BOCA RATON – Two weeks into the season FAU sits at or near the bottom in two important statistical categories – rankings that go a long way to explaining the Owls’ 0-2 start to the season.
Saturday’s game against Bethune-Cookman offers FAU the opportunity to improve significantly on the 386.5 yards per game its rushing defense allows and the meager 25 percent of the time its offense converts third downs into a new set of downs.
Having faced the ground-heavy attacks of then-No. 9 Wisconsin and Navy, it’s not surprising the Owls surrendered gobs of rushing yards – 773 to be exact. Still, the Owls hoped to rank better than dead last nationally in rushing defense.
“Two of the best rushing attacks every year in the country,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said of the Badgers and Midshipmen. “Obviously we gave up a lot of size in this last match-up and the triple option the first. You are going to have some pretty big rush numbers but they wouldn’t be as big if we could keep them off the field sometimes.”
Bethune-Cookman runs an offense closer to what the Owls will see once Conference USA play begins – something akin to the spread offense FAU’s defense faced when scrimmaging its offensive bretheren since the start of fall camp.
“I think it’s more similar to what we see every day in practice – big splits and tempo, (run-pass options),” Kiffin said. “I do think that hopefully that will help, but (the Wildcats) are really good.”
The Owls’ offense can help their defense climb out of the cellar on Saturday, doing so by rectifying one of their own statistical shortcomings.
Having converted only two third down opportunities against Wisconsin, FAU enters Saturday’s game turning only seven of its 28 third down into first downs.
Those drive-killing third down failures quickly return FAU’s defense to the field, providing more opportunities for opposing offenses to run the ball.
“We’ve got all these three-and-outs where our defense has to go right back out,” Kiffin said. “If we could maintain and make some first downs, we’re probably playing about two less series of defense per game.”
Following the season-opening loss to Navy, Kiffin characterized FAU’s performance, particularly on offense, as “embarrassing.”
Quarterback Daniel Parr saw improvement against Wisconsin, but notes the Owls still have plenty of room to improve.
“There were a couple times where we didn’t execute on some basic things,” Parr said. “We said that was one of the things we had to fix. We cleaned that up but not completely. We’re still looking at that.”
FAU allowed 73 points over two games, which ranks No. 112 nationally – a byproduct of both the issues stopping the run and the offense failing to control the ball.
Despite those numbers, Kiffin believes this defense will be one of Conference USA’s best.
“I just see them every day,” Kiffin said. “I think that there’s some really good players, some guys that have really improved. I like how we’re coaching them. I like how they’ve got better since the day we got here.”
Keys to the Game: Bethune-Cookman vs FAU
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Begthune-Cookman (1-1, 0-0 MEAC (FCS)) vs. FAU (0-2, 0-0 C-USA)
- When: Saturday, 6:30 ‘p.m.
- Where: Howard Schnellenberger Field
- Radio: ESPN West Palm (106.3 FM)
- TV: BeIN
- Scouting the Owls: FAUSports.com
- Scouting the Wildcats: BCUAtheltics.com
Key for the Owls: Commit to the run. Against Wisconsin, FAU did a better job of incorporating Devin Singletary into the offense. On Saturday it’s time to get Buddy Howell, who’s averaged 7.8 yards on his four carries this season, involved, too. Relying on the legs of Singletary and Howell will take the pressure off Parr, and will open the door for more long tosses to DeAndre McNeal. “We’ve definitely been trying to get the run game going these last two weeks,” Parr said. “But, then again, we’re just going to have to adjust to whatever happens on Saturday. Every week we try to focus heavy on the run game to set up the pass.”
Key for the Wildcats: Strike early. In its season opener at Miami, Bethune-Cookman showed the ability to move the ball. If the Wildcats find the end zone on a couple of early drives, it could shake FAU’s confidence. Yes, Bethune-Cookman plays at the FCS level, but they also have some pretty good native-Floridian football players. “These guys are really good and play really fast,” Kiffin said.
First Win: The Bethune-Cookman football program will always hold a special place in the hearts of FAU fans. The Owls defeated the Wildcats 31-28 in the program’s second game for the first victory in program history. That game featured two Jared Allen-to-Larry Taylor touchdown passes and a Taurian Osborne fumble return credited at 100-yards that actually covered about 105.
Bonding Road Trip: FAU flew to Wisconsin on Friday and, because of Hurricane Irma, didn’t return until Wednesday night. For a team like the Owls which underwent immense roster turnover since December, spending so much time in Dairyland may have improved team chemistry. “These guys didn’t know each other like normal teams and so I think that that part has probably been pretty good,” Kiffin said of the extended stay. “Instead of just going to class and then going their different ways, they are kind of forced to hang out with each other. Hopefully something good’s coming out of that.”
Snap Improvement: Center Antonyo Woods enjoyed success against Wisconsin using the “dead snap” technique, which sends the ball floating back to the quarterback. Woods sent three snaps over the heads of quarterbacks against Navy but didn’t make any such mistakes against the Badgers. “We’re still high some but at least they were all catchable,” Kiffin said. “But when they are high it still affects the timing of the pass game and the running game.”
Driving Force: A former offensive coordinator who called the plays even as the head coach while at Tennessee and USC, Kiffin says he’s still adjusting to having someone else – in this case FAU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles – call the plays for the Owls. “It would be like a taxi cab driver riding in the passenger seat,” Kiffin explained. “You’re just used to calling plays, moving guys around, doing different things. I do think it’s allowed me to do better at other things, but Saturday’s painful.”
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