Coach confident offense will improve

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin has an extensive background as an offensive coordinator.

He’s held the position at high-profile schools Alabama and USC. With that said, he has no plans to interfere with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, despite the struggles.

“No. No. I have a lot of confidence in Kendal and our offensive staff,” Kiffin said. “He has been doing this for a while and is really good at it.”

Briles is no stranger to the role, either. He was Baylor’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last year before joining Kiffin. The process has just taken longer than expected at FAU. The Owls rank eighth in passing yards in Conference USA with 758 yards a game. They are also fourth in sacks allowed (10) and average just 6.7 yards per completion, which is ninth in the league.

Last week quarterback Jason Driskel, who replaced starter Daniel Parr, completed 17 of 29 passes for 150 yards and threw an interception, but Kiffin still isn’t too confident in the passing game.

“I felt like every time we passed there was a chance something bad was going to happen,” Kiffin said. “We were getting sacked or we threw an interception or an incompletion.”

While the running game has flourished, Kiffin thinks the passing game has been uneven because players are still adjusting. Several of their receiving playmakers, including John Franklin III, have been in the system for a little more than a month.

Receiver Kamrin Solomon, who is expected to be the Owls’ top target, is slowly working his way back after missing the two games due to suspension.

“Sometimes things take time,” Kiffin said. “New receivers coming in during camp. Kam’s second game back. So, I think we will improve.”

Shandel Richardson