'Told you so' of the week

Every once in a while, I like to gloat about something so insignificant, it hardly makes sense to even bring it up. Well, here's one for today.

I can't believe I missed this. On Thursday, I predicted Penn State would allow six points to Temple.

Temple scored only six points two days later. Damn, I'm good.

In other news...

I'm going to host here at Zombie Nation this Saturday a free real-time chat, through the fantastic CoverItLive folks. So come on by and talk some football before, during and after the game. We'll have live updates, scores and polls, all part of more than 15 hours of Penn State game day coverage! No sign up is required. See you all Saturday, beginning at 9:45 a.m.

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Review: No. 5/t5 Penn State 31, Temple 6

The running game finally clicked for Penn State this week, with Evan Royster hitting his stride, despite battling the flu along with nearly a dozen other Nittany Lions. The defense was once again smothering. Daryll Clark was efficient. It seems Penn State has all the pieces. Now it's time to put them all together for the Big Ten opener next week against Iowa.

In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance.

Offense

• Offensive Line: Temple didn't stack the box as Akron and Syracuse did in the first two games. So it was a much better situation for the front five this week. Johnnie Troutman got the start at LG in place of Matt Sankiewitch, while Quinn Barham saw playing time behind RG Lou Eliades. Whether the new starting five was the reason, or that Temple didn't sell out to stop the run (I think it was the latter), the holes were there this week for the run game, which rolled to 186 yards.

But all the success Penn State had on the ground was marred by obvious problems with pass protection this week. Against Syracuse, the Orange blitzed on almost every play, but had only moderate success against Daryll Clark. Temple harassed Clark all day, bringing a very effective zone blitz package to bear on the Lions offensive line. I'm not so sure the shaky pass protection was so much due to new personnel, than just a very good pass rush scheme from Owls defensive coordinator (and former PSU great) Mark D'Onofrio.

Stats: 5.2 yards per rush; 2 sacks (-6) allowed

• Receivers: The pass catchers weren't the stars this week as they were the first two games, but other than a drop or two, this unit played very well again. Chaz Powell (4/40) led all wide receivers this week in yards and tied for receptions with Derek Moye (4/31, TD). A couple of the younger guys got some quality playing time, including Curtis Drake and Justin Brown. But it was the tight end play of Andrew Quarless (3/45) that woke up the crowd. The senior would've been the teams overall receiving yards leader, if a 50-plus-yard touchdown catch-and-run wasn't called back for a block in the back.

I really liked Penn State's heavy-trips formation, with Joe Suhey, Quarless and Mickey Shuler (1/1, TD). It was really effective in both the pass and run game, including the touchdown pass to Shuler.

Stats: 15 receptions, 150 yards, 2 touchdowns

• Running Backs: Evan Royster (19/134, TD) finally had some running room, particularly outside off-tackle. He was apparently suffering from a fever of 102 on Thursday, but it broke in time for him to explode for his first 100-yard game of the season. We haven't been able to really get into talking about Royster much this year, but his scary-fluid running and vision allowed Penn State to control the game without an overbearing pass attack.

Stephfon Green (6/19) topped 100 yards against Temple in 2008, but failed to really get anything going when he took over most of the carries in the second half. He did score his first touchdown of this season, on a really tough inside run. Getting Green more involved in the screen game should be a priority, particularly when Clark has such pass rush pressure.

Penn State also threw in a few reverses and end arounds this week, with so-so success. The Powell reverse gained 24 yards, but a fumbled reverse (-17 yards) with Drake put a damper on the trickeration.

Stats: (RB/QB only) 33 attempts, 175 yards, 2 TD

• Quarterbacks: Daryll Clark (16-26/167, 2 TD, INT) didn't have his most explosive game of the season, but he was able to make plays when Penn State needed them, and keep the offense moving all day. The pass rush really got a hold of Clark most of the game, forcing a few bad throws, including the one interception. I don't think I remember a time when Penn State's passing attack was the least of our worries. Clark brought us there now.

Clark did seem jumpy at times. I assume it was because he didn't want to run every time he was flushed from the pocket. But I wouldn't look to far into this. When the real meat of the schedule hits (say, like next week!), Clark will do anything to win, including the scrambles he's avoided the past three weeks.

Kevin Newsome (1-2/6, 15-yd rush) didn't do a whole lot this week. But hey, that's better than last week, when he was sacked twice and lost a fumble.

Penn State threw in a double-reverse pass, which almost worked. I guess they want Iowa to see that and have to practice defending it, even if Penn State doesn't use it.

Stats: 17-29, 186 yards, 2 touchdowns, INT, 2 sacks (-6)

Defense

• Defensive Line: Three linemen recorded a sack this week, as the front four for Penn State continued to stuff anything that came their way. Jared Odrick (2 tkl, TFL, Sack) and Ollie Ogbu (3 tkl, FF) were able to suck up enough Temple blockers to allow the linebackers to have one of that unit's best days this season.

