Why couldn't our defense shut FAU down? (Serious question)

[Griggsy]

Anyone have any analytical thoughts on the technical aspects of what happened?  This is what's nagging at me the most following the game. 

It seemed like every time their RBs touched the ball that they got 8 yards or more and consistently broke into the secondary.  Also, they had all day to throw. And I mean ALL DAY. And fortunately for them, their receivers have sticky fingers. Based on those two observations, my best guess is that our D-line was simply getting manhandled by the FAU O-line.

Our offensive inconsistency isn't really surprising anyone anymore, so my confidence has always reverted to our suffocating D. Now Im feeling a little, well, apprehensive. Had it been defensive mistakes, I could chalk it up to them just not really getting up for the game. But I fear that it was the quality of the FAU O-line that was causing our problems. And that concerns me.

Kudos to FAU for putting up the fight of their lives. 

Anyone have a different take?

[E.T.]

I think it was simply FAU came to play and DID outplay us at the LOS for most of the game.

Just disappointing play, in that we didn't dominate like you would expect.

Have confidence we'll get things moving on both sides of the ball.

We play up to the competition and unfortunately play down still 

Go BULLS !!!

[Who'sYourData?]

That was really an incredible performance by their WRs.  I don't remember them dropping a pass all day.  Our receivers could learn something from that. 

They played hard, and our defense wasn't fired up.  But they followed the Elon game plan.  Short drops, quick passes, take the 8 - 10 yard plays.  Normally that will lead to turnovers against our defense, but teams like WV think they are too good to follow that plan.  Sometimes simple is better.

One thing, though, they did seem rather large at the skill positions.  We seem to have more trouble with the big guys.

I thought our offense had maybe it's best performance, outside of the turnovers.  Gotta get that fixed.

[cmhatter]

they ran RIGHT AT US.... they wore down our d-line. The way to beat a defense who has speed is to run up the gut and smach it in their face.

[cmhatter]

That was really an incredible performance by their WRs.  I don't remember them dropping a pass all day.  Our receivers could learn something from that. 

They played hard, and our defense wasn't fired up.  But they followed the Elon game plan.  Short drops, quick passes, take the 8 - 10 yard plays.  Normally that will lead to turnovers against our defense, but teams like WV think they are too good to follow that plan.  Sometimes simple is better.

One thing, though, they did seem rather large at the skill positions.  We seem to have more trouble with the big guys.

I thought our offense had maybe it's best performance, outside of the turnovers.  Gotta get that fixed.

their WR's and backs dropped a bunch of balls.

[Velcro]

That was really an incredible performance by their WRs.  I don't remember them dropping a pass all day.  Our receivers could learn something from that. 

They played hard, and our defense wasn't fired up.  But they followed the Elon game plan.  Short drops, quick passes, take the 8 - 10 yard plays.  Normally that will lead to turnovers against our defense, but teams like WV think they are too good to follow that plan.  Sometimes simple is better.

One thing, though, they did seem rather large at the skill positions.  We seem to have more trouble with the big guys.

I thought our offense had maybe it's best performance, outside of the turnovers.  Gotta get that fixed.

their WR's and backs dropped a bunch of balls.

Its true.  They did drop some wide open passes.  It could have MUCH more ugly than it was.

[Who'sYourData?]

Let's not forget that Selvie missed much of the game due to injury.  That certainly didn't help our defense.

Ok, so maybe they dropped some, but they also made some unbelievable catches.

[bulls96go]

our defense seemed to overrun the play and lose contain

when is C robinson going to be back?

in wvu game we were focused and deciplined 90% of the time

this game 60%, and they had a good gameplan

[dabull80]

Lets give FAU some credit.  Great gme plan - lots of short quick passes negated our pass rush, these are the same guys that put up 40+ On Minn of the Big 10.  They where pumped from the beginning and it showed.  Be glad we got the W - that other directional school lost to Stanford at home  WOW !

[Griggsy]

I particularly agree w/ the observations that:

-They ran it RIGHT at us (which ties into our blockers 'overshooting' the tackles). It negates our speed and exposes our (relatively) small defensive size.

-Short, simple passes reminiscent of the Elon game. Felt like we were getting picked apart all over again.

Hope there aren't any opposing coaches noticing this stuff.  :-\