Florida Atlantic Owls Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds
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2010 Record: 4-8 Sun Belt Record: 3-5 (T-6th) 2011 Returning Starters: 15; 7 offense, 7 defense, punter
Coach: Howard Schnellenberger, 57-63 (10 years)
Offensive Coordinators: Darryl Jackson Defensive Coordinators: Kurt Van Valkenburgh
2011 Florida Atlantic Players to Watch: RB Alfred Moms, WR DeAndre Richardson, LT Sam McRoy, DE Kevin Cyrille, LB Cory Henry, LB Yourhighness Morgan, FS Marcus Bartels, P Mickey Groody
2011 Florida Atlantic Strengths:
Morris is an all-conference candidate, and he will be running behind a veteran offensive line. The new 3-4 front seemed to liven up the defense in the spring, making the linebackers particularly happy.
2011 Florida Atlantic Weaknesses:
Quarterback remains an issue still to be settled going into the fall. The top pass catchers from last year (WR Lester Jean with 64 catches, TE Rob Housler with 39) also must be replaced. Cornerback is an area of concern.
2011 Florida Atlantic Offense:
In mid-October against Western Kentucky, the Owls are scheduled to play their first game in their new $70 million on-campus stadium with a tropical theme. The question is whether any quarterback can put points on its scoreboard. Last season, the Owls scored more than 17 points only twice after the opener and finished last in the Sun Belt Conference in yardage. Now Jeff Van Camp’s departure has opened the competition to a pair of tall juniors, Graham Wilbert and David Kooi, who have combined for 13 passes at the collegiate level. Wilbert had gained an advantage before injuring his throwing hand in the spring game. Neither quarterback will get the benefit of proven targets, now that receiver Lester Jean and Rob Housler are gone. DeAndre Richardson, who started three games as a redshirt freshman, is suddenly the dean of the group. That will put more of a burden on the offensive line, which returns the five starters who replaced the departed five last season. That front must create more holes for Alfred Morris, a physical back who had only three 100-yard games after hitting the century mark seven times in 2009.
2011 Florida Atlantic Defense:
In its first season under coordinator Kirk Van Valkenburgh, this unit improved from atrocious to merely mediocre, allowing 401.3 yards per game rather than 453.2. Now he’s installed a 3-4 defense to compete with all the spread offenses in the Sun Belt, while targeting the area’s abundant linebacker talent in recruiting. For this season, he’ll be heavily reliant upon the development of Yourhighness Morgan on the outside and the steadiness of David Hinds in the middle. There’s some experience in the secondary, with safety Marcus Bartels, the team’s leading returning tackler who had two interceptions in the upset of FIU, and cornerbacks Keith Reaser and Treon Howard, who received considerable playing time in 2010. One of the players responsible for the improved pass rush, Kevin Cyrille, returns on the defensive line, which should be a team strength. The issue is whether the Owls can stop the run, and much will depend on whether Jarvis Givens can hold up at nose tackle. FAU allowed 203.6 yards per game, on a 4.6 per-carry average.
2011 Florida Atlantic Special Teams:
Senior Mickey Groody is an all-conference punter who averaged an eye-popping 45.7 yards per attempt in 2010, fifth-best in the country. With the loss of Ross Gornall, the kicking job likely will go to junior Vinny Zaccario, who was 6 of 8 on field goal attempts for Memphis in 2008 before transferring. Sophomore Travis Jones (8.5-yards on punts) and senior Willie Floyd (21.7 on kickoffs) are the primary returners.
| 2011 Florida Atlantic Football Schedule | Florida Atlantic Football Sportsbooks |
2011 Florida Atlantic Predictions:
After a recent decline, there is hope again for the FAU program, as Howard Schnellenberger’s dream of a stadium comes true in his 11th season. Eventually, some high-level recruits might come from a talent-rich region, as Schnellenberger expects, but the current team is too short on offensive talent to compete for a conference title. Nor is a winning record likely, with a five-game road slate to the start the season that includes trips to Gainesville, East Lansing and Auburn. Barring another surprise win against local rival FIU, or unexpected construction delays, the Oct. 15th stadium opening will likely serve as the season highlight.
2011 Florida Atlantic Betting Odds:
Florida Atlantic Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000
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