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FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

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FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

Per Ted Hutton's Blog….

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/blog/2008/10/faus_smith_says_he_played_with.html

Well, it’s been a day of conference calls, first with Sun Belt coaches, next with Rusty Smith.

Rusty revealed for the first time that there may be a physical element to his struggles. He said his left shoulder was separated early in the Texas game, when he tried to recover that snap that sailed over his head on the first series of the game.

He said a Texas D lineman’s knee went into his back, separating the shoulder from the front.

As fans know, Rusty played the rest of that game and every game since, and had a huge game the next week against UAB, but he said he finds himself throwing off his back foot since he is favoring the lead (left) shoulder.

That could explain part of the problem. He said it is completely healed and has been for a while, but he has been working on throwing off his front foot again.

The Voice said they were concerned after the hit, but were assured that there was not a chance for more damage if Rusty went back in, so they let him play.

Don't know how relevant this is at this late date, but at least it is something to point to when wondering how Smith's numbers could be so off this year.

Rusty said he is getting a bit weary of being asked what ails him and the team, but understands it comes with the territory.

And he said the losing streak has taken its toll on the team. “Morale is down. That could be good thing or bad thing. Seniors and leaders of team are tryhing to boost the morale.”

Rusty said the medicine needed to cure things in a hurry is a win.

My two favorite teams are FAU, and who ever is beating FIU!
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

Jab979 said

Rusty said the medicine needed to cure things in a hurry is a win.

Well, that partially explains some of his interceptions.

It doesn't make up for the recievers dropping catches or the D line letting people through the side of the field or…

If we can win against WKU and UNT (the next two games), which we should if we're worth anything at all, then that can get FAU back into the winning mentality…
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

The injury certainly can explain why Rusty has struggled.  He has made a lot of throws off the back foot and that is something that he didn't do very much last year.  That is likely why his INTs are up, but I agree with owlcountry, he hasn't gotten any help thus far from the receivers.  He has made a ton of good throws that have been flat out dropped.  It hasn't been so much the turnovers that have hurt us against Troy and MTSU as much as dropping passes that should have been big gains that weren't.  It's those things that have killed our offense and stalled drives.

Now that Rusty is healthy, there is no excuse.  This needs to be the week that this offense starts to get itself in gear.  If we can just get some positive momentum going into the rest of the SBC schedule, we can at least make things interesting the rest of the way.
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

FAU said

Coach doesn't use ANY explanation for Smith's poor play because he won't admit he's playing poor.  He's too busy blaming everyone else on the team for Smith's poor play.  Kinda like his comment last Tuesday at halftime….Rusty's thrown one bad pass but he's still our man.  No wonder the team is so divided.  Open your eyes Coach before you loose your entire team.  You've already lost their respect.  But I guess in your eyes all you need is Rusty.

Welcome to the board Mrs. Van Camp…

Anyway, i guess you missed the ball off the head of Rob Housler, which the trojans scored on the next two plays afterwards…

And the botched punt snap that sailed 10 feetover the head of Petersen, which set them up first and goal at the 4…which they scored again, on the next two plays…

14 points.

How many did we lose by?

I agree with you…bbviously, all Rusty's fault that we lost the game, and he should be benched the rest of the season as a result…….

;)
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

Florida_Owl said

FAU said

Coach doesn't use ANY explanation for Smith's poor play because he won't admit he's playing poor.  He's too busy blaming everyone else on the team for Smith's poor play.  Kinda like his comment last Tuesday at halftime….Rusty's thrown one bad pass but he's still our man.  No wonder the team is so divided.  Open your eyes Coach before you loose your entire team.  You've already lost their respect.  But I guess in your eyes all you need is Rusty.

Welcome to the board Mrs. Van Camp…


Ouch  ;D

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

+1  ;D
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

You missed the point - bench them ALL, including the coaches !
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

FAUFBL said

You missed the point - bench them ALL, including the coaches !

I'm down with that.  I've got one and a half years of eligibility left.  Put me in on the line, it can't be much harder to play then the tuba.  ;)

AEA
Go play Intramural Sports! www.fau.edu/campusrec/imsports/
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

FAU said

I am not totally blaming Rusty as you insinuate.  And I am not only talking about the last game.  The entire team has done their part in contributing to the loses for the season.  It takes an entire team to win and an entire team to loose.  But the coaches never call out Rusty.  It is always someone else not playing like they should.  Come on, the interceptions are because of poor play from the O-Line and receivers not catching the ball.  Reality check…the interceptions are because he is throwing them to the other team when there are other receivers wide open, or passing when we should be running the ball.  I still believe we had great talent with the ability to win games.  GO OWLS!

Agreed. The responsibility falls on everyone and Rusty is to blame for the interceptions. Unfortunately he is coach's golden boy and coach has a tremendous amount of faith in Rusty's ability. He showed last year that he has the ability to get it done. I am not saying that he isn't making mistakes, but I think he still gives FAU the best chance to win. That said, maybe Rusty should sit for the first quarter against WKU or better yet if he starts and isn't getting it done in the first quarter the second automatically goes to Van Camp. Put that out there at the beginning of this week and make it known to Rusty that if he plays below expectations Van Camp goes in. Give Van Camp the second quarter to show what he can do and if he performs he plays until he shows signs of struggling.

I think if Rusty is going to get pulled it is fair to put it out there on the table and tell him that he has one quarter to perform against WKU and if he doesn't get it done he is out. He sees it coming and he knows what he has to do. If he can't get his head together someone else should be in there.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: FAU's Smith says he played with separated shoulder

Its not a totally unheard of situation at FAU for the back-up QB to play a few series in a game, and I'm not talking about at the end of the fourth quarter. In the past it was Embick behind Allen, and even Rusty with Clayton. Why not give Van Camp at shot or two to see what he can do? Perhaps just so he can see some real action, aside from Rusty's struggles. I'd rather see that than just flat out benching Rusty, or atleast before.
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