keep an eye on this total to play the Under 54? -110
both defenses are well ahead of the offenses for their teams at this time...plus some improvement will be needed at the QB position.
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FAU defense dominates in scrimmage
FAU's defense made it a sweep of pre-season scrimmages, dominating the injury-plagued offense at Saturday's FanFest.
"The defense was again more than enough for the offense," coach Howard Schnellenberger said.
Schnellenberger promoted linebacker coach Kurt Van Valkenburgh to defensive coordinator at the end of last season, and the offense has noticed the change.
"They are going to be a great defense. Coach Van has turned them loose," said quarterback Jeff Van Camp, who was 12-of-22 for 142 yards and one interception.
"There is progress, but we can be a lot better," Van Valkenburgh said. "We have so much more ability that we are getting out of ourselves right now."
The defense had two interceptions and five sacks while giving up a touchdown and two field goals. "We took some strides, but we are not there yet," said defensive lineman Dino Cox.
* The center position has become a major concern. Three centers were out of the scrimmage because of injuries, and Saturday's starter, Mike Nweze, was injured.
"It is tough to lose your starting center, and a little tougher to lose your next three," Schnellenberger said.
* Defensive top performers: Tavious Polos and Tony Rodriguez had interceptions and Jarvis Givens had three sacks.
* The leading rusher was Alfred Morris with 59 yards on six carries and the leading receiver was DeAndre Richardson with four catches for 38 yards.
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Notes from UAB's football Saturday scrimmage
UAB running backs Pat Shed and Daniel Borne each had a good day running the ball against the first team defense during Saturday's scrimmage at Legion Field.
Shed had 55 yards on 10 carries, with a long run of 18 yards, and caught a pass for 18 yards. Borne carried the ball just four times but gained 45 yards with a long run of 22 yards.
UAB safety Chase Daniel said Shed is especially worrisome to a defense.
"I had him in the open field a couple times today and he broke me down pretty good," Daniel said. "We just got to get him on the ground when we can. But, you know, he's on our side when it comes to the game so I hope he breaks it as long as he wants to."
Neither Shed nor Borne was the team leader in rushing yards. Greg Franklin, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound freshman from Marietta, Ga., grabbed that honor with 88 yards on 10 carries, including a 38-yard run and a 19-yard touchdown run. However, UAB head coach Neil Callaway pointed out that Franklin's production came against the No. 2 defense.
"He made some good runs but was very sloppy with the ball," Callaway said. "He's got to grow up and learn how to handle the ball."
*Callaway was disappointed with quarterbacks David Isabelle and Bryan Ellis, who were a combined 5-of-24 for 68 yards in the scrimmage.
"I thought the tempo (and) execution were kind of slow," Callaway said. "That was with both of them."
*First team offensive guards Chris Hubbard and Billy Autrey each limped off the field after the scrimmage.
Autrey appeared to hurt his knee and Hubbard hurt either a foot or an ankle.
*Quarterback Emmanuel Taylor, who hurt his shoulder in last week's scrimmage, didn't play on Saturday. Wide receiver Roddell Carter, who has missed a good portion of fall camp with an undisclosed injury, also missed the scrimmage.
*Sophomore kicker Josh Zahn hit a 50-yard field goal during Saturday's scrimmage but he also missed from 29 yards.
both defenses are well ahead of the offenses for their teams at this time...plus some improvement will be needed at the QB position.
__________________
FAU defense dominates in scrimmage
FAU's defense made it a sweep of pre-season scrimmages, dominating the injury-plagued offense at Saturday's FanFest.
"The defense was again more than enough for the offense," coach Howard Schnellenberger said.
Schnellenberger promoted linebacker coach Kurt Van Valkenburgh to defensive coordinator at the end of last season, and the offense has noticed the change.
"They are going to be a great defense. Coach Van has turned them loose," said quarterback Jeff Van Camp, who was 12-of-22 for 142 yards and one interception.
"There is progress, but we can be a lot better," Van Valkenburgh said. "We have so much more ability that we are getting out of ourselves right now."
The defense had two interceptions and five sacks while giving up a touchdown and two field goals. "We took some strides, but we are not there yet," said defensive lineman Dino Cox.
* The center position has become a major concern. Three centers were out of the scrimmage because of injuries, and Saturday's starter, Mike Nweze, was injured.
"It is tough to lose your starting center, and a little tougher to lose your next three," Schnellenberger said.
* Defensive top performers: Tavious Polos and Tony Rodriguez had interceptions and Jarvis Givens had three sacks.
* The leading rusher was Alfred Morris with 59 yards on six carries and the leading receiver was DeAndre Richardson with four catches for 38 yards.
__________________
Notes from UAB's football Saturday scrimmage
UAB running backs Pat Shed and Daniel Borne each had a good day running the ball against the first team defense during Saturday's scrimmage at Legion Field.
Shed had 55 yards on 10 carries, with a long run of 18 yards, and caught a pass for 18 yards. Borne carried the ball just four times but gained 45 yards with a long run of 22 yards.
UAB safety Chase Daniel said Shed is especially worrisome to a defense.
"I had him in the open field a couple times today and he broke me down pretty good," Daniel said. "We just got to get him on the ground when we can. But, you know, he's on our side when it comes to the game so I hope he breaks it as long as he wants to."
Neither Shed nor Borne was the team leader in rushing yards. Greg Franklin, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound freshman from Marietta, Ga., grabbed that honor with 88 yards on 10 carries, including a 38-yard run and a 19-yard touchdown run. However, UAB head coach Neil Callaway pointed out that Franklin's production came against the No. 2 defense.
"He made some good runs but was very sloppy with the ball," Callaway said. "He's got to grow up and learn how to handle the ball."
*Callaway was disappointed with quarterbacks David Isabelle and Bryan Ellis, who were a combined 5-of-24 for 68 yards in the scrimmage.
"I thought the tempo (and) execution were kind of slow," Callaway said. "That was with both of them."
*First team offensive guards Chris Hubbard and Billy Autrey each limped off the field after the scrimmage.
Autrey appeared to hurt his knee and Hubbard hurt either a foot or an ankle.
*Quarterback Emmanuel Taylor, who hurt his shoulder in last week's scrimmage, didn't play on Saturday. Wide receiver Roddell Carter, who has missed a good portion of fall camp with an undisclosed injury, also missed the scrimmage.
*Sophomore kicker Josh Zahn hit a 50-yard field goal during Saturday's scrimmage but he also missed from 29 yards.
