Owls hoping they’ll regroup after week off
BOCA RATON — The bye week is usually a time for injured players to heal and coaches to re-think their offensive and defensive schemes, make play-calling adjustments and take stock of the season.
For Florida Atlantic (1-6), the 2016 campaign has been a series of streaks going in the wrong direction.
Six straight losses and the only team in Conference USA without a win has marred a season once filled with high hopes.
Coach Charlie Partridge has stayed the course, still preaching positives and keeping the Owls both hopeful and motivated as the losses, mostly occurring at the end of games, keep mounting.
“This week, it’s about us continuing to play with passion,” Partridge said. “Play for each other, keep fighting to play better and facing the challenges that Western Kentucky presents.”
Partridge said he spent the off week watching film. He and his assistants also had an opportunity to check out potential talent around the state who could be part of FAU’s future.
“We d o s c o u t i n g a n d recruiting and a lot of developmental focus during the week,” Partridge said. “We also were working on healing some guys banged up from the first half of the season and give some players some needed rest.
“We want our guys to play in a better clip for the last four games. I’m still happy with the way they come to work.”
One pattern has been for the Owls to begin games with early scores and half-time leads, then dramatically fade on both sides of the ball in the third and fourth quarters.
“I attribute (that fall-off ) to execution at that point,” Partridge said. “We need to be more consistent where we are mature enough and can play four-quarter football.”
Sustaining long scoring drive s has been another Achilles heel for the Owls’ n o - h u d d l e , f a s t - t e m p o offense.
“We need to take advantage of third and long situations and take advantage when we’re ahead of the chains,” Partridge said.
Many of Florida Atlantic’s key starters are young and rookie miscues have been clearly evident all season. Learning to play better in the trenches should produce positive outcomes.
“As you get older, you can sustain what you do throughout an entire game,” Partridge said. “We field six first- or second-year players on defense and have had seven different offensive line lineups.”
Quarterback Jason Driskel has shown flashes of brilliance mixed in with occasional lapses in the passing game.
“Jason’s decision-making has been pretty good. His accurac y throwing down the field could be improved but he’s constantly working on getting better,” Partridge said.
Wholesale changes are not in the cards — for now.
“We haven’t changed the playbook and will continue to make adjustments based on what we’ve seen,” Partridge said. “There’s a lot to be proud of. It’s about how close we’ve been and how young we are.”