Jack Crawford (3 tkl, Sack, 2.5 TFL) is living up to all that preseason hype bestowed upon him by the fans and media. I was very interested in Penn State's positioning him as a stand-up defensive end, similar to what Jerome Hayes (tkl) does.

Backups Devon Still (2 tkl), Eric Latimore (tkl) and frosh James Terry (Tkl, TFL, Sack) played well, along with true frosh Sean Stanley (tkl). Larry Johnson loves to rotate his players on almost every down, and we're seeing plenty of it early in the year.

Stats: 1.6 yards per rush allowed; 14 tackles, 4.5 TFL (-24), 3 sacks (-15)

• Linebackers: You wouldn't even think Penn State is missing one of its top-two starting linebackers in Navorro Bowman (questionable this week with groin injury). Sean Lee (12 tkl, 2.5 TFL, sack) and Josh "Mustache" Hull (13 tkl, 1.5 TFL, PBU) made the field intolerable for Temple ball carriers, combining for their best outing all season long. Hull has really come along this year, particularly in pass defense. He's had a major breakup in every game.

It was good to see guys like Bani Gbadyu (6 tkl) get much more playing time this week, subbing in for Nate Stupar (5 tkl, TFL), who replaced Bowman. It wasn't a knock on Stupar. I just think the coaches want to get as many players in the game as possible. Plus, Gbadyu was a big factor in late-2007. So, he does have plenty of game experience.

However, I was very disappointed to see Chris Colasanti (Tkl) get put into the game, basically burning his available redshirt season. He's a true junior this season, so now he will only have one season left to break the starting lineup. This is a big waste of talent by the coaching staff.

Stats: 39 tackles, 4.5 TFL (-14), Sack (-3), PBU

• Defensive Backfield: Temple was plagued by dropped balls all day, but was able to move the ball a bit through the air. However, on the other side, it was a really, really good day for the Penn State defensive backfield. D'Anton Lynn (tkl, 2 PBU) has been the least noticed player on this team, and that's a good thing. The true sophomre has been able to really slip under the radar and secure a starting corner spot, ahead of two seniors!

Knowledge Timmons (4 tkl, PBU) had the most visible play in the secondary, when he was beaten badly for what would have been a sure Temple touchdown. Timmons was able to recover to the receiver, and rip the ball loose just as the Owl was crossing the goal line. It was definitely one of those, "yeah, but..." moments.

Safeties Nick Sukay (tkl) and Drew Astorino (5 tkl, FR) played well. Astorino has been money on run defense, and fantastic on covering passes into the flats. He also recovered a Temple fumble deep in Owl territory. Penn State also went with the familiar three-safety nickel package, with Andrew Dailey (No stats).

If I had to pick on one big thing here, it would be the lack of turnovers, particularly interceptions, generated. Penn State will need some big plays from these guys, but haven't gotten any so far. They need to be more aggressive.

Stats: 13 Tkl, 3 PBU, FR.

Special Teams

• Kicking/Punting: Colin Wagner (1-1, Lng 27, 63.8 KO Avg, TB) hasn't been anything special so far, but he hasn't been asked to do a whole lot. Some have been grumbling that his kickoffs are too short, and that's a valid concern. But as long as the coverage units stay focused, it should be alright. Every game, Jeremy Boone (47.8 ypp) builds his case for first-team All-Big Ten.

• Returns/Coverage: The coverage has been not bad so far, considering the shorter kickoffs. However, the return units need a ton of work. Neither of the returners have broken anything long, and the blocking has left much to be desired. Granted, Temple didn't kickoff to Penn State's deep men and only kicked off once in this week's game.

Temple's onsides kick caught everyone by surprise, including the Penn State upbacks. Brought back some interesting memories of the Minnesota games past.

• Overall: Penn State now has all the pieces. The pass game is fine. The run game is finally here. The defense has been way better than anyone expected. Now it's time to put all those pieces together for a championship run. Coming away from the Temple game, and de-facto end of the "exhibition season," it feels like Penn State needs just one more easy opponent to get everything in place. But that won't happen. Iowa is coming to town this week, and it's getting bigger by the day. ESPN Gameday is on the way. The Hawkeyes are coming off two very impressive wins over BCS conference teams. And no one is forgetting about what happened in Iowa City last season.

Penn State is a good team this year. Is it a great team? We won't know for sure until the games are played. But it's definitely a team that has the talent and the opportunities to make a big statement to the college football world. Has Penn State emerged from a program that rebuilds every few years to one that simply reloads? That answer is getting closer, and it should reveal itself this upcoming Saturday night in Beaver Stadium.

• Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com:

Full Box Score

Post Game Quotes

Post Game Notes

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Penn State Gameday: Temple

Your Penn State football gameday headquarters.


