Taggart embraces ‘turnover backpack’
FSU defense eager to reward players for forcing turnovers
TALLAHASSEE – Florida State proudly unveiled the “Turnover Backpack” during Saturday’s win over Samford game.
The backpack is awarded to any defensive player who forces a turnover.
Rival Miami made the “Turnover Chain” a national sensation last year and the Seminoles took some jabs on Twitter for copying the trend, but FSU coach Willie Taggart said defensive players cam up with the idea of “securing the bag” and he’s all for it.
“They wanted to do something for turnovers and they decided they wanted to secure the bag and that was their message — securing the bag,” Taggart said Monday. “They secured it five times on Saturday. I’m very impressed with it.”
As Taggart noted, the Seminoles forced five turnovers – four interceptions and one fumble recovery – against the Bulldogs. With turnover surge, the backpack earned a lot of television time.
It was was trending on social media and someone created a Twitter account for the “Turn-
over Backpack.”
“I love it when we get five takeaways and hopefully everybody else start loving it, too, because we’re getting a lot of takeaways,” Taggart said with a smile.
Laborn update
FSU running back Khalan Laborn’s injury Saturday likely will not end his season.
“He’ll be back,” Willie Taggart said. “He dislocated his kneecap. It wasn’t necessarily as bad as we thought it was when we were out there. But it will be some weeks.”
After Samford’s game, Taggart said the injury to Laborn will impact the game plan moving forward. After Laborn’s 37-yard reception against Virginia Tech, Taggart stressed the running back would see more playing time.
Patience key
Running back Cam Akers, who broke FSU’s freshman rushing record (1,024) last year, was projected to be a playmaker this year.
So far this season, Akers has 28 carries and half of those have been for two yards or fewer.
“I think with Cam, because of his expectation and things he wants to accom- plish, he’s still got to be patient,” Taggart said. “When you get in the game and your down and things aren’t going our way, that’s when guys start to press a little more.
“He’s just got to relax and little bit and trust his training and trust everything that [running backs] Coach [Donte] Pimpleton has taught him to do. When he does it that way, great things can happen for us on the football field. “
Terry’s effort
Redshirt freshman Tamorrion Terry earned positive reviews after finishing third on the team in receiving yards (39 yards) behind Keith Gavin (54 yards) and Nyqwan Murry (52 yards).
Terry’s 27 yard reception in the first quarter gave FSU its first touchdown of the season.
“He’s a talented football player for us, a kid that can go up and attack the ball 1-on-1,” Taggart said. “And a kid that can especially field for you as well.”
Taggart said Terry worked to earn his success against Samford.
“Tamorrion had a great week of practice,” Taggart said. “I think that’s why he had the game that he had because of His mentality and the way he went about practices. It paid off for him in the game. I’m hoping a lot of our guys learn from his example.”