Florida Atlantic Owls
Preview 2007
By
Pete Fiutak
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2007 FAU Offense Preview |
2007 FAU Defense Preview
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2007 FAU Depth Chart
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2006 CFN FAU
Preview
Not enough was made about the job Howard Schnellenberger did last
year winning five games with a team full of new starters and with
the nation’s most brutal schedule to start the season with five
straight road games. Now the sky’s the limit.
Call 2006 the type of stepping-stone season needed to be taken so
the program can take a giant leap this year. With as much returning
experience as anyone in America, and even a little bit of depth to
rely on to create competition for several positions, FAU could be
the Sun Belt’s biggest surprise.
Head coach: Howard Schnellenberger
7th year: 33-37
23rd year overall: 133-114-3
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 21, Def. 28, 90 |
Ten
Best Owl Players
1. LB Cergile Sincere, Sr.
2. SS Kris Bartels, Sr.
3. DE Josh Pinnick, Sr.
4. CB Corey Small, Jr.
5. FS Taheem Acevedo, Sr.
6. DT Jervonte Jackson, Jr.
7. QB Rusty Smith, Soph.
8. WR Frantz Simeon, Jr.
9. RB DiIvory Edgecomb, Jr.
10. RB Charles Pierre, Jr.
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction:
4-8 |
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Sept. 1 |
Middle Tennessee |
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Sept. 8 |
at
Oklahoma State |
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Sept. 15 |
Minnesota |
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Sept. 22 |
at
North Texas |
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Sept. 29 |
at
Kentucky |
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Oct.
6 |
South Florida |
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Oct.
20 |
at
UL Lafayette |
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Oct.
27 |
UL Monroe |
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Nov.
10 |
Arkansas State |
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Nov.
17 |
at
Florida |
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Nov.
24 |
at FIU |
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Dec.
1 |
at
Troy |
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2006
Schedule
2006 Record:
5-7 |
| 9/2 |
at Clemson L 54-9 |
| 9/9 |
at Kansas St L 45-0 |
| 9/16 |
at Oklahoma St L 48-8 |
| 9/23 |
at South Carolina L 48-9 |
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9/30 |
at UL Monroe W 21-19 |
| 10/12 |
Southern Utah W 32-7 |
| 10/18 |
UL Lafayette L 6-0 |
| 10/28 |
Arkansas State W 29-0 |
| 11/4 |
at MTSU L 35-14 |
| 11/11 |
Troy L 24-17 |
| 11/18 |
at North Texas W 17-16 |
| 11/25 |
vs. FIU W 31-0 |
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The Owls
were rarely pretty, but they were able to go 5-3 down the stretch with
two of the losses coming by seven against Troy and six to UL Lafayette
to show just how competitive the team could be. Now it’s time to make
some real noise in the Sun Belt.
Almost everyone of note is back on both sides of the ball with an
offense that should be far more efficient now that the quarterback
situation appears to be settled with Rusty Smith the playmaker to
revolve around. The running game can’t be worse, and it won’t be with
Charles Pierre and DiIvory Edgecomb working behind a line with three
starters returning.
Defensively, FAU played a suffocating pass defense, but it helped that
no one in the Sun Belt could throw. Expect more of the same with three
starters returning to the secondary and with the league’s air attacks
not appearing to be any better. Not only does most of the starting
defensive front seven come back, but most are juniors meaning the Owls
could be brewing something special, especially on the line.
Schnellenberger knows how to win and he knows hot to rebuild programs.
In his seventh year at FAU, and after the program has spent three years
at the D-I level, everything finally appears to be in place.
What to watch for on offense: More from the running game. FAU was
stuffed way too often when it tried to generate anything on the ground.
While Charles Pierre is an experienced veteran, And DiIvory Edgecomb
returns, they might not go anywhere behind a way-too-small line. More
help is on the way from the recruiting class. Xavier Stinson blew off
Pitt to come in to potentially become an immediate power running threat.
Alfred Morris, Avionne Rolle, and JUCO transfer Jeff Blanchard are all
strong runners providing a huge upgrade in depth and talent.
What to watch for on defense: This could be the league’s best
pass defense. FS Taheem Acevado is a special safety who has All-Sun Belt
written all over him. SS Kris Bartels and CB Corey Small are good enough
to not let the production of last year drop. The real key will be the
pass rush, which should be better with Josh Pinnick poised for a big
year from the right defensive end spot.
The team will be far better if … Rusty Smith takes a big step in
his production. After battling with Sean Clayton all season for time,
Smith took over late, helped by an injury to Clayton, and showed the
toughness and the potential to be fantastic highlighted by a 312-yard
day against Troy. He needs to be more efficient, but if he keeps
improving, he could be the difference between a good season and ending
up in the New Orleans Bowl.
The Schedule:
The Owls
will know where they stand in the Sun Belt race right off the bat
hosting Middle Tennessee, arguably the league’s best team going into the
season. Unlike last year when FAU had five road games in a row to start
out the year, this season, Minnesota and South Florida have to make the
trip to Boca Raton, but the slate is backloaded finishing up on the road
at Florida, FIU and Troy.
Best Offensive Player:
Sophomore QB
Rusty Smith. Eventually, he’ll be the Sun Belt’s best passing
quarterback. He doesn’t have any mobility and he’s still too erratic,
but he has a big arm, great size, and the potential to make the Owl
passing game shine.
Best Defensive Player:
Senior LB
Cergile Sincere. The team’s best players are all on defense. Sincere,
safeties Kris Bartels and Taheem Acevedo, end Josh Pinnick and tackle
Jervonte Jackson are all in the running for the honor of being the
team’s best defensive player. Sincere is the best returning tackler and
all-around playmaker from the weakside able to get into the backfield
and drop into pass coverage with equal ease.
Key player to a
successful season:
Sophomore OT Lavoris
Williams. The Owl line is ridiculously small, by design, and its new
starting left tackle, Williams, pushes the limit at just 6-3 and 250
pounds. He’s replacing the decent Nello Faulk protecting the blind side,
and while he’s been good in practices, he has to shine against the
fearsome Middle Tennessee ends in the season opener or the offense will
sputter.
The season will be a
success if
... FAU wins the Sun Belt title. The defense is good enough, and the
offense will be just mediocre enough, to not shoot for anything less.
The schedule, especially late, won’t provide too much help playing
defending Sun Belt co-champion Troy on the road, but a team good enough
to win the conference title should come away with a win.
Key game:
Sept. 1 vs. Middle
Tennessee. This would be the tone-setter. The Owls were throttled 35-14
by the Blue Raiders last season, but this is a far different team now.
If the defense can generate a consistent pass rush, and the offense can
hold up against the fearsome defensive front, FAU should establish
itself as the lead dog in the race.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Third Quarter Scoring: Opponents 75 – Florida Atlantic 15
- Average attendance per game: On the road 39,645 – At home 9,276
- Average yards per carry: Opponents 4.9 – Florida Atlantic 2.9