WKU Football: FAU Q&A with The Owls Nest
We’re two days away from WKU’s East division showdown against Florida Atlantic. This is an elimination game for both teams in the East…
We’re two days away from WKU’s East division showdown against Florida Atlantic. This is an elimination game for both teams in the East division race of Conference USA as they both lost to Marshall in successive weeks. With that in mind that, we’d thought we’d get an FAU perspective on the game. Luckily for us, we got Jack Whidden from The Owls Nest to give us his thoughts on this FAU team, the program, the game, and his predictions. Without further adieu, here is our conversation with Jack.
After a slow start against great teams (Ohio State & UCF), FAU has been clicking (5 of six wins). Other than schedule, what has fueled the run of success?
As boring as this sounds, it may very well be the schedule and nothing else. That answer is twofold: on one side, the Owls have played much easier opponents since Ohio State and UCF, and on the other, the team has gained experience and built chemistry as the season progresses. The offense has had time to gel with a sophomore quarterback, while the defense is getting used to a new scheme.
We’re in year three of the Lane Kiffin era, What were your expectations for him at the beginning and how has he lived up to them thus far?
To this day, the Lane Kiffin hire still sounds too good to be true. When Kiffin arrived in Boca, most Owl fans expected a bowl game in the first year, hoping for a conference championship in the second. After that, all expectations were that he would immediately hightail to some random Power 5 program. Year one was better than anything FAU fans imagined. The second-year left a lot to be desired. Still, the way Lane Kiffin dominated the conference in 2017, and spoiled rival FIU’s conference title hopes in 2018, the vast majority of FAU fans have confidence in Kiffin’s leadership. Mind you this doesn’t include the hilarious memes, spicy Twitter takes and expanded off-the-field exposure that comes with Kiffin calling Boca Raton home.
With it’s South Florida location and the fertile recruiting area that comes with it, FAU is often seen as a sleeping giant in CUSA. Why has it struggled to annually stay towards the top of the league?
One could write a full-fledged novel about FAU’s high potential, and FAU athletics’ inability to hit that level. The largest issue facing FAU Football has been a history of little administrative support. President John Kelly and Athletic Director Brian White have done a phenomenal job of flipping the script with multiple facility upgrades and slam-dunk hires across all sports. Improved facilities, especially in the Schmidt Family Complex currently under construction next to the football stadium, will give the tools needed for all of FAU’s athletics programs to consistently compete amongst the conference’s elite.
Now onto the game…
Quarterback Chris Robison and Running Back Malcolm Davidson both left the ODU game with injuries. How serious were they and how important are they to the success of FAU’s offense?
When pressed by the media for injury updates, Lane Kiffin gives the same answer every time: We hope he plays. He even mentioned this on Sunday’s teleconference with the press, “we’ve been through this three years now, so you know what I’m going to say.” So the fact of the matter is, we do not know how serious the injuries are. Both Robison and Davidson have been practicing this week, even going as far as to say that they anticipate playing this Saturday. How much of that is gamesmanship, hope, or honesty? Well, we won’t know until FAU takes the field in Bowling Green. That being said, the style of offense the Owls use is highly dependent on a quarterback making smart, safe decisions, and speedy backs that are capable of gaining 3–4 yards up the gut and spreading the defense by running outside the tackles. These plays open up FAU’s home-run play: the RPO with the tight end running a fly-route.
How capable are their backups?
That is complicated. Former Mr. Florida and Indiana University QB transfer Nick Tronti played the majority of the second half against ODU, going 7–10 with both a TD and INT. Granted, he is a running/option style QB who normally comes in for a few planned packages to run a more efficient RPO based attack. He said it himself this Tuesday that his passing game can use improvement, especially when it comes to relaxing on risky throws. The good news for Owl fans is that the FAU offense does not utilize those high risk, high reward style of throws like back-shoulder passes or jump-balls unless they’re forced to do so. The bad news for Owl fans is that WKU’s stout run defense very well may force Tronti into those types of situations often.
