Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Don’t count Parr out of competition at QB
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic quarterback Daniel Parr had an opportunity to impress Owls coaches Thursday morning when Jason Driskel missed practice becasue he had an exam. Parr was bumped up to the second team in Driskel’s absence.
“I thought Parr did some really good things today,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said.
Parr has been an afterthought to the ongoing quarterback competition between Driskel and junior college transfer De’Andre Johnson. The Dwyer graduate missed all of spring with a foot injury and entered preseason camp third on the depth chart.
On Thursday morning, Kiffin did not proclaim the quarterback battle a threeman race, but instead said that “everything’s open.” Driskel and Johnson have been alternating practices commanding the first-team offense.
“We’re always evaluating everybody,” Kiffin said. “That’s why we do all these reps at the two-spot. We’ll always evaluate guys. He’s done a good job. We actually brought him up the other day for a period here and there. It’s good to see, it creates competition.
“Best players will play, no matter how many stars you are or where you’re from or what year you are. We’re here to win and I think the players understand that.”
Last season, Parr lost the competition to Driskel during preseason camp. He played in nine games, started one (at Rice) and finished the season with 106 passing yards and two interceptions.
Driskel started 11 games for FAU last season as the Owls went 3-9. Johnson threw for 26 touchdowns and six interceptions at East Mississippi Community College in 2016.
Hardesty arrives
Kiffin announced the hiring of former Tennessee running back Montario
Hardesty on Thursday morning, saying Hardesty would work in FAU’s weight room. Kiffin coached for one season at Tennessee in 2009.
Kiffin first mentioned Hardesty on Twitter on Wednesday night, tweeting: “New Owl landing tonight. Tennessee Vol Great, Montario Hardesty! Welcome to the family! #GoOwls #Vol4life.”
Hardesty had been working at Norfolk State as a running backs coach and special teams coordinator.
“He was always the first guy in, last to leave,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin still was not pleased with his offense Thursday morning. On Wednesday, he said the unit was behind its standards because of poor decisionmaking.
“We got to get a different mentality on offense,” Kiffin said. “Whenever one side is good, it’s a good thing, you’re pleased with that. The other side, we need some work on.”
Kiffin said the offensive mentality needed to be “fast, physical and finish.”
“We’re not getting that physical aspect right now, even though we’re not tackling. Just too many negative plays,” Kiffin said. “We want to be an explosive offense. We are making some big plays, but at the same time, there’s too many negative plays.”
In the spring, FAU sometimes substituted a third linebacker for its nickelback to better match up with power run teams. It appears
the Owls will try to use an extra defensive lineman instead of linebacker in a substitution package.
Anthony Bennett is one of a handful of Owls ends who have become stand-up rushers off the edge. Kiffin said the position is not unlike a “Sam,” or strong-side, linebacker.
“There’s not a lot of difference between open-side defensive end and outside Sam linebacker,” Kiffin said. “Basically, if you play a 3-4, sometimes they play the same position. He is in that mold.”
Kiffin said the Owls would prepare explicitly for Navy for six practices, two more than a normal game week. FAU opens its season against the Midshipmen on Sept. 1.