With a new up-tempo offense in
place, new coach, new stadium and new spirit; FAU is now looking for a improved
season to prove many that they two can win.
There was no mystery to the FAU
offense last season. Running back Alfred Morris was the workhorse, and seemingly all
positive offensive yardage was gained by the senior.
Though
the Owls won only one game in 2011, Morris was had a good year. He rushed for
1,188 yards and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of
the NFL Draft. Morris has shined in the preseason, legitimately challenging for
the starting running back job.
Replacing Morris is perhaps too
big of a job for just one player. Luckily, the 2012 FAU Owls have five who are
up to the challenge.
Junior
running backs Jonathan Wallace, Martese Jackson and Travis Jones, along with
sophomore Damian Fortner and redshirt freshman Tony Moore will rotate snaps
this season, with the Owls riding the player that is most successful in any
given game.
The change from a run-first,
second and third offense to a pass-happy spread formation has been the biggest
challenge of the Owls preseason preparations, but it didn't take long for the
running back crew to recognize that everyone was going to be evolved.
The
Owls have been frequently using a "full house" package in practice.
With the quarterback either in a full shotgun position or a half-shotgun
"pistol" position with two, sometimes three running backs in the
backfield.
"Every guy
is useful in some aspect of the game," running backs coach Kerry Dixon
said. "We just keep it as a competition. We give out equal reps in
practice to make sure that everybody is getting a quality opportunity and
giving quality as well."
Owls
prepare for Wagner
FAU will
open the season in their new stadium on tomorrow night against FCS foe Wagner
of New York. This should be a win to begin their 2012 season on a good note.
But as preseason camp closed and
week one preparations have begun, Pelini is getting back to the basics.
Hopefully, Pelini said, many of plethora of lessons stuck — they'll be needed
later.
For
the time being, the FAU playbook is being cut down to include only those plays
that can be run effectively every time they are called.
While perception
is that a lower-division team might provide some slack for the Owls, Pelini
said he doesn't believe that perception can be applied to week one opponent
Wagner.
"They're a good, physical, [Division] 1-AA team," Pelini said of the Seahawks. "They're not a pushover team. They're not out there. They're very good at what they do. They execute."
