The Owls continued their dominance over the team down south with a 38-19 victory Friday night and ran their margin of victory to 176-64 in four years over Butch Davis.
Here are five take away's from the game and what fans should look for moving forward:
"Triple Option Attack" - While FAU's offense on the surface doesn't look like the old school double wing we see at the service academies, the box score tells a different story. Javion Posey (pictured) broke a school record for rushing yards as a QB with 182 yards and added two touchdowns himself. Running backs Malcolm Davidson and James Charles both averaged over eight and a half yards per carry, and each adding a touchdown, respectively. Head coach Willie Taggart used motions by the backs and wideouts to set up read options and keep FIU's front seven off-balanced all night. Fans can expect this "triple option" type offense only to expand as Posey gets more comfortable.
Shutdown Corners - After the losses of talented cornerbacks James Pierre and Chirs Tooley, it was only natural to be concerned about who would be left to play outside corners for FAU. Zyon Gilbert, who has moved from safety, and redshirt freshman Romain Mungin have played beyond all expectations. They are currently only allowing a 45 percent completion percentage and no touchdowns on 72 targets this season. In comparison, Pierre and Tooley allowed a 51 percent completion. Gilbert's ability to multiple positions in the secondary this well will probably earn him getting his name called by an NFL team come April.
Sack City - It has been no secret how deadly the Owl's pass rush has been this season. Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt has brought a much more aggressive blitzing scheme to FAU, and it's paying off big time. They are led by senior Leighton McCarthy and redshirt sophomore Jaylon Joyner, who each have six. The Owls are averaging 3.8 sacks a game in 2020 compared to just over 2.4 per game in 2019.
"Special" Special Teams - Under now third-year specials teams coach Jaron Fairman, they have been one of the most consistent bunches in the conference. Punter Matt Hayball is currently second in the CUSA, averaging just over 45 yards per punt, and placekicker Vladimir Rivas has been more than dependable five of six on field-goal attempts this season. Speedy freshman wideout Lajohntay Wester is also averaging an impressive 8.9 yards per punt return, which leads the conference.
Passing Game Must Grow - On the flip side of all the fun, a multi-leveled rushing attack has provided, the passing game has been practically nonexistent. All four of FAU's wins have come with less than 12 completions in a game. The receiver rotation has been inconsistent outside of T.J. Chase, and the tight ends have become nonexistent, providing only two catches from that position all season. The passing game has to grow in a similar way we saw in the 2017 season with Jason Driskell, or more talented teams will make it hard for the Owls to put up points being so dimensional.
The Owls are set to have senior night and their final home game of the 2020 season next Friday, November 20th, at 8:00 PM when they take on the recently scheduled University of Massachusetts Minute Men.
Related Links
Shula Bowl XIX Post Game: Willie Taggart
BOX SCORE: Shula Bowl XIX
Comments
I don’t think we’ve had a P5 transfer that’s been good. I’ve said that if you get a P5 transfer it has to be someone who got kicked off the team for something stupid like Robison. It’s not like Robison was unproductive on the field.
The best P5 transfer we’ve had is Emmons, and he’s our 3rd best running back. We can go into it but guys like Riles didn’t exactly light it up.
What you have to do with receivers is look up if they made big plays with their prior school.
I predicted before the 2019 season that Antoine could be really good because he made big plays at USF. I’m not sure that our transfer receivers were that impressive at their P5 school. We could be just as productive with Mitchell Robinson and Wright and Merrel. I don’t think they were transfers.
The receivers aren’t that good. And they’re soft. It’s going to be a running team. We might be able to win out without passing. Our offensive line is our best run blocking line since 2017.
If we put five of those guys out there with Robison, he would carve up secondary's with them like a swiss army knife.
You don’t need to have an all conference QB to find out how good receivers are. The receiving core would be just as good without the transfers if Mitchell was healthy. These guys aren’t Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald.
Receiving core would definitely be worse without the transfers, Chase has definitely bailed out Tronti multiple times.
Also, Emmons averaged 2 ypc and Davidson and Charles averaged 9 ypc. If a P5 transfer wasn’t good enough to get on the field, they won’t be good enough at G5. Emmons is mediocre.
Durante, who probably put up the best numbers of a P5 transfer, only got those numbers because there was no one else who was good. And he had no hands. You have to realize that these P5 transfers aren’t as good as players that have spent their whole career at FAU. The only exception is if the guy got kicked off the team for something stupid like Robison.
He didn't get kicked off the team, he didn't get suspended, he wasn't let go.
We need to be conscious of the fact that coaches, staff, and players read this forum and make sure that factual positions are our consistent look.
Because the coaches, staff and players go to the owls nest for their information
I’ve given up trying to find out why Robison isn’t here. I think he’s a deep cover CIA agent.
Emmons broke his foot which caused him to transfer to JUCO then to FAU, nothing to do with his vision.
What is going on with Yanez Rogers, Terique Owens, Mathew Akuchi, BJ Alexander, Ronald Patterson, Jefftey Joseph, Brandon Robinson… all these guys are 6'3-6'4, are they being utilized?.
Same thing for the TEs, Irvin is mediocre, what's up with Ryan Cameron, Logan Peterson, Austin Evans, JAckson Wenstrom, Rahmod Smith, why is Irvin starting over these guys?
That's not what i said or inferred. It's because they read here in varying capacities and the site shouldn't be a rumor mill.
Thanks for clarifying jfg 👍
How does Keyshawn Greene fit into this equation?
If he never practiced at Nebraska and no one knows how good he would’ve been then I’d say he has a much better chance to be a great player than all the P5 transfers that couldn’t cut it at their P5 school and wouldn’t get any playing time.
Even guys like Chase really aren’t that good. I’d rather try to develop receivers that weren’t transfers. Every P5 transfer who couldn’t get playing time has limitations in their game that will show up at G5. I’d say Greene probably has a much better chance than P5 transfers who didn’t make it t their school.
I’m not always right. I’m just saying generally that’s how it goes. Although there really isn’t any P5 transfer that’s been good the last few years.
Well…for the level of athlete he is, there is something missing.
Kids from South Florida recruited at that level…that chose to go to Nebraska?
Things that make you go hmmmmmm…(yes, thats a C&C Music Factory reference).
Then ends up at FAU? Something feels off…I dont know the backstory or details, but doesn't feel right.
He is a transfer and will be counted as part of the 2021 class.
Multiple guys from that Nebraska class who are guys from Florida ended up transferring back to Florida. Greene was originally committed to FSU but when the Willie coaching change happened there he ended up flipping to Nebraska. As I said in one of my other posts he was recruited to FSU by Coach Woodie. So IMO nothing is off.
He was an all american I expect him to play well here!
Yanez is playing DB, Patterson is injured and I think out for the year, no idea what’s up with Jefftey but he doesn’t dress for games. Rahmod is hurt, half the TEs on the active roster are walk-ons.
Receiver issues are starting to remind me of first half of 2017. TJ Chase is DeAndre McNeal from that POV. People forget the guys that were getting rotated in before Kalib got back. Remember Bobby Mitchell? Nate Terry? (Who now lives in the other side of my neighborhood. Random fact.)
At least then, Parr and Driskel made plays in passing game and they got the TEs involved. Don’t know how much of overall issues are on Tronti’s struggles.
Assuming things go to plan in 2021, a full spring camp will help.
If the NCAA can mandate a team takes off Election Day, they should have Vaccine Day. Could even have some balloons and pizza in the Schmidt with a giant sign. “Congrats, you got vaccinated!”