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Friday Prior to Second Scrimmage
4/1/2022 1:19:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Owls returned to the practice field on Friday morning and went through their paces without pads. All this work is done in an effort to get better, be consistent and prepare for Saturday's scrimmage.
The drills were geared toward competition. The defense kept the pressure on the offense throughout practice with several players drawing praise from teammates and coaches. Je'Quan Burton consistently came up with the big receptions, but it was Will Ford who had the offensive side of the field chanting his name and Tony Johnson who nabbed the play of the day. Defensively, Marlon Bradley had his coach, Kevin Patrick, leaping into the air for a chest bump, following his big play of the day.
On this past week and preparing for tomorrow's scrimmage
"Wednesday was an okay practice, today we're looking to come out and be a heck of a lot better than what we were on Wednesday."
On finding the right combination for a starting offensive line:
"We have a lot of young guys that we're trying to develop. We're thinking they'll be really good football players, help our team, and a lot of competition is going on, which has been really good. There's been a lot of guys switching back and forth on the o-line, and for a lot of good reasons. There are guys having good days, there are guys having bad days, and we're trying to find the ones that can be consistent. Some guys have stepped up that have not played yet but have had a really good spring so far. I'm excited about that position group."
On who he wants to see improve over the next couple of weeks:
"I'm looking for all our guys to get better, for each guy at each one of their positions to get better than what they were on Wednesday. We're nowhere near where we need to be, but we all can get better, so we're looking for guys to continue to get better. For our players, I want to see guys improve from our last scrimmage. It's different when the coaches aren't out there and talking to you [coaches are on the field instructing in practice]. When you're out there and you have to play and you have to communicate, that's different. We need to see our guys go out and do that and do that at a higher level. Last week [scrimmage], it wasn't as sharp as we wanted it to be and this week. We're looking forward to being a lot better."
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando
On how the defense has done in practice:
"It's been good. I think collectively, the biggest thing for us is to make sure that we play united. We do things together. We care about and love each other, because to me, that's way more important than scheme. It's a long way away from our first ballgame, but those are kind of the roots of the tree. The tree is the scheme, the roots and the foundation have to be about hardness, culture and accountability."
On how the young defensive backs have performed in practice:
"There's a handful of guys, not getting specific because I think they're all working really hard, but obviously from our standpoint, we have to get to at least four [quality players]. That's the biggest thing for us, because we can't go into a season feeling good about two guys, because eventually in that position, they're going to go through some growing pains. You could have some injuries, so those guys are doing a really good job. [Cornerbacks coach] Brandon [Harris] has been doing a great job with developing those guys and they're fighting and clawing. I think it'll be representative when you see the spring game. A lot of those guys are going to play, and we expect them to make plays."
Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon:
On redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Deshawn Richardson:
"He's done a really good job of coming in and going to work every day. He's a solid kid too. You notice him through the way that he plays the game every day. He does things the right way. We've got something on the offensive side of the ball, an old school leather toolbelt. We give it out to the guy every day that does the right things, that uses the most tools that his coaches teach him, and he's won it the most times. He does a good job of showing up and doing his job everyday."
On taking N'Kosi Perry in the spring game [yesterday's free agent pick]:
"It helps out. It also sends a message to him that I believe in him. I think it was more than just winning the game. I think it's more of a message that I wanted him to see out of me that I believe in him."
On pushing through the rest of the spring:
"Most teams in the country on a day like today are just kind of getting through. When you get to practice 10, practice 11, they're just trying to find ways to get through instead of getting better. That's been our challenge to our guys. We can't be like everybody else. We can't be average. We can't just show up to get through. We got to show up to get better."
On who has stood out in the spring:
"I'm going to give a shout out a little bit to our coaching staff. Our offensive coaches are probably the best crew I've ever been around. They bring it every day. There's a ton of knowledge in that room and they challenge our guys every day. With players, we just have to be more consistent. You can't show up one day and not show up the next day, just getting consistency out of everybody. Guys that are always ringing [are] Tony [Johnson] and LaJohntay Wester is right there with him, so those two guys playing the same position are really pushing each other."
