BOCA RATON – Lane Kiffin expects extra rest over the next couple of days will have quarterback De’Andre Johnson back to form and ready for the Sept. 1 season-opener against Navy.
Whether he’ll actually start that game is still to be decided.
One of three battling to be the Owls’ starting quarterback, Johnson was again held out of passing drills during Wednesday’s practice by an undisclosed nagging injury that’s bothered him for nearly to weeks.
Johnson, who signed with Florida St. out of high school and played at East Mississippi CC before transferring to FAU in January, underwhelmed in the team scrimmages held both of the past two Saturdays and is expected to participate in Friday’s situational scrimmage.
Kiffin doesn’t expect the injury to linger throughout the season.
“I think with tomorrow off, and Saturday off as well, before Sunday (when) we really officially Navy practice the majority of practice, I think he’ll be a lot better,” Kiffin said.
Once the season begins FAU normally won’t hold a practice the day before a game or the day after. Kiffin is giving the Owls Thursday and Saturday off, sandwiched around Friday night’s scrimmage, as a means of emulating a the regular season.
“We’re going to kind of make that as game-like as we can as far as meetings, walk-throughs – everything,” Kiffin said. “I just feel like that helps guys understand exactly what the day before the game and the day of the game will be like.”
Friday’s scrimmage, which is closed to the media and public, comes exactly one week before the Owls kickoff the season against the Midshipmen.
FAU heads into the scrimmage still trying to decide which quarterback will start against Navy.
Should no quarterback separate himself from the others, Friday might prompt the coaches to at least decide on a an offensive gameplan that includes playing two or more quarterbacks.
“We definitely would like to know that,” Kiffin said.
Should Friday help determine a starting quarterback, it doesn’t appear that a difference in arm strength will play a major factor decision.
A strong-armed quarterback is important in offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ Baylor offense because, along with deep balls, the quarterback is often asked to throw from the far hash mark to a receiver lined up two yards off the sideline. Such a pass doesn’t travel down field, but still covers 30 yards.
“You’ll get exposed pretty quick if you can’t get it out there,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin doesn’t fear such exposure, he says, because Johnson, Jason Driskel and Daniel Parr all possess the arm strength to make the necessary throws.
“I don’t think it’s a very big difference,” Kiffin said. “I think all three can play in this system.”
Even when Johnson is healthy, it’s the newest entry in the quarterback battle, Parr, who possesses the strongest arm of the trio. Driskel, last year’s starter, has been the most consistent.
After missing all of spring practices while recovering from foot surgery, Parr expanded the quarterback battle from two to three in recent weeks with his play in scrimmages.
Now Parr needs show Kiffin the ability to use his strong arm judiciously, avoiding forced risky throws that could lead to turnovers.
“We’ve seen a little bit of that,” Kiffin said, referring to forced throws, “But he’s doing well.”
Parr Me