Pregame

• Preview: Temple at No. 5/5 Penn State
• Penn State depth chart (as of 9/18)
• Blue White Roundtable :: Temple
• Interview with Temple Football Forever
• Official Game Notes
• Penn State Roster
• Joe Paterno's Press Conference
• Poll Results: Temple at Penn State
• Big Ten Pick'em: Week 3 2009
• ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 3 2009
• Beaver Stadium Scoreboard Changes

Postgame

• Review: No. 5/5 Penn State 31, Temple 6

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Poll Results: Temple at Penn State

It wasn't exactly a hot button issue this week, but we still asked readers for their take on this week's game winner, as we do each week here. As you probably expected, it was a landslide victory for Penn State over Temple.

Full results below the fold.

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Preview: Temple at No. 5/t5 Penn State

Kickoff/TV: Sat., Sept. 19, 12 p.m. ET/Big Ten Network (Ari Wolfe, Anthony Herron and Kenny Jackson)
Weather Forecast: Mild, clear.
Series Record: Penn State leads Temple, 34-3-1

Host: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs Syracuse, 28-7
Injuries: LB Navorro Bowman (Groin - Questionable), DT Brandon Ware (Ankle - Out), DB Jacob Fagnano (Ankle - Out), DE Pete Massaro (ACL - Out Ssn), LB Mike Mauti (ACL - Out Ssn)
Key Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, WR Derek Moye; (defense) DL Jared Odrick, LB Sean Lee, LB Navorro Bowman
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 44th season at Penn State, 385-127-3; 23-11 bowl record
Season Statistics:
Offense - 107.0 rush/309.5 pass/29.5.0 points per game
Defense - 46.5 rush/146.5 pass/7.0 points per game
TO Margin - (-2)/(-1) per game

Penn State, on paper -- The Nittany Lions' run game, or lack thereof, has become the dominant issue the last two weeks. Coupled with the probable shifts in the offensive line this week, all eyes will be keyed in on how the ground game improves, if at all. I wouldn't be surprised to see real unrest begin to set in with Joe Paterno if the Lions fail to top 100 rush yards against Temple. So far, he's downplayed it, as any head coach should.

Then again, Paterno also said this week that as long as Penn State continues to win games, he's fine with passing more than running. That's good, considering Penn State boasts one of the most efficient pass attacks in the conference. QB Daryll Clark has been on fire, even with the new set of receivers, throwing for 300 yards per game, with a 6-2 ratio and 70 percent completion percentage. But should Penn State take a comfortable lead against Temple, look for a concerted effort to work out the run game with Evan Royster and Stephfon Green, as both have struggled mightily behind a shaky line and defenses stacked to stop them.

Defensively, Penn State has been nothing less than dominant. Both touchdowns allowed this season by the defense have followed turnovers by the Lions' offense, while the unit is giving up less than 200 yards per game. Paterno said this week he wants to see more turnovers generated by the defense, so we might see some more stripping and interception attempts against Temple.

Visitor: Temple Owls
Record: 0-1 (0-0, MAC)
Last Game: Lost vs Villanova (FCS), 27-24
Injuries: The Owls don’t announce most injury information, but no one was seen leaving the game for any physical reason.
Key Players: (offense) QB Vaughn Charlton, WR Michael Campbell, RB Kee-Ayre Griffin ; (defense) LB Amara Kamara, NT Andre Neblett, LB Alex Joseph
Head Coach: Al Golden, 4th season at TU, 10-27; 0-0 bowl record; 0-3 vs Penn State
Season Statistics:
Offense - 139.0 rush/317.0 pass/24.0 points per game
Defense - 64.0 rush/293.0 pass/27.0 points per game
TO Margin - (-4)/(-4) per game

Temple, on paper -- The Owls just can't catch a break, losing yet another game on the final play. Three times in 2008 Temple lost on the final play of the game. The upset loss last week to Villanova was mainly due to a bad case of turnovers (minus-4), but Temple did dominate in most other facets of the game. So, it's important for opponents to not underestimate this Owls team, as it's still probably the best team Temple's fielded in more than a decade.

QB Vaughn Charlton's fantastic game was marred by his three interceptions, including one that led to Nova's game-winning field goal. He was able to hook up with a good number of different receivers, including Michael Campbell, who hauled in five for 93 yards and a score. But the pass game isn't the only weapon on the Temple offense. RB Kee-Ayre Griffin carried the rock 21 times for 70 yards and a score last week, but probably more worrisome to the Penn State coaching staff, he also took a kickoff back 54 yards against Villanova. Paterno said this week he was very disappointed and concerned with the Lions' kickoff coverage the last two weeks.

On the defensive side, Temple is loaded with playmakers, even with the loss of DE Junior Galette (10 sacks in '07), who transferred this off season for disciplinary issues. Against Villanova, Temple logged five sacks and 11 TFL. S Dominique Harris has been a force in the Owls defensive backfield for years, while LB Amara Kamara led the team in tackles last week, nine of which were solo stops. Don't be shocked if Temple follows Penn State's first two opponents' lead, and stacks the box against the run with these two. And keep an eye on NT Andre Neblett up the middle of that defense.

