Just like we did last year, we’ll be providing a preview of Ohio State’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s a twelve game slate, so it’ll be done as a series with each piece running on Mondays.
So, if you want to impress your friends while watching the game, we’ve got your cheat code right here.
Ohio State’s first game this year is against the team Lane Kiffin now wears the headset for, the Florida Atlantic Owls of Conference USA. Here’s all you need to know about the team from Boca Raton, FL.
FAU Record
(0-0); It’s the first game!
All-Time Vitals
Record: 92-126-0, No. 120 All-Time
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 2, No. 103 All-Time
Bowl Games: 3, No. 114 All-Time
Bowl Record: 3-0
Consensus All-Americans: None
Heisman Winners: None
NFL Draft Picks: 7, No. 122 All-Time
Best All-Time Season
2017 – There’s really not a whole lot to choose from when the program has only been playing football since 2001 and has gone to just three bowl games. But if we’re mining for a fabulous season, head coach Lane Kiffin’s first year seems to be it.
Things started slowly out of the gate with three non-conference losses, but then the Owls ran through Conference USA undefeated, winning the East Division and the conference title. Last year was a bit of a disappointment, but the 2017 year was one that could provide a good foundation and build for the future.
Best Player Of All-Time
D’Joun Smith, CB (2011-2014) – Not to beat the same drum, but being that FAU is a relatively new, non-Power Five program, the list of high-end players is slim. That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been entertaining football, there’s just not much of a pedigree there.
The player that stands out more than any other is Smith. He played as a freshman, grabbed the starting role as a sophomore and tallied a whopping nine-interceptions during his time in Boca Raton. At 5-11, 190 lbs., Smith was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He never really made an impression and spent a year with them, then Tennessee before he was out of the league after just two-years.
Next … Head coach, offensive and defensive style
Current Head Coach
Lane Kiffin, 16-10 at FAU, 51-31 overall with the head coaching gig at Tennessee (sort of) and USC prior.
Offensive Style
As you would expect with a non-Power Five team looking to create an equal playing field, the spread attack is used in full force. Lane Kiffin has morphed his offensive attack just a bit from more of a pro-style to one that spreads players all over the field and tries to get players in space to make plays. He uses up-tempo to try and get a high volume of chances.
While that scheme came from the team’s first offensive-coordinator Kendal Briles, that ultra-up-tempo offense has remained and is still in effect today with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. Ohio State will need to tackle in space, cover the tight-end that’s used often, and play sound gap defense.
Defensive Style
FAU has a new defensive coordinator this year, former Charlotte and Oklahoma State defensive-coordinator Glenn Spencer. Spencer is still in the process of overhauling an Owl defense that struggled mightily at times last year. The philosophy is a varied one that switches between man-to-man, zone and combo coverages, but is an attacking one that will take away lanes and brings bodies forward to stop the run as a priority.
It’ll also be a little different trying to pick up blocks because FAU will switch between three and four down-lineman. The personnel is obviously not what Ohio State will see against the bigger brand-name teams going forward, but it’ll be important to recognize and diagnose what the offense is going against, get in the right play, and execute.
Next … Best players on offense and defense, how FAU wins
Best Player On Offense
Harrison Bryant, TE — Kiffin’s offense loves to use the tight end, and they have a good one in Bryant. He’s coming off year in which he caught 45 passes for 662 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2018, and he’ll more than likely be the main target in a hurried offense in 2019. The 6-5, 240 pounder will look to get a mismatch on a linebacker, find some space and make the must-have plays.
Best Player On Defense
Rashad Smith, LB — He’s undersized at 6-1, 215 lbs., but he’s a gamer who uses his athleticism to get his nose dirty in the running game. He’s adept at slipping through would-be blocks and using angles and quickness to get into the mix. He’ll be used in support against the run more often than not, but he’ll also drop back and cover through multiple fronts. He balled out in 2017 with 99 tackles and six sacks, and followed up with 86 tackles and four interceptions last year.
FAU can win the game If …
…the the defense can make life difficult on new quarterback Justin Fields and force turnovers.
Even if the varied looks pose an issue in recognition for Fields under center, Ohio State can still get chunk plays by using its superior athleticism and size. But, if there’s enough going on in the secondary, and with blitzes from different angles, it could force Fields into mistakes. FAU might then be able to generate more scoring chances and make this think tight. The longer the Fighting Lane Kiffin’s hang around, the more and more things could go get scary.