Gallery: (4-1-2022) Spring Practice #11
The drills were geared toward competition. The defense kept the pressure on the offense throughout practice with several players drawing praise from teammates and coaches. Je'Quan Burton consistently came up with the big receptions, but it was Will Ford who had the offensive side of the field chanting his name and Tony Johnson who nabbed the play of the day. Defensively, Marlon Bradley had his coach, Kevin Patrick, leaping into the air for a chest bump, following his big play of the day.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Coach Willie TaggartOn this past week and preparing for tomorrow's scrimmage
"Wednesday was an okay practice, today we're looking to come out and be a heck of a lot better than what we were on Wednesday."
On finding the right combination for a starting offensive line:
"We have a lot of young guys that we're trying to develop. We're thinking they'll be really good football players, help our team, and a lot of competition is going on, which has been really good. There's been a lot of guys switching back and forth on the o-line, and for a lot of good reasons. There are guys having good days, there are guys having bad days, and we're trying to find the ones that can be consistent. Some guys have stepped up that have not played yet but have had a really good spring so far. I'm excited about that position group."
On who he wants to see improve over the next couple of weeks:
"I'm looking for all our guys to get better, for each guy at each one of their positions to get better than what they were on Wednesday. We're nowhere near where we need to be, but we all can get better, so we're looking for guys to continue to get better. For our players, I want to see guys improve from our last scrimmage. It's different when the coaches aren't out there and talking to you [coaches are on the field instructing in practice]. When you're out there and you have to play and you have to communicate, that's different. We need to see our guys go out and do that and do that at a higher level. Last week [scrimmage], it wasn't as sharp as we wanted it to be and this week. We're looking forward to being a lot better."
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando
On how the defense has done in practice:
"It's been good. I think collectively, the biggest thing for us is to make sure that we play united. We do things together. We care about and love each other, because to me, that's way more important than scheme. It's a long way away from our first ballgame, but those are kind of the roots of the tree. The tree is the scheme, the roots and the foundation have to be about hardness, culture and accountability."
On how the young defensive backs have performed in practice:
"There's a handful of guys, not getting specific because I think they're all working really hard, but obviously from our standpoint, we have to get to at least four [quality players]. That's the biggest thing for us, because we can't go into a season feeling good about two guys, because eventually in that position, they're going to go through some growing pains. You could have some injuries, so those guys are doing a really good job. [Cornerbacks coach] Brandon [Harris] has been doing a great job with developing those guys and they're fighting and clawing. I think it'll be representative when you see the spring game. A lot of those guys are going to play, and we expect them to make plays."
Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon:
On redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Deshawn Richardson:
"He's done a really good job of coming in and going to work every day. He's a solid kid too. You notice him through the way that he plays the game every day. He does things the right way. We've got something on the offensive side of the ball, an old school leather toolbelt. We give it out to the guy every day that does the right things, that uses the most tools that his coaches teach him, and he's won it the most times. He does a good job of showing up and doing his job everyday."
On taking N'Kosi Perry in the spring game [yesterday's free agent pick]:
"It helps out. It also sends a message to him that I believe in him. I think it was more than just winning the game. I think it's more of a message that I wanted him to see out of me that I believe in him."
On pushing through the rest of the spring:
"Most teams in the country on a day like today are just kind of getting through. When you get to practice 10, practice 11, they're just trying to find ways to get through instead of getting better. That's been our challenge to our guys. We can't be like everybody else. We can't be average. We can't just show up to get through. We got to show up to get better."
On who has stood out in the spring:
"I'm going to give a shout out a little bit to our coaching staff. Our offensive coaches are probably the best crew I've ever been around. They bring it every day. There's a ton of knowledge in that room and they challenge our guys every day. With players, we just have to be more consistent. You can't show up one day and not show up the next day, just getting consistency out of everybody. Guys that are always ringing [are] Tony [Johnson] and LaJohntay Wester is right there with him, so those two guys playing the same position are really pushing each other."
PRACTICE RECAP
VIEWS FROM PRACTICE
PLAY OF THE DAY
Tony Johnson catchWHAT'S NEXT
The Owls will play their 2022 Spring Game on Saturday, April 9 at 6 p.m. FAU will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, versus Charlotte at FAU Stadium.FOR SEASON TICKETS
To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE or HERE Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Players Mentioned
DE
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WR
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WR
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OL
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WR
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