On the field -- Penn State will beat Temple. But by how much the Owls are beaten is basically up to Al Golden's crew. If Temple turns the ball over like they did last week, this will be another laugher in Happy Valley. But if the Owls can hold on to the ball, and keep the Lions' offense off the field as much as possible, this could be another uncomfortable win for Penn State. The series hasn't exactly been competitive recently, with Penn State outscoring Temple 123-3 the last three outings. The field should be drier than it was for the Syracuse game, so it'll be a fast track for both teams, but I'll give an edge to Penn State for overall team speed. Penn State should be able to get those turnovers Paterno wants, mainly by forcing Charlton to throw before he wants to, and this game will be decided no later than the mid-third quarter.

Extra points -- Continuing its corny themed game days, Penn State declared this weekend "Favorite Jersey Day"... Beaver Stadium will once again fail to fill out completely, even with the extra fans from Philadelphia... Evan Royster will finally top 100 yards... Daryll Clark won't throw an interception... The defensive line will force at least two turnovers on its own, and log at least two sacks... A starting defensive back will pick off a pass... Temple won't score a touchdown for the third straight year... If Josh Hull's mustache hasn't become legend already, it will be by this weekend... Attendance: 106,900

Prediction: No. 5/t5 Penn State, 41 - Temple, 6

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Blue White Roundtable :: Temple goes to 11

It's week three, and Penn State rests uncomfortably in the top five. With the running game M.I.A., the offensive line still figuring out that they're supposed to be better, and out strongest non-conference opponent blowing its opener to Villanova (!), Happy Valley welcomes the Temple Owls this week.

I have no frickin' clue who's participating this week, but here's my best guess:
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge
Penn State Clips

Blue White Roundtable - Week 3, Temple Owls

1. Temple lost over half of their offensive line and their starting QB from a team that didn’t have much of an offense anyway (107th in total offense in the country) do they have a realistic shot at moving the ball against Penn State’s defense?

The only way Temple scores points is via turnovers this week. And I wouldn't put it past the Owls to do just that. Penn State hasn't held onto the ball very well this season; both touchdowns scored against the Lions have come following turnovers.

That being said, points aren't yardage. So, no, Temple has no chance to move the ball this week. Villanova doesn't exactly have NFL talent along its defensive line, or in the linebackers. Unless Temple quarterback Vaughn Charlton is night-and-day better this Saturday, don't expect the Owls to cross the goal line... again.

2. Homework time! You’ll have to dig deep and be creative for this one: name something about this Temple team that scares you (ok scare may be a bit much… how about gives you pause).

The defensive line. Don't laugh. Syracuse's front gave Penn State problems. Akron's did, too. So, with some decent athletes on Temple's line, what's to make me think anything but trouble for Penn State?

Temple's defense logged 11 TFL and five sacks last week. I know, Penn State isn't Villanova. But if the defensive front wall is the Owls' strength, you better believe they're going to try to exploit that.

3. Temple lost to Villanova in week one on the last play of the game. If you’ll remember that also happened to Temple twice last season: bad luck or bad coaching?

This last loss, as bad as it was, was due to four offensive turnovers by Temple. Villanova had a plus-three turnover margin against the Owls last week, including a game-changing interception that led to the winning field goal.

Al Golden is a good coach. He's made Temple competitive, something no one has been able to do in 40 years. But he hasn't yet been able to teach this program how to win. Sure, they can score more points than the other team, but when stuck in close games, the Owls still manage to fall short and choke under pressure. Temple lost three games last year on the final play of the game, and one this season. That's the sure sign of a team that's still learning how to win.

Quick Hits

1. True or False: Penn State holds Temple under 200 yards of total offense? True.

2. True or False: Temple goes bowling this season? True.

3. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “totally sucked” and 10 being “awesomeness of epic levels” – how did the Michigan victory over Chuck Weis make you feel last week? Be honest!

I'll be shocked if no one else came up with this response...

More below the fold...

Paterno presser quick hits

At his weekly press conference, Joe Paterno was less than chipper with his team's performance, particularly the offensive line, the last two weeks. But overall, Paterno likes the potential of this team, if a few things here and there can come together. On to the highlights...

• In the presser's second question, Joe was asked if there would be changes along the offensive line. Fair enough. We've all been wondering what will happen up front offensively. At first, Joe was vague:

"Well, we might. We'll see what goes on this week."

But he may have let more out than he intended to, when answering a question about Johnnie Troutman's progress and weight:

"He played some Saturday and he may play a lot more this Saturday. [emphasis mine] I think a lot will depend again, as I said earlier, how we practice, how he practices and how some of the other kids on the offensive line practice. But he's gotten better."

Joe went on in later answers to say that other than the guards, things probably won't shake up too much this week. But don't think that's not huge. In Penn State's style of running game, effective guard play is critical.

• Navorro Bowman probably (99%) won't play this week. We sort of knew that, but the question had to be asked.