As for the backups at RB, we have no idea. That’s not me trying to be cute. Just an FAU fan trying to come to grips that Malcolm Davidson is now the fifth RB to sustain a substantial injury this season. Davidson started the season as the #4 back in a “running back by committee” style of play. True Freshman Larry McCammon has surprised FAU fans with his Devin Motor Singletary aggressive style of running, but he did not see any action against ODU after an injury the week before against Marshall. It very well could be that McCammon’s absence was so he would not reaggravate his injury against a lowly ODU team, with the same thing, could be said for Malcolm Davidson not returning in the second half of that very game. Beyond these two, there is not a lot left for the Owls at the position. James Charles, Kelvin Dean, Tyrek Tisdale, and Chauncey Mason all have seen limited playing time this year yet are now expected to share the majority of snaps.
As of Wednesday, it is more likely that Robison starts and QB, while Davidson and McCammon either see very limited touches or none at all.
We’re looking at a high of 54 degrees for Saturday’s game. Will the colder weather affect FAU or is the Florida boys in cold weather factor a myth?
I’m shivering just thinking about that. Lane Kiffin mentioned in a chat with media on Tuesday that this is “not traditional” weather for the Owls. 96 of FAU’s 120 player roster are Floridians. It’s safe to say that many of those 96 have never seen snow, owned a peacoat, or seen a radiator heater before. As the game lingers on, and the temperatures begin to drop, the weather will no doubt challenge the mental resolve and the physical depth of the Owls rosters.
Who are some other skill position players that WKU should worry about on Saturday?
Without a doubt, the tight ends and slot receivers. Starting with the top tight end duo in FBS in combined receptions and receiving yards, NFL hopefuls Harrison Bryant and John Raine are a threat that linebackers and defensive backs struggle to contain. Whether the Owls see a third and long or set up one of them to be released into the secondary from their signature well-timed RPOs, it is only a matter of time before one of them make a clutch play for the FAU offense.
Also, the slot receivers, especially USF transfer DeAngelo Antoine, can use their speed and athleticism to exploit one-on-one situations along the outside. These quick bubble screens, jet sweeps, and shovel passes, aid in stretching opponent’s defenses East and West, opening up lanes for the tight ends to expose.
FAU’s defense has been inconsistent but is coming off their best performance of the year against hapless ODU. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the unit?
Well, let’s take than ODU performance with a grain of salt. The Monarchs have the worst offense in the nation. That’s not hyperbole, that’s the reality. They’re the 130th offense out of 130 FBS programs. That being said, FAU has had to deal with four defensive coordinators in four years. Current DC Glenn Spencer is no stranger to C-USA style offenses, having been DC at Charlotte before moving to Boca Raton. Constant changes to defensive scheming will be a challenge for any collegiate team. This current scheme pivots FAU away from the 4–2–5 used last year with mixed results, to a 3–3–5, with the third linebacker being a nickel/OLB style hybrid position called the star.
It has taken time for the defense to adapt to the new scheme, and it certainly doesn’t help when the first two games with the new base formation are against Ohio State and UCF. But the trial by fire is now paying off for the Owls. So far in C-USA play, FAU have given up 30+ points just once (the 36–31 defeat to Marshall).
This doesn’t mean that the Owls’ don’t give up a lot of yards. FAU’s bend-don’t-break style of defending will allow teams to drive down the field. The defense’s strength comes from the team’s ability to create turnovers and forcing tackles for loss, which FAU ranks third and first in C-USA respectively.
How do you see the game playing out? What is your prediction?
This game makes me nervous. It’s probably the biggest and most difficult toss-up in the conference this year. While WKU’s offense isn’t going to light up the scoreboard, the Hilltoppers stingy defense won’t give up much to the injury-ridden Owls. Helton said it best when he hinted that the first team to 30 will most likely win. Both defensive lines will have solid days, with WKU’s DeAngelo Malone practically living in the FAU backfield.
But I might as well be a homer; FAU 27–26. GO OWLS!
I want to thank Jack for taking the time to do this q&a with us. You can read his work on The Owls Nest and follow their official twitter account @FAU_Owls_Nest for fun analysis and reaction to Saturday’s matchup.