Tackling the Problem

BOCA RATON – Saturday’s FAU scrimmage should afford FAU coaches the opportunity to answer a question they can only speculate about through two weeks of fall camp.

Is FAU a better tackling team than the one that ranked 124 out of 128 team in total defense last season?

“I don’t have any idea,” Kiffin said.

Kiffin said the Owls intend to employ live tackling during the scrimmage, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Howard Schnellenberger Field and is open to the public.



That would make it the first extended session with live tackling this fall camp, and will give Kiffin an idea as to how much tackling the Owls need to do over the next two weeks to prepare for the Sept. 1 season opener against Navy.

“If we tackle really well, we don’t need to as much,” Kiffin said. “If we don’t, we need to do more.”

Kiffin expects the Owls to be a much improved tackling team compared to last year’s squad. He points to the way the Owls played in the spring game – a scrimmage dominated by the defense – as reason for his faith.

FAU players insist they are much improved in that department.

“We’re trying to do a better job of pursuit to the ball,” linebacker Khantrell Burden said. “Everybody’s getting to the ball so there shouldn’t be any missed tackles. If anything, if somebody misses tackles there’s always going to be another 10 people coming to the ball.”



Players describe defensive coordinator Chris Kiffin’s defense as being always on attack, a big difference from the more read-and-react scheme they played last season.

That brings more verve to the defense as a whole.

“It’s fun,” safety Jalen Young said. “We have fun. We’re energetic. We have a blast out there. We just love going out there and being physical, and having fun, and being dominant.”

And that level of fun, Young figures, will translate into more victories.

But that will only happen if the Owls prove they can tackle.

“I feel like we’re a much improved defense,” Young said. “I feel like we have a lot of guys that are talented and are really just learning the game better. We’re going to be good.”