven-play scoring drive which included a 13-yard pass to Jarmon Fortson and a 20-yard gain by A.J. Alexander, culminating with Alex Jones' 44-yard field goal against the first-team defense.

Alexander got some first team reps in the slot today.  He has excellent speed.

Ponder and the first-team offense countered with an 11-play drive, leading to Dustin Hopkins' 26-yard field goal as the second-team defense. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 54 yards, including a 35-yard pass to Willie Haulstead, as the unit overcame a pair of holding penalties and a sack.

Haulstead, however, fueled some of Fisher's fire (as you'll see later on) with some unacceptable drops.

Reid's 35-yard interception return for a score came on the first snap of the second series against the second-team offense. The rising sophomore jumped an out-route pass from Clint Trickett and raced untouched into the end zone. Later on the same possession, Reid took a Secord pass away from Haulstead for his second theft.

"His instincts are incredible," Ponder said of Reid. "He goes and makes plays and he loves the game of the football... He's everything you want in a football player."

"He broke on one or two. One we threw in a hard corner which was just a gift. It was bigger than a Christmas gift. However, he made the play and that is what he supposed to do. Fortson miss-timed one in the end zone, but Greg made the play, and a few others he fought hard for. I think he made around four picks today. He is playing very good, solid football.  Greg got the Picks, but I saw Xavier Rhodes make a lot of plays, I saw Ochuko Jenije make a lot of plays, I saw Allen do some things as well."

Suffice to say, the battle for both cornerback spots is anything but over.  2 of Reid's picks came in scrimmage time and the other 2 were situational.  The above comments reflect the process v. results idea.  Interceptions are results, but you can play poorly and get interceptions (as FSU's defense did last year).  The defense is focusing on proper technique and assignment football and they get picks when they play that assignment football correctly.

The lone offensive touchdown by the first-team offense was set up by a 34-yard pass play from Ponder to Lonnie Pryor and a 27-yard run by Ty Jones. Tailback Chris Thompson finished it off with a 1-yard run behind center Ryan McMahon and right guard David Spurlock. Two Ponder to Bert Reed passes, totaling 94 yards, were for naught when Hopkins was wide left on his 48-yard field goal attempt.

I don't understand how 2 passes totaling 94 yards lead to a 48-yard field goal attempt.  Here's Ponder on Reed:

"Yeah he had a very good day. I missed a deep post throw to him. I think it could have been pass interference, but they didn't call it. Overall he is doing well. The thing I am proud of is he is starting to become a leader. He is starting to become dependable and know what he is doing. That's exciting. He is a guy that is quick, has great speed, and can be a great weapon for us. I am happy that he is becoming dependable, becoming disciplined in what he is doing, and he is getting better."

I discussed the need for Reed to become a leader in the Spring wide receiver preview, and it is great to hear that he is doing just that.

Second Scrimmage Statistical Highlights

Passing: Christian Ponder 7-11-0, 188 yds (17.1 per attempt); Will Secord 2-7-1, 21 yds (3 per attempt) ; Clint Trickett 4-9-2, 21 yds (2.3 per attempt).

Rushing: Lonnie Pryor 3-19, Chris Thompson 6-27 (1 TD), Jermaine Thomas 3-21, Ty Jones 5-33, Tavares Pressley 4-12, Debrale Smiley 4-25, Brian Fixelle 6-17.

Receiving: Bert Reed 3-105, Lonnie Pryor 2-42, Willie Haulstead 2-39, Jarmon Fortson 1-13, Ja'Baris Little 1-8, Rodney Smith 1-6.

Defensive highlights: Greg Reid 2 ints, Kendall Smith 2 tfls, Xavier Rhodes 1 pbu, 1 sack; Brandon Jenkins 1 sack, Markus White 1 sack, Vincent Zann 1 int, Ochuko Jenije 1 pbu, Justin Bright 1 pbu.

Coach Fisher's Quotes:

"On the defensive side, I noticed Nigel Bradham making plays out there. He made two or three great plays today that I haven't seen him do a while. I thought their (defense) progress was good. Offensively I thought we had some holes, a few things that hurt some drives, but we overcame them. We still have a lot of work to do at wideout."

Fisher's comments about the wideouts on Andrew Carter's video were much more revealing.

Which running backs are standing out?

"Lonnie Pryor, consistently day in and day out in everything he does ... is a really good football player. There is no doubt, head and shoulders right now, he is the best pure football player. I think Chris Thompson did some things, I saw (Jermaine Thomas) do some things. I saw (Ty Jones) make a couple runs. ... Lonnie is Mr. Consistent, day in and day out."

Pryor is an excellent football player.  Notice Fisher says "football player", which I read as "he still doesn't fit the base scheme much but does everything else so well and we love having him on the field."

How about Christian Ponder's progress?

"Solid day, but it is hard to function when you have knuckleheads out there running routes. We also wanted to keep trying to run and do some things, but he led us on a nice two minute drive. He hit two or three big plays. Hit a nice post to Bert Reed for about 40 or 50 yards. Underneath he was okay, he is still not his normal self, but it was another solid day."

Fisher was livid with the route running today.

Cornerback Greg Reid: 

Jimbo said the defense had a big day. How did you feel?

"We had some mistakes. We were not perfect. Coach Fisher can say we were good, but Coach Stoops knows we didn't do everything we are supposed to be doing. He knows what we are supposed to do at every position, every step, every moment, so I think it was just an okay practice."

Talk about making the big play. You're a guy who just makes his name of the big play.

"I am just doing my thing. My defensive line and linebackers are the one's starting it off and I am just finishing it. That is what I do and just how I play football."

Was it a good sign for you guys overall to play better this week. Other guys were making plays too. That is the hallmark of a Florida State defense.

"Yeah we just have to get better every practice. Come out here and do what we do. We have been coached up all week, and this is what this scrimmage is for."

Are things slowing down for you?

"From last year things are slowing down a lot. I can make plays, jump on anything. Just by me knowing where the linebackers are lining up and by where the safety is behind me is helping a lot."

Are you better suited for this zone scheme?

"Definitely.  I like it better, but we still have a couple of robber or man coverages.  I like it but I also have to get better at technique.  I like it as a 5'8" corner to get a jump on a 6'3" receiver, but everyone has their zone.  Linebackers have their zone, defensive ends have their zone, everything just works out.

Glad to see Greg being humble, saying the right things, and knowing why plays happen.  I'm sure the coaches told him "you didn't do a damn thing on 2 of those picks.", and Fisher said as much above.

Also, like I addressed above, this defense is way, way multiple.  Probably much more multiple in its first year than I expected.  The game of college football, and with it expectations, are changing.  Previously held notions about how much scheme could be implemented in a year may prove to no longer be correct. 

Also, with the great size of the linebackers and the somewhat undersized d-line, it makes sense to zone blitz a lot.

Andrew Datko

"When it came to the hard part of the scrimmage, we (offense) took control and drove the ball down." (By running the ball over and over again).

And that's pretty much it.  FSU will resume practice on Monday.