• Joe kept stressing that Syracuse kept a lot of guys in the box to stop the run, particularly stacking the safety down low. That gave the offense some problems that might not come about when teams really try to stop the pass more.

"I think we had the ball 67 times. And I think all but maybe eight or nine times they blitzed. So when you're facing that, we try to be stubborn and try to run the ball because I think we need the work... Whether the offensive line improved that much, it's hard to tell, because, again, as I said earlier, Syracuse just kept coming. They just kept blitzing guys, linebackers and outside people, and kept those two safeties very close to the football."

Temple played a 4-4-3 against Villanova, but even coach Al Golden said it was probably a mistake. However, the Owls usually play a 5-2-4, so we don't really know how things will shake out this Saturday.

• Joe talked about the walk-on process, part of a question about how well walk on players have done under his watch. Please, keep the laughter to a dull roar, but I actually did this once...

"But once you start on it (the season), we have a day, we may have two days now, where we invite anybody from the student body who wants to come out and literally try out to be a walk on. And we'll get a couple of kids there. But most of the good ones we get are kids we knew about before they came here, kids that we probably, if we had more aid, would have recruited."

I did it before spring practice started. It was in February 2004, I think. Got to run drills, a 40-yard dash, and got yelled at by Larry Johnson, Sr. It was a blast, and I'm really glad I did it.

• Oh, and in case you weren't floored during this week's Penn State Football Story, here's what you missed:

That's right. Josh Hull is sporting a rather large mustache. Whatever works for him, I guess.

Ok folks, it's late in the news day, and I'm sure you already read everything there is to know about today's press conference. So, I'll leave you here. Tomorrow, I'll have my responses up for this week's Blue White Roundtable, and later, my weekly Big Ten Pick'em.

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Owls breakdown with Temple Football Forever

The Temple Owls roll into Beaver Stadium this week, a full two weeks after their shocking upset at the hands of cross-town rival Villanova. Temple had dreams of a bowl bid this year, and it's still attainable, but probably less so now. The Nittany Lions and the Owls have played 39 times, with Penn State owning the series, 34-3-1.

Today we'll hear from Mike Gibson, publisher of the outstanding [read:only] Temple Owls football blog Temple Football Forever.

ZN: Temple was minus-three in turnovers last week against Villanova. Does that tell the whole story of the Owls' loss, or was there more to it?

TFF: No, there was more to it. Al Golden played four linebackers (he usually plays three), so it was a 4-4-3 rather than a 5-3-3. Problem was he played all four almost exclusively in coverage and allowed a pretty good QB (Villanova's Chris Whitney) to pick apart was what essentially a prevent defense. Without the pressure on the QB, Temple had no chance to create some turnovers with blindside blitzes and interceptions caused by pressure. It's out of character for Al and Mark D'Onofrio and I could tell by some of the quotes that they were kicking themselves for it.

ZN: This was supposed to be Temple's best team in decades, but the Villanova loss took a lot of the air out of the preseason hype. Even with a loss at Penn State, how do you think this team will come out the rest of the season?

TFF: I was thinking 8-4, but I was counting a win over Villanova, so I think that's the best they can do. This team returns 17 of 21 starters, so if they finish 5-7 like last year, it's a disaster. 6-6 would be a slight improvement.

ZN: What's a unit match up you like going into Penn State this week?

TFF: Even though Temple's defense is its best unit, I like the Temple offense against the Penn State defense because the Owls finally have some game-breakers. James Nixon got behind the Nova defense for a 75-yard bomb last week. Bernard Pierce, the state 60-meter champ out of Glen Mills, carried 6 times for 44 yards and, unlike starter Kee-ayre Griffin, did not fumble so Golden says Pierce will "play as much as he wants to. .."

ZN: How about an individual player? Who could really give Penn State a headache?

TFF: I think defensive end Adrian Robinson from Harrisburg is a load to handle. He was the Big 33 MVP in the win over Ohio two years ago and if D'Onofrio moves him around and has him A-gap blitzing, he could cause havoc in the Penn State backfield. If D'Onofrio plays him as a straight-up defensive end, he's doing the Nits a favor.

Many thanks again to Mike! And check out Temple Football Forever this week.

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Temple game notes released

Penn State released the official Temple game notes, so head on over and check them out. Then, of course, come back here for even more Penn State football!

Later today

I'll post a recap of Joe Paterno's presser. From what I've heard so far, we could be looking at some offensive line shakeups. So stay tuned!

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Poll Results: First Look '09 Temple

Temple will have a winning season, and secure a bowl berth for the first time since winning the 1979 Garden State Bowl (yes, that was in New Jersey), at least according to the readers who voted in this week's First Look '09 poll. Although it wasn't exactly a heavy turnout, the numbers still rang in favor of at least six wins for the Owls this season.

I'm convinced that even with a .500 record, Temple will get a bowl invitation. And that means unless Akron turns out to be a really big surprise, Temple could be Penn State's toughest non-conference opponent in 2008. A bowl bid would also help the Lions' schedule strength. And it could sure use the assistance in that department.

