A look at Florida Atlantic

[catsfan20012002]

The Owls return 42 lettermen and 17 starters. QB Sean Clayton threw for 112 yards vs. Clemson. They also put in Rusty Smith who threw for 104 yards. Their leading rusher was Charles Pierre, uh oh.....Another RB named Pierre, with 31 yards on 8 carries (that's a healthy 3.9 yards/carry average). They had 11 receivers catch passes vs. Clemson.

We better be able to put up some "impressive" numbers vs. a defense that only had 6 sacks last season. Clemson had a very balanced attack of 173 yards passing and 199 yards rushing. Meier played pretty well except for his INT's. We should, I'm crossing my fingers, be able to find our running game this week (especially with the return of Thomas Clayton) and I'd really like to see Jermaine Moreira get more involved with the offense.

Of course we need to block better up front. There's no doubt we're gonna get in the end zone a few times this week.

[AzCat]

Meier played pretty well except for his INT's.

WTF game were you watching?  When he wasn't throwing it into the turf Meier was locking onto the receiver at the snap and/or throwing (or attempting to throw) into multiple coverage.  His passes had no velocity at all, it seems clear that he's not recovered from his shoulder surgery.  Against any Big XII defense he'd have thrown a half-dozen or more picks.   

[catsfan20012002]

When he wasn't throwing it into the turf

He was still 15-26 (58%) and he wouldn't have been throwing it into the turf if he had time to get his feet set back there before someone was drapped all over him. And how many times did he complete a pass with someone dragging him down?

[PoetWarrior]

Meier killed at least 5 drives all by himself.

2 INTs, at least 3 other errant throws on third down to open receivers.

[AzCat]

It may be a sad statement but the pass blocking actually looked a little better Saturday than it has the last few years, particularly in the first half.  Meier usually wasn't being hurried when he was slinging the ball into the turf nor were most of those particularly high degree of difficulty attempts, he's just very inconsistent right now.  As for the completion percentage, you have to give it up for the receivers who I didn't see drop a catchable ball all night.  If the receivers were as bad Saturday as they've been the last few years Meier's completion percentage would be sub-40% and you'd be bitching about him rather than swinging from his nutsack.

[catsfan20012002]

Today on Cold Pizza during their "Double Reverse" segment they gave the "Worst Strategy of the Weekend" award to FAU. Against Clemson they were only down 10-0 and were moving the ball when they decided to do a Hook-And-Ladder which was fumbled and Clemson recovered. Three players later.....TD Clemson, the score goes to 17-0 and it's "Game, Set and Match". Looks like we're gonna have to keep our eyes open for the funny stuff this week.

[catsfan20012002]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/15465563.htm

Three things about Florida Atlantic

1. Junior Sean Clayton gets the start at QB. He replaced starter Rusty Smith against Clemson. Clayton, a Michigan State transfer in 2004, completed 11 of 22 passes for 112 yards with no touchdowns and one interception last week.

2. The Owls went three and out during six of 15 drives against Clemson. Both of their scores came on third-quarter field goals.

3. Linebacker Cergile Sincere, who had 10 tackles last week, worries K-State coach Ron Prince. “He’s all over the place, all over the field making plays,” Prince said.

[catsfan20012002]

http://catzone.cjonline.com/stories/090806/cat_ksunotes.shtml

FAU has a dangerous tight end in Jamari Grant, a 6-5, 210-pound redshirt freshman who caught two passes for 26 yards at Clemson.

[Saulbadguy]

OWLPAK

[catsfan20012002]

I feel much better this week then I did last week.

Special Teams continue to be just that.....Special. Justin McKinney returned the opening kickoff for a TD. This was the first time a Wildcat has returned an opening kickoff for a TD since Red Elder did it vs. Oklahoma in 1936 (I remember it like it was yesterday. Just kidding.). I guess the only disappointment I can think of is Jeff Snodgrass missing 2 FG's.

Meier had another nice game and didn't throw any INT's. He was 10-20 for 126 yards and two TD's. He also took many, I couldn't tell you how many, shots and kept getting up. To me that means more then his numbers.

The return of Thomas Clayton (91 yards on 16 carries and a TD) helped the running game. Terry Petrie also had a TD.

It was good to get the WR's involved in the offense a bit more this week. Jermaine Moreira, Daniel Gonzalez and Yamon Figurs (reverse) all got into the end zone this week. The TE's continue to be a featured part of the offense. Rashaad Norwood had 3 catches for 40 yards.

We continue to be virtually penalty free. We only had 5 penalties for 55 yards yesterday.

The defense held the Owls to 189 total yards (141 passing and 48 rushing). The Owls were 2-15 (13%) on 3rd down and 3-7 (43%) on 4th down.