2010 NCAA Football Preview: Temple University
For Al Golden, head coach of the Temple University Owls Football team, the path to creating a winning team hasn't been an easy one. When he took over the program in 2006 he was inheriting a program that had forgotten how to win. The last winning season they had was in Jerry Berndt's second season in 1990.
That first season for Golden and the Owls was not much different as the team only won one game that year. In his second season, 2007, there was some improvement as the team finished 4-8, the most they had won in one season since 2002. He inched the team closer to a winning season in 2008 with five wins.
The 2009 season was the breakthrough year for both Golden and the Owls as they finished the year with a 9-4 record and a trip to a bowl game, the Eagle Bank Bowl, the first time since the Garden State Bowl in 1979.
Last season they were able to surprise people, but this year everyone will see them coming. Were it not for close losses to Villanova in week one (three points) and Ball State about five weeks later (by five points) the team could have finished with its first 11-win season in school history.
Offense
The Temple offense is going to hinge completely on what second year running back and Heisman contender Bernard Pierce is able to do. As a freshman he ran for 1361 yards and 16 touchdowns on 236 carries; he does not really factor into the passing game but since the Owls do not have one that is okay. If he can improve off his freshman year than the Owls offense will be tough to handle (they were 23rd in the nation in rushing offense).
If the Owls could pass the ball a little better than it would really open up the lanes for Pierce. Last season the passing game ranked among the worst in the nation (111th). Chester Stewart is expected to line up behind center in 2010. His stats have been unimpressive in limited playing time so far. Vaughn Charlton was the starter through nine games last season, but will be lining up at tight end next season.
Lucky for the Owls they will be ready for teams that plan on stacking against the run. Not only is Pierce a big, physical back, but the offensive line should be one of the best ones in the conference. Since the team does not have much experience or talent at wide receiver although it does not help that both quarterbacks last season could not complete half of their passes.
Defense
While the offense features a power running game, the defense features an ability to stop the run. Last season the defense ranked 18th in the nation and best in the conference at stopping the run.
Adrian Robinson was a significant part of that success last season and should be a featured member of the defense in 2010. The end earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in the MAC after posting 43 tackles and 12 sacks; Robinson is only going to be a junior this season and should do even better. Losing nose tackle Andre Neblett hurts the front four has plenty of talent ready to step up. With strong support from linebackers like Elijah Joseph, Amara Kamara, and Tahir Whitehead the rush defense looks to be just as good in 2010 as well.
However, if the team really wants to make some noise in the MAC they need to figure out how to slow down the passing game a little better; last season they ranked 74th in the nation and 10th in the conference. Leading the charge will be Jaiquawn Jarrett at free safety. He could very well be up for all-conference honors if he can build off of last season’s 71-tackle, three-interception performance.
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