BOCA RATON, Fla. – Stopping the run by maintaining eye discipline is the key to Florida Atlantic University’s 3:30 p.m. home opener this Saturday versus Georgia Southern.
The two teams have met just once and it was a year ago in Statesboro, Georgia where the Eagles defeated the Owls 20-3. Much has changed in the course of a year for FAU, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball as well as difference schemes. For the Eagles, the triple option continues to be the identity and the Achilles for opponents.
COORDINATOR’S CORNER
Defensive Coordinator/S Mike Stoops
Opening Remarks:
“I was really proud of the way our kids competed throughout the course of the game. I thought we played hard. The kids prepared well. I think that we need to play better as a whole. I think that anytime you play a game it kind of reflects where you are at as a group, where you played well, where you didn’t. Playing, certainly a team like Florida, exposes some of those things that are good/bad things that we need to improve on. [I’m] just disappointed that we didn’t play the run better than we did a week ago. I thought their quarterbacks did an excellent job on keeping the ball on some read plays that we didn’t defend very well and that is a preparation error on our fault as a defensive staff, not having them prepared for that.
“Overall, I’m proud of our guys. I thought our pass coverage was good. We had a couple of missed assignments on some coverage stuff. Disappointed that we couldn’t get any more pressure, but we wanted to spy the quarterback a little bit because they are very athletic runners. Overall, it is a mixed bag. I thought we really settled down and played well throughout the second and third quarters. Got some big turnovers. Got a big fourth down stop in the low red area, but just need to clean up a lot of things as a whole defensively and tackle better in space and certainly Georgia Southern is going to create a lot of the same issues that we saw a week ago in defending the quarterback, defending the option plays. It is going to let us know if we have improved in those areas.”
PLAYERS’ TAKE
Redshirt Junior, STAR, Ahman Ross
On last week’s performance and moving into the Georgia Southern game:
“Camp was a grind, learning a new position and ironing out the fine details within that position. As far as working back into the starting spot, I take it as a challenge, working every day to get better. It is not a strike on anyone else or taking anything away from anyone else. It is me focusing on me and getting 1% better every day and that is just the main focus.”
On stopping Georgia Southern and a run-heavy offense:
“The biggest thing as far as Georgia Southern is focusing on run fits, being disciplined, eye discipline. Those are key factors in stopping a triple-option team. Those things can be very hectic and they have a lot of moving pieces in any given play. Knowing your keys, reading your keys and knowing exactly where your eyes need to be because that will take you right to the ball. Run fits and eye discipline.
Senior, Linebacker, Akileis Leroy
On the feelings running through your mind at Florida and getting ready for this week:
“I really had to control a lot of what I was thinking last Saturday. [My] first game back in almost two years and it was almost like a dream. Like a dream come true, almost, being back around my teammates. Being in the atmosphere that makes me the most comfortable, playing ball.
“The preparation going into this week is the same mentality as it is every week, go 1-0…we don’t take our opponents lightly. It is a work day.”
SPEEDSTERS
On Tuesday, D’Marcus Adams broke the 20 mph barrier twice. He was joined by Willie Wright, Je’Quan Burton, Javion Posey and Justin McKithen. On Wednesday, McKithen returned to the list.
2021 SEASON
2021 single-game tickets are available now. To experience “Football in Paradise,” Click HERE or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
