BOCA RATON – Lane Kiffin reviewed Saturday’s scrimmage and saw something important: a relatively healthy team.
Kiffin missed Saturday’s scrimmage at Hadley Park in Miami to attend a funeral. On Monday he spoke with the media for the first time about what he saw on the scrimmage video.
“I thought the guys did a good job of understanding what we wanted to get done,” Kiffin said. “It was a scrimmage but it wasn’t tackle. We came out of the scrimmage fairly healthy with that.”
His satisfaction didn’t last into Monday afternoon.
After being given Sunday off, Kiffin thought his Owls looked like they were “going through the motions” during Monday’s practice.
“Today really wasn’t a very good practice,” Kiffin said. “We felt good about ourselves too much.”
HARD KNOCKS at the OX: Monday’s FAU Practice report
Making Plays: Slot receiver James Brunson made a leaping catch over Herb Miller in the end zone on a pass from Jason Driskel. …Safety Jake Stoshak snagged a deflected pass thrown by Driskel and took it the other way. …Linebacker Joe Pohiva, a recently added transfer out of Laney College, belted wide receiver Bobby Mitchell on a crossing route, stunning Mitchell. …Linebacker Jacob Douglas slid into the passing lane to bat down a Parr pass. …Defensive end Hunter Snyder jumped on a fumbled Driskel pitch intended for Buddy Howell.
Tracking the Depth Chart: Injuries have forced some shifts in the depth chart at linebacker. Hosea Barnwell, who Kiffin singled out as one of the players who performed well in Saturday’s scrimmage, worked as the starting middle linebacker on Monday beside Azeez Al-Shaair. Kris Harris and Jacob Douglas comprised the second teamer. …At times safety Ocie Rose took some snaps with the first team in place of Andrew Soroh, and at other times James Pierre did the same in place of Jalen Young, but starting safeties Young and Soroh were not simultaneously off the field at the same time while the first team defense took its reps.
QB Battle: Jason Driskel was back practicing with the first team on Monday. Kiffin didn’t offer an explanation as to why Driskel didn’t take part in Saturday’s scrimmage. Monday marked De’Andre Johnson’s turn to miss most of practice. He took part in the early drills but left the field for a previously scheduled academic appointment. Johnson returned to the field for the final couple of practice periods, but Parr continued to take the second team snaps.
Newcomer Watch: Wide receiver Willie Wright made the play of the day when he leaped to steal an underthrown pass away from Pierre, then raced to the end zone for a 60-yard score. …The challenger for play of the day comes from the field where the third string and below players work – and it was quite similar. Dominic Milanese leaped high into the air to take a Conner Miller pass away from Diashun Moss, then sprinted to the end zone. All three players appear destined for the scout team, but the play deserved recognition.
Instant Message: “It’s good to see what our staff has done with our defense and our players buying in. They get after the ball and, for the most part, they practice really hard.” – Lane Kiffin
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