Results below the fold.



Off topic

First Look '09: Iowa Hawkeyes will be done and posted this weekend.

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First Look '09: Temple Owls

Temple will be better this season. And that's saying a lot after a 5-7 campaign in 2008, which included THREE gut-wrenching losses on the last play of the game. That's like three Michigan 2005's in one season. Temple returns a ton of talent, and has even more waiting on the sidelines. When Penn State scheduled Temple for a regular series, fans rolled their eyes, but this year's Owls could turn out to be an unlikely bowl contender, and Penn State's toughest non-conference opponent. But what do we really know about the 2009 Temple Owls? Let's find out, in today's First Look.

Coaching homecoming – All three main Temple coaches came from Penn State: Al Golden was a tight end and later a coach at Penn State; defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio played on the same Lions team as Golden; and offensive coordinator Matt Rhule played four years in Happy Valley in the mid-90s. All of them played under Joe Paterno. Now, for the third straight season, they will go up against their former teacher.

While the storyline of former Lions coaching against their old team is a good one, to me the real headline is just how good Golden's staff has been. Temple was one of the real bottom feeders in college football for a long time. Now, although not exactly a juggernaut (10-26 overall under Golden), Temple has shown more steady improvement than most other teams in the FBS. And should the Owls make a bowl, it can be directly attributed to the talent and perseverence of this staff.

Defense for D Owls – Temple will boast, hands down, the best defense in the MAC this season. Nine starters return from 2008, while seven more have starting experience. The defense does lose its best player in tackle Terrance Knighton (09 NFL Draft pick). However, the rest of this unit is much more experienced than it was going into 2008, when all 22 starters returned!

The 2009 defense will be anchored by a fantastic set of linebackers ("Linebacker U"-lite?) that should be one of the best in the MAC, if not the best.

Ripe in the bowl – Temple's schedule manages to spread out all the tough competition from start to finish. Opening with Villanova, at Penn State, Buffalo, at Eastern Michigan, Ball State and at Toledo should allow the Owls to face some more difficult opponents, while not overwhelming them early, as some mid-majors are forced to do when scheduling BCS teams for September dates. Temple has a very good chance to win five of the first seven games, setting up for a do-or-die stretch to end the season.

A trip to Navy, Miami (OH), at Akron, Kent State, and finishing up at Ohio could mean Temple has to pull one upset to secure a bowl bid. The trips to Akron and Ohio will be by far the most difficult games late in the year, if not the entire season.

From enemy territory:

I asked Mike Gibson, Temple Football Forever blogger, about the 2009 team. Gibson said this year's Owls will have to lean heavily on the defense, at least until the offense comes together.

"Temple's red zone defense two years ago was ranked No. 1 and this is defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio's best unit," Gibson told me.

But even with a really good defense coming back almost intact, uncertainty around the quarterback position is the dominant concern right now.

"There was a significant dropoff when Adam DiMichele didn't play the last two seasons, except for two games: Vaughn Charlton leading the Owls to a 21-10 win over Kent in 2007 and Chester Stewart leading the Owls past Miami, 28-10, last season," Gibson said. "Neither one has shown he can be a consistent winner at this level. One must or the Owls have to go to [true freshman] Chris Coyer or redshirt [freshman] Mike Gerardi."

For more on the Temple Owls:

2009 Temple Schedule
Temple Spring Game Review
First Look '08: Temple Owls

More from First Look '09:

Syracuse Orange
Akron Zips

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Review, Game 4: PSU 45, TU 3

Today I'll go over a few of the ups and downs from Penn State's win over Temple. There was the drama surrounding Joe Paterno's leg, and the offenses lackluster performance in the first quarter. Although many are pissed off at the Penn State offense right now, I think it was a good thing this kind of game happened against a team like Temple, instead of one like Illinois or Michigan. This will give the team a chance to look at themselves with a critical eye during film review, and maybe come out with more intensity versus the Illini than they would have if the Temple win was easier. But we'll get into all of this as I review how each unit performed Saturday, and what we could expect for next week's showdown with No. 21 Illinois.

OFFENSE :: B

Line - It was only a matter of time before Penn State gave up its first real sack--the one at Syracuse was more Daryll Clark's fault than the line's. Temple came out with a fantastic blitz package that overloaded Clark's blind side, and was the perfect call for PSU's play. The run blocking was great again, and there was still plenty of time for the quarterbacks to throw the ball. Two sacks in one game might seem like a lot, but three over four games is great.

Receivers - Penn State's game plan looked like it was designed specifically to get the younger wide receivers involved, and with the injury to Mickey Shuler, Andrew Quarless came up with a great game (50 yds). Next to the offensive line, the receivers on this Penn State team have been the best of all the units.

Quarterbacks - Clark threw an interception, but he's still having one of the best starts for any first-year Penn State quarterback. Penn State is currently leading the conference in passing yards per game (and total yards, rushing and points per game), and is second in the league in team pass efficiency, behind Minnesota, but Clark is the individual pass efficiency leader. Penn State's quarterbacks have thrown for a combined 10 touchdowns and only one interception.

