Andrew Carter, Orlando Sentinel

4:42 p.m. EST, March 19, 2010

Florida State completed its third spring practice of the spring on Friday and there's still much work to be done — especially on defense, where new coordinator Mark Stoops is installing a new scheme and new philosophy. One thing, though, is already clear: this defensive scheme won't at all look like the one Florida State ran for so long under Mickey Andrews.

"It's so many adjustments" rising junior LB Nigel Bradham said. "It's more of an NFL-type of defense. I mean, it's been fun."

Of course, anything would be more fun than what the FSU defense went through a season ago. After Andrews retired, Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher hired Stoops to come in and fix a unit that ranked among the worst in the nation last fall. Bradham said the defensive staff so far hasn't wasted any time.

"Everyday they've been throwing in two or three defenses — just throwing them at us," Bradham said. "We're just going … to keep trying to pick them up as well as we can and they're going to correct it [when we make mistakes]."

Unlike Andrews' defense, which featured man-to-man coverage and the need for dominant defensive ends, FSU's new defense will be more zone oriented. There will be a lot more variable coverage and different blitzing schemes.

Fisher said he has been pleased so far with the effort and attitude of the defense.

Quick hits

Bradham, FSU's leading tackler a season ago with 93, has been an outside linebacker throughout his time at FSU but is now working some in the middle. He weighs 240 pounds, he said, and is continuing to work on his flexibility. Bradham has been taking yoga classes since last summer.

Add rising senior DE Markus White to the long list of fans of FSU's new defensive scheme. "It's different," he said. "But I believe it's a system that will work a lot better. Nothing against the other system but for me, personally, I think it will work a lot better." White said the ends are now allowed to more quickly read the offense.