Breakdown Box
FAU Offense By The Numbers
Total Offense: 277.8 ypg (118)
Scoring Offense: 12.8 ppg (118)
Rushing Offense: 117.8 ypg (99)
Passing Offense: 160 ypg (111)
National ranking in parentheses
Not wild about Wildcat
After reserve quarterback Stephen Curtis was injured vs. Georgia, Florida Atlantic didn't take the plays using the “wildcat” formation out of its playbook.
The Owls just changed the personnel running them. Against Alabama, running back Damian Fortner took the hand-off on several plays the Owls used out of the “wildcat” formation.
“It was pretty exciting,” Fortner said. “I had never been in that position before, but whatever the team needs, I'll do it. I don't care if its playing line...I handled the snaps pretty well. I was concerned about the play and the execution, but I was making sure I got the hand-off right.”
With Nick Bracewell the only quarterback available last week, the Owls used Fortner to minimize the risk of injury to starter Graham Wilbert.
“I wanted to take a look at it,” FAU coach Carl Pelini said. “Not having Stephen available and honestly needing a third quarterback going into the game was a scary deal. All that played into it.”
Curtis, who has turf toe, has practiced this week, but third-string quarterback Nick Bracewell is also taking snaps. Curtis, a running quarterback, has taken some snaps out of the “wildcat” formation earlier this season.
However, Fortner may still be the best option although FAU offensive coordinator Brian Wright said he didn't get a good assessment on how he did under center because the plays seemed to break down often.
“We expected that to go better,” Wright said. “We didn't execute that as well and had a few missed assignments. We didn't get a real fair evaluation.”