Rushers - As if in competition with the quarterbacks, the Penn State running backs have made every attempt to steal the show this season. Against Temple, they might have succeeded. Evan Royster injected his usual spark, rumbling for a 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter. But it was Stephfon Green who made the biggest splash, on his 69-yard TD jaunt through traffic. After the instability at RB last year, this unit is one Penn State can lean on in 2008.

DEFENSE :: A

Line - Aaron Maybin's two first quarter sacks set the tone for the D-line this week, as Penn State clamped down on the Owls' run game, and sacking Temple's quarterbacks seven times. Josh Gaines continued to lead the defense, proving he's a great team captain this year. Penn State's defensive line is quickly tamping down any concern I might have had about productivity after Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma left. When/if they return, watch out.

Linebackers - I've already chosen my Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Navorro Bowman came up with one of the best days for a Penn State linebacker in years. Some have compared his effort against Temple to that of LaVar Arrington's all-star play in the late 1990s. Bowman looked the part Saturday, logging 11 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks, a forced fumble and a 29-yard interception return to the one-yard line. Although the rest of the PSU linebackers were relatively quiet, Bowman's performance more than made up for it.

Secondary - There were a few Temple passes that should have been complete with a better quarterback, and more than a few times TU wide receivers got behind the PSU defensive backs. Tom Bradley will have some words for these guys, especially since many of their mistakes were saved by the PSU pass rush. On the positive side, it was another good day for interceptions, as Tony Davis and Knowledge Timmons came up with nice picks. I thought I was being too hard on this unit, but no one gets a free pass next week.

SPECIAL TEAMS :: B-

Kickers - Kevin Kelly didn't have to do much, but did nail a beautiful 44-yarder. He looks to be completely healthy after some hip problems the last two season. Jeremy Boone had one shank early on, but dropped one inside the ten-yard line. Not a bad day overall.

Returners - It was another unimpressive day for Penn State's return men. Derrick Williams' fumble was saved by Anthony Scirrotto, and there were no real good returns by either Williams or AJ Wallace. I guess you can't get long runbacks every week, but the fumbles can't happen.

Coverage - Terrible. This was worse than Clark's interceptions and the fumbles on offense and returns. Although there were some great individual efforts (thumbs up to Timmons) to run down the Temple returners, the coverage units--especially on kickoffs--gave up way too many yards. It was like 2007 all over again.

COACHES :: A

The playcalling was as to be expected. The players didn't execute. Everyone's concerned about Joe Paterno's leg issue, myself included. But we have to just calm down. Team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli knows what he's doing, and wouldn't let Joe do anything stupid. I'm very interested to see how this develops throughout this week. If there's one thing anyone can agree with, Mike McQueary had a nice quiet game on the sidelines. There's no sign of this Spread HD slowing down.

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Penn State wins, 45-3

After a sloppy start (which I wasn't able to watch, thank you Comcast), Penn State rolled Temple by a 42-point margin. Let's go over some initial thoughts on this win.

The Good: The defense really came through today with some big plays. Aaron Maybin and the D-line continues their stellar play, sacking TU several times. But not to be overlooked was the defensive backfield play, picking off a few passes near the goal line. Even though TU QB Adam DiMichele went down early, it was a great showing my the PSU defense. Navorro Bowman was a monster all day.

The Bad: I won't go so far to say the offense was bad. But when Temple shuts Penn State out in the first quarter, picks off a pass, and sacks the quarterback, that was definitely sub-par for PSU. There were also too many fumbles by PSU, even though only one or two were lost. Those mistakes can't happen against Illinois. But there were few things this week to complain about.

Overall: Joe Paterno was on the field for the first half, then proceeded to the press box to rest his leg. We can only wait and see with this. I'm not going to speculate what's going to happen, but this doesn't look very good. Penn State still looks like the best team in the Big Ten, and we'll all see if that's accurate next week in the conference opener. Good win. Not great, but good.

*Extra points: After watching my Big Ten Bloggers Pick'em standing fall with Iowa's one-point loss at Pitt, I tuned into the Purdue-CMU game. It was a fantastic game, with Central Michigan scoring a TD with about one minute left, then getting the 2pt conversion to go up by one. Then PU scored on a long TD run, got the 2pt. Leading 32-25, CMU was moving the ball down-field, only to see Dan Lefevour's pass intercepted. Nice win for the Boilers.

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Poll Results: PSU to coast over Temple

Another week, another win by Penn State. More than 90 percent of voters chose Penn State this week, not unexpected with how the Lions have been playing.
Oh yeah, and there's tons of reports swirling that Joe Paterno will coach from the press box today. So what if he does? He's old, give him a break. The team's winning big, so don't complain.

