FAU preview

There isn't much to say here other than the worst team in the nation comes to JHS at the best possible time. AU needs a game to recoup and learn who they are and learn how badly they want to be a decent team this year. All the pieces are there, except experience.

I practice anesthesia and I relate this young team to my training early in my career. I can read all about providing anesthesia to patients in books and watch film on it and go to seminars and watch others do it, but until I actually get in the OR and do a case, I am not going to be very good. Even after doing many cases for many weeks or months, I'm still not going to be very good until I have done it over and over and over. It takes time and being placed in various situations to be able to predict what's likely going to happen and then how to respond. After doing this for many years, I know (most of the time) what to look for and how to respond to any situation. In a sense, that is what this team is, especially on defense. They have played three games together and are still learning how to respond and play. Until they get more reps, the players may get confused and their reaction time will be slower thus bad angles, poor coverage, etc. This doesn't even take into consider the multiple looks that an offense may run.

The point of my rant is to give it time. I believe we will see this young team play better and better and be pretty good by the end of the year. They will not quit and that is what I like about them and this coaching staff. Now, this does not excuse the poor tackling that they have exhibited so that should have been and needs to be corrected immediately if this team is going to succeed.

As far as the game goes, AU will score at will and have no problem beating FAU. What I want to see is if AU can consistently force FAU to punt and put pressure on the QB and stop the run. 3rd down conversions have to improve! I know it won't tell us much because of how bad FAU is, but if AU cannot do this consistently against FAU, there is no way they can against any other team, much less the brutal SEC schedule that is coming.

Prediction: AU 56 FAU 16