FAU Coach Tom Herman took to the podium to kick off week 2 for the Owls following a week 1 road loss to Michigan State and addressed a variety of topics.

The Owls struggled offensively in the first half, and Coach Herman mentioned a few issues including blocking struggles, lack of WR separation, and Fancher needing to protect himself better on slides. Herman also addressed a rising start on the defensive line, the atmosphere for the home opener, and more, in his near 20 minutes press conference prior to FAU Vs Army. 

Herman opening statement on the home opener:

“Your first home game is important. I think it sets the tone for your fan base for the entire season. But it just so happens to be our first conference game, too, and as much as we wanted to win last week, we also know that there's no trophy given at the end of that game. There's no no jewelry, no designation of any kind to the winner of that game. But this one counts, and this one counts towards being able to play for a trophy and then for rings. And you ask about the fans, we're a much better team when our fans are there, our students, the citizens of Boca and Palm Beach County, we need you for sure, because when that stadium is packed and rocking, it is definitely an advantage. Coming into this week with the team that we're playing, we're going to need every advantage we can get, and last year our first home game was very impressive, and so the challenge is out there, we can do a lot better even, and I think we will,” Herman said.

 

Herman on the offensive line struggles:

“Yeah, it was certainly a problem. It wasn't the only problem, nor the biggest problem. We certainly didn't match up. Well, we've got four new starters up front for us, and you know, you're playing a Big 10 team that can roll some quality athletes in and out. And so we thought we had a good plan to not leave the offensive lineman on an island all the time. And so you know that we involved the backs, and the backs did well that they had some breakdowns, and the tight ends did well for the most part, but had a breakdown or two. So, yeah, that game was a great illustration of the differences in offense and defensive football you know, you look at the defensive numbers, they look great, but We made plenty of mistakes, and I have a ton of respect for Coach Smith and what he's building there at Michigan State, he’s the right guy for that job, but their offenses didn't expose the mistakes that were made, but there were plenty of mistakes that our defense made that we need to correct, and get corrected in a hurry, and you look into the offense and there were a lot of times, 9-10 guys doing something really, really good, and one guy has a breakdown, and the play is a bad play. That to me, you saw a whole game full of something I've known for 40 something years, being around this game is that offensive football is very synchronistic, and when you're only, truly, only as strong as your weakest link, and we need everybody at their best when their best is needed. And so, yeah, protection was an issue, but there were a lot of reasons for it,” Herman said. 

Herman on the health of Cam Fancher:

“He got x-rayed after the game on that hand, not really sure what happened because when the ball was out and he was diving forward something kind of tugged on his finger, but nothing broke, and he practiced whole today, and really, you know a silver lining, you know, to go on the road and play a tough, physical, Big 10 football team and come away, really, with a couple bangs and bruises as your only injuries you feel good about that as a coach,” Herman said.



Herman on facing Bryson Daly:

“Hopefully you hear the word eyes more this week than you've ever heard, because in option football on that side of the ball, they want you to be chasing the ball, but if you read the keys, you read the people you're supposed to read, they will tell you what the play is, and the ball won't matter, you’ll be in the right gap at the right time and so it is as a head coach, these are some of the most nerve wracking weeks, because I’ve seen us play lights out against these kind of teams, and I've seen us struggle, and sometimes when you struggle, it's hard to un-struggle and make adjustments in mid game, so I think we've got a great plan, we believe in the plan, We have to stick to the plan, because you can't, that’s one thing I found playing these kind of offenses too, you can't as much as you want to feel like you’re not a sitting duck, you can’t rule your blitz and coverage to every play they could run, it just wouldn’t work, and so we're going to be very simple. We're going to use our technique, our fundamentals, our athleticism, and then if our eyes are in the right spot on every play, we'll have a chance to succeed,” Herman said.

Herman on Fancher as an aggressive runner:

“Yes (it concerns me), we talked about it. Obviously, this was my first game coaching him, and so we're kind of learning from each other a little bit. And so I think from now on, in those situations, you'll probably see him dive forward a lot more and protect himself that way. But also, you know, he understands too. I mean, his legs are a huge weapon, and he's on scholarship, and our Collective's paying him whatever, they are paying him for the whole package, And so he gets that, that's part of his game, and I think you'll see him be a lot smarter at the end of those plays moving forward,” Herman said. 

Herman on if it’s reassuring taking a successful defensive performance again the run into week 2:

“It would be, if we were playing a team where there was carryover, you know, where you're seeing inside zone and counter and power. So the style of run is just so completely different, but the fact that we got guys on the ground, the fact that we were gap sound for the most part, the fact that we did make plays on the ball, in the pass game, all those things our defensive line got off blocks, you know, against a really big, strong offensive line, so those are all things to be encouraged about. Now,there will be zero carryover from a scheme and assignment standpoint,” Herman said.



