While he was the defensive coordinator at Nebraska, FAU coach Carl Pelini had to devise a gameplan to slow down Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Pelini said that experience could come in handy this week as the Owls prepare for Louisiana-Monroe (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) and their mobile quarterback Kolton Browning, who is among the nation’s leaders in total offense.
Browning was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after completing 26 of 38 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown in ULM’s 31-17 victory vs. Middle Tennessee State on Saturday and has been a key reason the Warhawks have been the most surprising team in the Sun Belt Conference this season.
Pelini was asked Monday if there was a player similar to Browning he has had to scheme for in his career.
“He’s a little different, he a little unique,” Pelini said of Browning. “I would say probably Robert Griffin (now a rookie starter for the Washington Redskins). There is so much balance — being able to run and being able to throw. When we played Griffin at Nebraska he was still a true freshman and didn’t have the throwing aspect of his game yet.”
Browning has capable arm to go along with his firm grasp of the Warhawks’ offense.
“He’s got it all,” Pelini said. “He’s a very intelligent guy. He’s tough, he’s hard-nosed. He is a really good runner and he’s a good thrower. And he knows when to do which. And I think when you are running an offense like they are — a spread offense — there are a lot of guys who can do both but there are not a lot of guys who you face who know when to do which and always make the correct decision. You don’t see him make many bad decisions with the ball.”
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