Robison getting majority of reps
Kiffin says open competition remains at QB
BOCA RATON — FAU football coach Lane Kiffin maintains that there is still open competition for the Owls’ starting quarterback job between redshirt freshman Chris Robison, grad student Rafe Peavey and redshirt junior De’Andre Johnson.
Robison started against his former team, Oklahoma, on Saturday, but both Peavey and Johnson came on in relief later in the 63-14 rout at the hands of the then-No. 7 Sooners.
“That’s why we’ve played all three guys,” Kiffin said after Wednesday’s practice. “We don’t really know right now. It’s obviously really close or else we would have one guy or have it down to two.”
If first-team reps in practice are any indication, it may be Robison again who gets the nod when FAU hosts Air Force in the Owls’ home opener at 2 p.m. Saturday.
“Chris has gotten the majority of the reps all last week going into that game. It’s been the same way this week,” Kiffin said. “All three guys have practiced in there and done OK.”
Robison made his first career start on Saturday and finished 15 of 26 for 157 yards. The Owls offense could never really get going and fell behind quickly in a hostile environment against OU, a College Football Playoff semifinalist last season.
Late in the third quarter, Robison settled in to go 5 for 5 for 51 of his yards on his final drive, which resulted in FAU’s first score, a Devin “Motor” Singletary touchdown run. Peavey, an SMU transfer, entered on the ensuing possession, completed his first two passes and followed that up with an interception. Johnson orchestrated the Owls’ final 15-play drive last Saturday, went 1 for 3 throwing but ran nine times for 39 yards.
“We’ve got issues around them,” Kiffin said. “We’re not playing very well outside and a lot of mental mistakes out there. That makes it very hard for anybody to play quarterback.”
Keying in on tackling
After FAU’s defense allowed 650 yards of total offense – 316 rushing and 334 passing, many on plays which could’ve been contained had there not been a missed tackle – Kiffin noted tackling has been emphasized in practice this week.
“Heavy emphasis on tackling for two reasons – because of the performance and who we’re playing,” he said. “This is triple option football. These guys play as you would imagine. They play extremely hard in every phase of the game.”
In its opener against Football Championship Subdivision school Stony Brook, Air Force ran 77 times for 333 yards – compared to throwing just eight passes.
In addition to the physicality Air Force presents, FAU will have to be prepared mentally to stick to their assignments.
“We have to be really disciplined, gap scheme. If you’re out of the gap, they’re going to punish you,” senior Hunter Snyder said.