Herman on Chisom Ifeanyi’s debut at staring Edge:

“Chisom had a really good game, he showed why we have him, he is very explosive off the football and can do some really good things, pressuring the quarterback, gotta be better against the run, you know, if we're talking about Chiz, he probably got pushed around a little bit in the run game more than than we like, so yeah, excited about him and what he can bring from that standpoint, and I think you're going to see him become a more complete player too,” Herman said. 

Herman on the offensive gameplan:

“Execution (is what they’re trying to hammer home), I think they're really good on defense. I think their free safety number six is a hell of a player. Outside linebacker, pass-rusher #95, I believe, is a heck of a player. So they're going to have some talented dudes. We'll match up a little bit better up front and so and on the perimeter, you know, so. And I think what army does, to be honest with you, they're a little bit more multiple than I expected playing the service academies. They're, they're usually kind of, we're gonna line up and and do this, and we're gonna do it better than you, and they blitz a little bit more and throw some unique coverages at you. They get a little exotic on third down. So I think we'll know for the most part where they're gonna be. I don't think our guidance will be confused a whole lot on offense, but we're certainly going to have to execute, because these guys know what they're doing, and they do it really well,” Herman said. 

Herman on playing Army on the site of a former military base:

“I told the team at our Monday meeting yesterday, like, I respect the heck out of these players. You know, we were asked about the tradition of we're standing for their fight song at the end of the game, I said, ‘Are you serious’? Like, why would that even be a question? Of course, we're going to do that. My father in law, who's been an extremely positive male role model for me in my life, served in Vietnam and the Marines, and so any chance we have an opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of our service. I think we do, and so much so that our our four main phases of special teams are named and after different former FAU football players that had military careers, and we've got one visiting for the game this week that we'll get to know a little bit and pay some tribute, we have a ton of respect for what these guys do. It's hard enough being a division and football player. I don't know if what we demand of these guys, time and life that a lot of people are cut out for, but then you throw in all that other stuff that they got to go through, it’s truly remarkable. Anytime I’ve played Navy, Army, or Air Force, Army, I get a little bit more optimistic about the future of our country and of our youth, knowing that those two institutions and our Air Force Academy still produce men and women like that. It makes me feel like we still got a shot here, and my kids still have a shot to have a pretty decent country,” Herman said. 

Herman on the WR-room after game 1:

“Yeah, I think I think those guys (Omari Hayes, Jayshon Platt and Dom Henry) have earned it, but not to any great degree, where you're going to see them play, you know, 80% of the snaps, you know, I think those guys have certainly earned the right to go out there first, but it'll still be pretty rotational. I think, my ideal receiver room, because we're no huddle, because we want to take some deep shots and challenge people down the field, And we do ask a lot of them in the run game and motion and all that, but first and second down, you'd like to be be able to rotate guys, and maybe you have a specific guy for a specific route or something like that, and then maybe settle on your third down guys. You know, these are the trusted guys, like they get their rest on first down maybe, or, you know, they, if they're getting tired, get them out on second down because they need to go back in on third down, kind of guys. And we're not there yet. But you know, those three guys that you mentioned would be the leaders of kind of having that trust designation. But I think we're comfortable too, we need more production, we need more separation when we get guys near us, but I think we're comfortable with the rotation and kind of the way it worked out in game one,” Herman said.

Herman on the offense being more aggressive early:

“That wasn't by design (only throwing 9 times), In fact, I didn't even realize we only threw nine passes the first half, he was scrambled probably, that certainly wasn’t by design, but we do know you have to be cautious with your play selection, on offense against these guys too, in my opinion, Lehigh had three possessions in the first half, You know, if we only we had 13 against Michigan State, you're going cut that in half, You better be able to not go three and out a lot. I think ideally that might have felt that way had some of those passes gotten off that he scrambled on, but we would like to push the ball down the field. But also, this week, it's also important to keep drives alive,” Herman said. 

Herman on if Fancher had a confidence issue in the first half:

“Confidence, no. He was obviously more settled in the second half, why he appeared unsettled in the first half? Not real sure. The kid’s a pro, He's, he's played in a lot of stadiums and all that. So I saw what I needed to see, certainly in the second half of him settling down and having commanded the offense, to feel like that could be described as unsettled in the first half I think was an apparition,” Herman said. 

Herman on the outlook of the RB room:

“Yeah, they were, you know, until Khalil gets back, and we really only had two serviceable tight ends right now, Elijah, is still coming off of a concussion, so you saw us in some 20 and 21 personnel to get, you know, we're healthy and we're deep at that position. You know, Gemari Sands probably deserves to play a little bit more, but we felt good about that rotation and kind of carries and all that they played well, we gave up a sack, we’re a little impatient on some runs at times, but they played well and we expect them to continue to do that,” Herman said. 

Final Thoughts

FAU will kick off the 2024 home-slate at 12 pm on Saturday against Army, and the Owls will look to put their final adjustments into their game plan over the next few days.

Look for FAU to attempt to execute at a high level and find a way to have more offensive success early.