FIU take on “Red-Zone” work during preseason practice

Florida International practice on Monday included work on red-zone and third-down situations.

Last season, Florida International was eighth in the Sun Belt Conference on third down, ahead of only FAU, and its touchdown percentage inside the 20-yard line trailed all but Troy.

The Panthers ranked second in red-zone scoring because dependable kicker Jack Griffin, now a senior, tied for seventh nationally in field goals per game.

FIU made a few changes with its offensive line, moving Shae Smith to center and Giancarlo Revila to left guard.

FIU fifth-year senior Shae Smith had not played center since his freshman year at Bennington (Neb.) High. Senior Giancarlo Revila had played only center since spending his freshman year at Miami Killian High at tackle.

But with four of five starters back on the offensive line, FIU’s coaches decided to think a little outside the box as far as deployment in the box. They have swapped Smith, a starter at left guard for the last 11 games of 2011 after transferring from Nebraska-Omaha, and Revila, who started all 13 games at center last season.

Seniors Caylin Hauptmann and Rupert Bryan remain at the tackles. Junior David Delsoin takes the right guard position at which senior Curtis Bryant played 11 games last season. The Smith-Revila switch counts as tinkering to get even more from a line that allowed only 15 sacks, the fewest in FIU’s seven Football Bowl Subdivision seasons, and blocked for the school’s first FBS 1,000-yard rusher last season.

This move comes 17 months later than originally planned for Revila. He was supposed to move to right guard in the spring of 2011, but injuries kept him at center after spending two years as an understudy to four-year starter Brad Serini.

Coach Mario Cristobal believes the switch has led to improvement in Revila’s run blocking.

The first full-pad scrimmage will be Saturday night at FIU Stadium. FIU hasn’t decided whether it will be open to the public. FIU will be playing its final season in the Sun Belt Conference this fall before moving on to C-USA. The Golden Panthers are selected to win the Sun Belt title in pre-season polls before they depart.