Bye week blues: FAU enters the break on a four-game losing streak

Owls quarterback Graham Wilbert is intercepted in the end zone during the first half of the 20-14 loss to North Texas.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Murphy.

By: Rolando Rosa

Headed into the bye week, FAU already has as many wins (1) as it did all of last season. That's the optimist's view. A pessimist could still point out a number of flaws the Owls are exhibiting almost halfway through the season. Five games in, here's five positives and negatives about FAU football: 

Positives:

• There's already a win on the board through five games. Last season, FAU didn't pick up a victory until the second-to-last game of the season.
• FAU scored three touchdowns on top ten competition. Last season FAU scored six points total against Florida and Michigan State.
• Freshman walk-on punter Sean Kelly has dazzled, booting kicks at a 42.2 average, with a high of 55. Kelly has athleticism too, as multiple times this season he's adjusted to handle botched snaps.
• Graham Wilbert already has five touchdowns this season after only seven all of last year. Wilbert is completing 64.8 percent of his passes, after 52.4 last year
• Sophomore wide receiver William Dukes leads the team with 18 catches for 224 yards. Dukes has big play ability, hauling in multiple catches of over 30 yards.

Negatives:

• The lone win was by four points at home against Division 1-AA Wagner. FAU failed to capture winnable conference games against Middle Tennessee and North Texas.
• FAU has fumbled 11 times, losing eight of them. Running backs coach Kerry Dixon says he emphasizes ball protection in practice but it's not translating to game days. 
• The Owls punt and kickoff returns are horrible. On punt returns, FAU is averaging an incomprehensible -0.6 yards. Kickoff returns aren't that much better at 21.2 yards.
•  The secondary is constantly getting burned, allowing 17.8 yards per catch to opponents. In last week's loss, North Texas scored on a 68-yard passing touchdown.
• Slow starts are the biggest reason for the 1-4 record. The Owls offense has more points in the fourth quarter (41) than the other three quarters combined (24). 

For more Owls news, check out The Daily Hoot and Owl Access. 

FAU returns to action on Saturday Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. against ULM