Heading into Wednesday’s scrimmage redshirt sophomore Rusty Smith has been seeing little time with the first team offense recently. Smith wasn’t his usual self at the fanfest scrimmage despite throwing two touchdowns.
Most of the snaps throughout practices, and scrimmages were split by Smith, senior Sean Clayton and redshirt freshmen quarterback Jeff VanCamp who has displayed pocket awareness, poise with the first team offense, and scrambling mobility. On Saturday’s scrimmage, VanCamp did struggle going 8-23 for 49 yards, as FAU relied mostly on the running game of Charles Pierre, and Dilvory Edgecombe. “He is getting better every practice, and we’re pleased with his progress” said Coach Howard Schnellenberger on VanCamp’s improvement. The fact that Smith is being held out for a variety of plays is due to a shoulder injury. “He wasn’t supposed to throw at all” Schnellenberger added. “His arm was hurting and we’re trying to get some strength back in it Despite the shoulder injury, Smith is confident that the offense will improve from last season finishing sixth in the Sunbelt Conference in averaging 15 points per game.
“Once the offense clicks on all four cylinders we will be fine” said Smith. Smith is confident that he will be more snaps at tomorrow’s practice. Along with VanCamp, taking snaps for the offense is senior Sean Clayton. Clayton and VanCamp have been sharing a majority of the offense snaps in the last couple of days.
Coach Schnellenberger is optimistic of both quarterbacks play: “This is going to give our next two quarterbacks more work and repetition on things we won’t be able to get done after this week”.
Clayton is prepared to take over the starting quarterbacking duties if or when the coaches call on him. “I will be ready when thy tell me” Clayton said.
The offense line appeared out of sink as they were penalized for false starts frequently.
“These are things you don’t like to have, and it’s hard to keep the concentration” Schnellenberger said. Schnellenberger hopes to improve these tactics by the start of the start of the upcoming season “In order for us to improve on that concentration we have 20 play drives in practice”
Overall Schnellenberger was please with scrimmage. “We accomplished what we wanted both on offense and defense”
