BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team’s offense (5-5, 4-2 C-USA) has faced off with 10 previous offenses all brining a different challenge. This week, FAU will be asked to stop a powerful running back and speedy skill players.
The previous 10 games have seen FAU start 10 different lineups, and that depth will come into play when the Owls travel to Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee (5-5, 2-4 C-USA) Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. EST game. Both FAU and MT need one more win to secure bowl eligibility, and the Owls are still in the hunt for a possible C-USA Championship berth.
The Owls will continue to try to achieve their keys to victory, one of which is three turnovers. This has been instrumental in the team’s success and a No. 6 national ranking in defensive TDs scored. FAU is No. 17 nationally and No. 1 in C-USA averaging 16.93 yards defensively per return, however, this week FAU will face a strong MT kick return unit. Individually, FAU is led by Michal Antoine, Jr, who is No. 14 nationally with two fumble recoveries. He is joined by Owl veteran Dwight Toombs, who is No. 24 nationally with three interceptions. Armani-Eli Adams leads FAU with 55 total tackles, two of which are for a loss, and he has one interception, five pass break up and a forced fumble.
The game, slated for 3:30 p.m. EST, will air on ESPN+ while Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the call for Fox Sports South Florida.
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando
On what he sees from Middle Tennessee’s Offense
“I see explosive players, I see a tailback who is an ex-linebacker that runs like a linebacker. They get the ball in space. The part about it with Brent (Dearmon) being on our staff is he knows a lot of these guys inside and out. They really put a premium on speed.”
On using current FAU OC and former Middle Tennessee OC Brent Dearmon for preparation
“You have to. It’s one thing what you see on film, but some of those experiences they had with those guys in practice, it gives you a little bit of detailed stuff. It’s not everything, but it paints a picture of the player himself and the stuff that he can do really well so it does help us.”
On how the secondary has improved from the start of the season
“I think fundamentals and technique, just believing in that every day in practice and just working at it every day. I think sometimes you can get so much scheme involved and sometimes you forget about the little things like pad level, proper footwork, and eyes and keys. I’ve seen that become a lot better in practice and you’re starting to see the results of that in games.”
On Redshirt Junior DB Teja Young’s versatility
“He can blitz. He can run support. Obviously, he can cover, but he also gives us the ability to play guys like (Amari) Wansley and (Armani-Eli) Adams, who had a really good game last week. It’s just trying to get our best people out on the football field. I think him being at the second level helps us, because I think the coordination with the guys up front and the guys behind, it connects those two groups together and it has been really good for us.”
On how Redshirt Freshman Safety Amari Wansley has come along since spring
“The confidence that he’s showing right now. and he has really elite speed. When you watch him on tape, when he turns it on, he turns it on. He’s a younger guy, hasn’t played a lot and I think there was a hesitation early on. Now he has stopped hesitating and is playing really fast. We’re starting to see the results in him. He’s a dynamite kid. He’s one of the best guys we have on this team. He’s a ‘yes sir, no sir’ guy. He does everything you want. He listens, and I’m glad he’s having some of the results he is having.”
On preparing for Middle Tennessee RB Frank Peasant
“The film doesn’t lie. He’ll go out of his way to try to hit people. I think that’s pretty cool to have that mindset. And he can run, he has decent wiggle to him in terms of eluding people, but really at the end of the day, he’s a downhill runner. You get into November, and you have a bunch of guys banged up and you have somebody still playing with that mindset, that’s impressive to me as an old school football guy. He has a linebacker mindset.”
Redshirt Junior DB Teja Young
On leading the team in preparation for Middle Tennessee
“Middle’s a good team. They have great players. The hardest thing is what Coach O (Todd Orlando) preaches all the time: paying your debts through the week, like practicing hard. Those things win games, it’s not necessarily your opponent or who has better players. It’s about what the team does during the week and how you prepare. Coach O preaches to us all the time that you have to pay your rent during the week so you can cash it out on Saturday. If we just continue to build every day, do the little things, run to the ball, get turnovers, have great energy, that will carry us to Tennessee and we’ll be able to go out there and play a good game.”
On preparing for Middle Tennessee RB Frank Peasant
“He’s a good running back. We know he runs hard just because of what he puts on tape. The good thing about the game of football is there are 11 of us out there. If all of us have to get a piece of him to get him down, we’ll do what we have to do. We’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”
On the secondary’s mindset shift from the start of the season
“I think it’s just belief, everybody having in confidence in what they are doing and what we are calling as a defense. Just knowing where you have to be at on the field gives us a lot of leeway to not be so tense and play more relaxed and be more reactive. I think just the guys learning the concepts and grasping what they can use in the toolbox to help them make plays. I think that’s where our confidence comes from these last few games.”
On how to limit explosive plays from Middle Tennessee’s offense
“Just trusting our technique and using our calls to our advantage. We’re calling certain things for a reason, so if you have a certain coverage called, make sure you play that coverage. That will help you from getting beat no matter how fast a guy is.”
On his transition to playing nickel
“It’s a big difference. The game looks different from right there. How I have embraced it is just being closer to the ball. That helps us make a lot of plays as a defense, not just for me but as a defense. Me transitioning to nickel was probably the best decision we made as a team, and I think we have been doing a hell of a job since then.”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
FAU Coaches Radio Show
For free mobile listening of all game broadcasts and coaches shows, FAU fans can download the Varsity Network app for iPhone or Android. The app features instant access to free gameday audio streams and the ability for fans to receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts. Local fans can tune in to Hubbard Radio (Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM) to follow the team.
FAU Television Inside the Owls Burrow
This week’s show will include a sit down with Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart. Show host and producer Frank Forte will review last week’s Shula Bowl XXI victory and will preview this week’s game at Middle Tennessee. Also featured are running backs coach and former teammate of Coach Taggart Donte’ Pimpleton in a one-on-one interview. Get to know linebacker Marlon Krakue in “Pads Off” and will conclude with a “Where Are They Now” highlighting former Owl linebacker Kris Harris.
TICKETS
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