Head coach Lane Kiffin observes during Florida Atlantic University football practice at the Orange Bowl Field at Carter Park on Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale. (Meghan McCarthy / The Palm Beach Post) BOCA RATON — With his tweeting and his sarcasm, it can be easy to forget that Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin’s offensive mind once made him one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history. Kiffin, hired by the Oakland Raiders at only 31, possesses a football mind that players, coaches, and reporters all like picking if the second-year Owls coach is willing to share what he’s thinking. When asked about FAU’s current quarterback battle between De’Andre Johnson and Chris Robison, Kiffin used the same words he’s used in recent weeks, calling both players “talented” and “athletic” before explaining why Saturday’s spring game (4 p.m., FAU Stadium) is so important in evaluating their competition. “It’s the closest thing we get to a game, so there’s always guys that play up or play down in game situations versus practice,” Kiffin said. “Especially at quarterback, that happens, it’s why we screw up quarterback evaluations all the time.” Across four head coaching stops with the Raiders, Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, and now FAU, Kiffin has seen the success of Matt Barkley and the failure of JaMarcus Russell. Kiffin was the Trojans’ quarterback coach and, later, offensive coordinator from 2002-06, mentoring Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Blake Sims, Jake Coker, and Jalen Hurts all helped the Alabama Crimson… [Read full story]
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