Opponent Profile: Florida Atlantic Owls
by Peter Bean on Aug 24, 2008 5:55 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintThe first look at the Longhorns' game week opponent. Yes.. it's game week. Hallelujah.
2007 Season Cap
2007 Record: 8-5 (6-1 - Sun Belt Champs)
2007 Road Record: 4-3
2007 vs Winning: 2-4
2007 vs. Ranked: 0-1
2007 Bowl: New Orleans Bowl vs. Memphis (W, 44-27)
Last year vs TX: N/A
All-Time vs. TX: First Meeting
2007 Key Stats
OFFENSE
Yards/Play, Offense: 5.6 (#43, nationally)
Scoring Offense/Game: 31.2 (42)
Rush Yards/Att: 3.52 (89)
Pass Yards/Att: 7.5 (27)
3rd Downs Conv-Att: 79-202-39.1% (66)
Red Zone Scores-Chances: 53/59 (38 TD / 15 FG)
Turnovers lost: 15 (7)
DEFENSE
Yards/Play Defense: 5.5 (65)
Scoring Defense/Game 33.2 (98)
Rush Yards/Att: 4.72 (94)
Pass Yards/Att: 6.2 (25)
3rd Downs Conv-Att: 88-185-45.1% (102)
Red Zone Scores-Chances: 49-60 (33 TD / 16 FG)
Turnovers gained: 33 (8)
Turnover margin: +18 (3)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yards/Punt Return, FAU: 4.17 (117)
Yards/Punt Return, Opponent: 10.03 (80)
Yards/Kickoff Return, FAU: 22.2 (43)
Yards/Kickoff Return, Opponent: 23.1 (95)
FG Att-Made: 19-27
Personnel
Returning Starters: 18 (10 offense, 8 defense)
Best Player, Offense: Rusty Smith, QB (SBC POY, 3,688 yards, 59% completion, 32-9 TD-INT)
Best Wide Receiver: Cortez Gent (64 rec, 1082 yards, 16.9 avg, 9 TD)
Best Running Back: Charles Pierre (170 att, 821 yards, 4.6 avg, 7 TD)
Best Player, Defense: Frantz Joseph, LB (1st Team SBC, 131 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INT)
Best D-Lineman: Jervonte Jackson (2nd Team SBC)
Best Linebacker: Joseph
Best CB: Tavious Polo (1st Team SBC)
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For a while, I was thinking FAU might have a chance to make this a good game. Then I went back and looked at the box score for their game against Florida and watched some highlights of that game.
They might hang around for a half, but in the end y’all are going to hammer them. That is, of course, assuming you don’t pull another Arkansas State game again because if you do, they’ll beat you.
Those defensive stats were against these teams:
FAU 2007 resutls
Middle Tenn W 27-14
@ Oklahoma St L 42-6
Minnesota W 42-39
@ No Texas W 30-20
@ Kentucky L 45-17
South Florida L 35-23
@t UL Laf. W 39-32 OT
UL Mon L 33-30 3OT
Arkansas St W 34-31
@ Florida L 59-20
@FIU W 55-23
@ Troy W 38-32
New Orleans Bowl
Memphis W 44-27
Only one of these were ranked when they played FAU.
So, while Schnellenberger ballyhoos his defense, that appears to be his weakest link except for perhaps the punting game, which last year was one of the worst in the nation, both in punting (112) and punt returns (117).
So, I would expect the Horns to mount a hell of a punt rush until FAU proves they can get it off. Same with returns; great coverage could get some TOs.
The 2007 FAU turnover margin was +18. That’s impressive, but that was last year.
FAU to be missing four starters Saturday
This is from longhornglory’s fanshot. Good find.
TE Jason Hamilton, out for season
C Nick Paris, out for game
OL Kevin Miller, out for game
DE. Robt. St. Clair, out with knee surgery to remove cartilage.
The returning FAU lettermen are now split 7-7. And I’m sure the QB should have a few more concerns about the Texas rush. As the experienced center, Paris handled the calls for the OL and I suspect that will not be so easily replaced
They're no UCF....
Florida Atlantic lost to Florida last year (yes, I know it was last season) by the score of 20-59.
They lost to Kentucky 17-45.
They lost to OU-Lite by the score of 6-42.
I’m sorry, this squad just doesn’t have what it takes to play upset to a marquee BCS Conference opponent. In our house, we have to beat these guys by 30+ or our problems are far greater than I anticipated.
--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---
Fau...
FAU is one of those teams that is propped up higher than they really are. I can assure you, that FAU will not be able to pass that well against us….Remember what the Texas D did to Arizona State, and specifically Rudy Carpenter when they were trash talking to us before the holiday bowl….
We came out of that game with like 8 sacks, and we actually sprained Rudy Carpenters ankle… Shellenberger better watch his beloved Quarterback…
Sacks in ASU game
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the pass rush against ASU. Last year they gave up a team record and PAC-10 leading 55 sacks. Playing in a conference not know for great defenses.
by Horncasting on Aug 25, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
fair enough, but...
it’s not like the Sun Belt is known for it’s tough defenses either, so I would certainly take FAU’s offensive prowess with a grain of salt. The Horns will be looking to make a statement, what with Schnellenberger’s bs and their own “underdog” status looming large. FAU’s o-line troubles will only make things easier.
You can do anything
with comparative scores, but this is reasonably revealing (regular season only):
FAU’s 2007 schedule, with opponent’s record
Middle Tenn W 27-14 5-7
@ Oklahoma St L 42-6 6-6
Minnesota W 42-39 1-11
@ No Texas W 30-20 2-10
@ Kentucky L 45-17 7-5
South Florida L 35-23 9-3
@t UL Laf. W 39-32 OT 3-9
UL Mon L 33-30 3OT 6-6
Arkansas St W 34-31 5-7
@ Florida L 59-20 9-3
@FIU W 55-23 1-11
@ Troy W 38-32 8-4
Best win: at Troy. Nice try: Kentucky.
Other than Troy, the 6 regular-season wins were over teams that went 1-11, 1-11, 2-10, 3-9, 5-7, 5-7. Bowl opponent Memphis was 7-5 and LOST to Middle Tenn. and Arky St.
i think you slipped up..
..your schedule says they beat arkie st.
by vy til i die on Aug 25, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions
the part he slipped up.
..was when he wrote
and LOST to Middle Tenn. and Arky St
by vy til i die on Aug 27, 2008 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Ack. Didn't even notice that, caps notwithstanding.
There’s flies in my eyes.
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