More on Temple - Special Teams and Defense

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

This is a follow up to this. I was finally able to get ahold of Temple game footage - Temple vs. Penn State back in September. After skimming through the Penn State game (an away game when PSU was ranked #5 in the nation at the time and Temple lost 31-6), I came away even more impressed by Temple. 

Offensively, they showed more than they did vs. Buffalo as they passed quite a bit towards the end when they were down by a few scores. Their QB showed the ability to get the ball downfield although he struggled to complete some short passes to the flats (also due to some drops by his backs).

Defensively, they struggled to stop the run of Penn State, and gave up 31 points, but their defense looked solid at times and played tough. I wrote about how they are good at stemming their defense pre-snap and timing blitzes - below is a look at some of that.

Special Teams impressed me in the Buffalo game and they looked very well coached in this one as well, especially on the coverage units. 

Special Teams:

Temple is a well-coached team and their effort on special teams is outstanding. I noticed after Penn State scored their 2nd TD to go up 14-3 in the 2nd that they were still coming hard on the XP block. Look at the kid who sells out and dives as if he is trying to block a game winning kick every XP. I have some video of us on XP but I won't bother to post it since it's not pretty. After the first TD we gave up against SC, there were guys just standing around with hands on their hips....against SC, down only 7. Given our bowl history in recent years we all know a blocked XP or FG can be the difference.

Vs. Penn State they also recovered a surprise onside kick early in the game, nearly blocked a punt, had their punter pick up a dropped snap and punt it down to the 5, and had very solid kick coverage. Plays on Teams are the biggest changes in field position and the biggest changes in momentum, you can tell Temple emphasizes this phase in practice and preaches effort from all 11 on every play.

Defense:

They are really good at stemming (shifting the D before the snap) and timing it well. #6 is a very active safety, I think he's one of their best players on D. 

Other:

Temple ended up losing 31-6, but the last play stood out to me. They were down in a 3rd-22 and flipped a pass to the back over the middle, he gained a couple as the clock ran. As the back is running you see the QB following him, pointing to the ground, trying to get the offense set up for one final play, a 4th down. Temple immediately got up to the line, lined up, ready to snap the ball, everyone looking to the sideline for the play.

1) Shows you how well coached they are - 2 minute drill is not easy, that is the mark of a good team, they were ready to get that next play off very quickly.

2) Even down 31-6, they were running up to the line ready to get one more play off - no quit in that team. They didn't stop until Al Golden was 15 yards onto the field and signaled that it was time to throw in the towel.

I am pretty impressed with Temple, as far as what Al Golden has done. I admit I had never heard of him until UCLA's coaching search, and didn't think much of him and Temple, but after watching that game and a half I came away very impressed. They play physical, they play with maximum effort, and they are well-coached. It should be a good game and I hope our guys are working as hard as I know Temple is.