O-line responds to Kiffin’s challenge
BOCA RATON — The Florida Atlantic offensive line knew it was serious once coach Lane Kiffin stepped in.
The linemen had grown accustomed to position coach Garin Justice scolding them, but it was a bit different hearing it from Kiffin. At that moment, they knew things had to change.
After being called out by Kiffin last week, the offensive line responded by helping produce the best rushing performance in school history.
“Any time the head coach says something, you’ve got to listen,” junior tackle Reggie Bain said. “If he’s coming at you personally, I take it personal. We took it personal. We had to show that we could handle it.”
Behind a motivated line, the Owls ran for 439 yards on 58 carries last week against Bethune-Cookman. Running backs Gregory Howell Jr. and Devin “Motor” Singletary both topped the 100-yard mark. It was a contrast from when the Owls struggled up front in losses to Navy and Wisconsin to start the season.
Kiffin felt it was necessary to alert the offensive line it wasn’t playing up to standards, giving the players “a lot of heat” last week during practice.
“We just challenged them a lot and said we were going to run the ball a lot this game,” Kiffin said. “We expected them to play better, finish blocks longer and have a more physical mentality of what they put on tape.”
Added center Antonyo Woods: “He did challenge us. For us to win the game, it was going to be on us, and we responded well. When the head coach calls us out, it’s not a good thing … We just have to keep improving.”
The Owls averaged just 2.4 yards a carry in the first two games but not all of it was pinned on the offensive line. Howell said the backfield took some of the blame because they were still adjusting to the scheme. This is Kiffin and his staff’s first season in charge of the program, so there has been a learning curve.
“Honestly, they did a very good job from the start,” Howell said of the offensive line. “It was more about little details from the running back room, stuff we missed with the seams and stuff like that … We were just not mentally sound.”
Still, Kiffin felt most of the issues were up front. He said the offensive line wasn’t being as physical. The message was heard clearly, and the Owls hope it carries over into Saturday’s game at Buffalo. It is the final game before they enter Conference USA play next week against Middle Tennessee State at FAU Stadium.
For the Owls’ offensive line, playing more physical was simple as learning it is better to dish out than be on the receiving end of punishment.
“Physicality is a breaking point for a person,” Woods said. “Sooner or later, no matter who they are -- high school, little league — there’s going to come a point in time where they’re going to realize they don’t want to get hurt. They got to do the hitting than take the hits. When that person figures it out, it will change your whole mindset.”
srichardson@ sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @shandelrich