[MyTurn2Raise]

OK....all this Kansas State-Florida Atlantic talk got me to do something I highly doubted I would do....I cracked out the DVR recording of Clemson-Florida Atlantic from this past week and watched it.

OMG....cliff notes: Clemson was very unimpressive and still beat Florida Atlantic 54-6 despite 4 really bad turnovers and a few missed kicks

Florida Atlantic was the worst team I saw all weekend...that includes 1-AA Montana and Eastern Illinois.

Florida Atlantic is possibly the WORST TEAM IN DIVISION 1-A football

let me start with the positives I saw for FAU:
-the o-line did a pretty good job of pass protection against a relatively bland pass rush from Clemson
-the d-line did a good job of not allowing Clemson a surge on straight-ahead run plays (the run to give Clemson 31 was one of the few exceptions). The great majority of rush yards for Clemson came from misdirections and beating FAU to the outside.

Now, the negatives (there are alot):
-FAU had absolutely no chance at rushing. O-line surge was nonexistent. The rbs had nowhere near enough speed to ever get to the outside for + yards. Rushing game nonexistent.
-Even though the o-line gave protection, both QBs for FAU are gawdamned awful. They were making bad reads and throwing the ball off-target to those reads. I'm not sure what either one was looking at the entire game. This was more than 'deer in headlights.' This was more than bad coaching and preparation. This was total lack of talent for the major collegiate level.
-FAU receivers did not have the play making ability to overcome those handicaps of no rushing attack and bad QBs.
-the coaching was completely uninspired in preparation and initial attack. It wasn't until about the 7 minute mark of the 2nd quarter that the FAU offensive scheme showed signs of creativity and potential to score. Until then, the scheme and plays where just awful (this is not something I insult very often). Schnellenberger must've thought he was back at OU and could just line them up and call off-tackle left and right and put up 50 against Big 8 cannon fodder. I try to give him credit for finally adjusting his playcalling (by moving the QBs around, some misdirection to the running---basically, stuff to slow the Clemson d-line surge), but the only reason the adjustment looked good was because the original scheme was so bad.
-FAU's defense cannot get off a block ever. They are an offensive coordinator's chalkboard dream. Every guy gets blocked by the assignment as though they were intentionally running into the blocker. It was amazing. No one had the skill, strength, or whatever to get off the initial blocks. Pulling guards and tackles created the overloads of blocking that wakes up o-line coaches from their wet dreams.
-FAU lacked any element of skill and talent on defense. Their speed was atrocious. They could not cover one WR for more than 2.5 seconds. They could not catch up to any run to the outside. Pathetic.
-This lack of speed carried over to special teams. If you get a chance, try to find the video of Clemson's 92-yard punt return for a td to make it 47-6. The punt returner muffed the ball and picked it up about 15 yards from where he initially made contact. There was still only one FAU player near him. The returner finds the gap and, then, it was like watching a man blow by 5-year olds in a sprint.
-Finally, FAU's physical appearance portrayed a very negative mental image. I hate this kind of stuff, but the way shoulders were slumped and the lack of any swagger was noticeable.


I hate to be against a bet based on only one team, as the bet is, obviously, the comparative merits of two teams. So, while I cannot say that I am against this bet, I can say that Florida Atlantic is, in all likelihood, significantly worse than Illinois State. I cannot get myself to bet on this one.