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Big Ten Pick'em 2008: Week 4

This is a big week for the Big Ten. After flopping against USC and Oregon, not many in the media will pay attention to this week's slate. I'm going out on a limb, and pick the Big Ten to sweep all opponents. I think the conference is better than everyone portrays it.

(FYI: Each team name links to its respective official football site. I also used the USA Today Coaches Poll for the team rankings. Any time you see a ranking before a team name at ZN, it's the Coaches Poll rank.)

Northwestern vs. Ohio U. - The ZN pick: N'Western

Indiana vs. Ball State - The ZN pick: Indy

No. 14 Ohio St. vs. Troy - The ZN pick: Ohio St.

No. 15 Penn St vs. Temple - The ZN pick: Penn St

No. 8 Wisconsin vs. BYE - The ZN pick: BYE

Iowa @ Pittsburgh - The ZN pick: Iowa

Michigan vs. BYE - The ZN pick: BYE

Minnesota vs. Florida Atlantic - The ZN pick: Minny

Mich St vs. Notre Dame - The ZN pick: Mich St

Purdue vs. Central Michigan - The ZN pick: Purdue

No. 23 Illinois vs. BYE - The ZN pick: BYE

BTB Pick'em Standings After Week 3, compiled by Gopher Nation: That's right, No. 6 baby!
1 Gopher Nation 29
1 Happy Hour Valley 29
1 Hoosier Report 29
1 Lake the Posts 29
1 The Only Game That Matters 29
6 BHGP (HS) 28
6 Black Shoes Diary 28
6 Michigan SportsCenter 28
6 Zombie Nation 28
10 Hawkeye Sports News 27
10 Maize'n Brew 27
10 Off the Tracks ™ 27
10 Eleven Warriors 27
10 Enlightened Spartan 27
10 Ground Zero East Lansing 27
10 Paint the Town Orange 27
10 Maize & Blue Nation 27
10 The Nittany Line 27
19 Buckeye Battle Cry 26
19 Boiled Sports 26
19 Varsity Blue 26
22 The Buckeye Blog 23
23 Sparty MSU 17
24 Nittany White Out 8

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Preview, Game 4: No. 15 Penn State vs Temple

Kickoff: Sat., Sept. 20. 12:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Weather Forecast: Mid 70s, Mostly Sunny.

Host: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won at Syracuse, 55-13
Injuries: DE Maurice Evans (suspension - out game), DT Abe Koroma (suspension - out game), Jerome Hayes (ACL - out season), LB Sean Lee (ACL - out season), DE Devon Still (ankle - out season), S Nick Sukay (foot - out season), T Ako Poti (knee - possible), DL Mike Lucian (ankle - probable)
Key Players: (offense) WR Derrick Williams, QBs Daryll Clark; (defense) Saf. Anthony Scirrotto, DT Jared Odrick
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 375-125-3
Season Statistics:
Offense - 263 rush/273 pass/55.3 points per game
Defense - 64.3 rush/186 pass/12.3 points per game
TO Margin - (+2)

Why PSU will win -- It’s the offense, stupid: No Penn State offense since the 1920s has scored more points (166) in the first three games. Daryll Clark is the Big Ten pass efficiency leader, and Evan Royster is leading all starting RBs in YPC (8.1). Even though Temple’s defense is the strength of that team, it will have just as much trouble stopping PSU as the previous three opponents. And if PSU didn’t play tight last week at Syracuse, expect more wide-open play calling at Beaver Stadium this week. Defensive Line: What?! Yes, with all the injuries, suspensions and distractions, the line play has been lost in the shuffle. Penn State figured there would be some drop-off in run defense, but not so. What many forgot was that Penn State has loaded up on the D-line in recent recruiting, and now it’s paying off. DE Aaron Maybin leads PSU in sacks (4), and Jared Odrick has been a monster inside. With the leadership displayed by Josh Gaines so far, and the younger players getting a lot more playing time, this line has turned into the strength of the defense.

Visitor: Temple Owls
Record: 1-2 (0-1 MAC)
Last Game: Lost at Buffalo 30-28
Injuries: N/A (I know that a few players will be held out this week, but it's been tough to find the injury report for TU. I'm still trying though.)
Key Players: (offense) QB Adam DeMichele, WR Bruce Francis; (defense) DL Andre Neblett, CB Jamal Schulters
Head Coach: Al Golden, 3rd season, 5-19
Season Statistics:
Offense - 105.3 rush/207 pass/24 points per game
Defense - 201.3 rush/169.3 pass/16.3 points per game
TO Margin - (+2)

Why Temple will win -- The coaching staff: Al Golden and Mark D’Onofrio are two of the hottest names in coaching. No, they might not be Urban Meyer or Bronco Mendenhall. But there’s no doubt that Temple has a new attitude under this staff, and the talent is following right behind. I’m not sure Golden can get his team over a mountain like Penn State, but remember the 2007 edition of this game was much closer than the 31-0 final. Experience: Temple is actually more experienced than Penn State, returning all 22 starters from last season. Some of them have moved positions, but all came back. Adam DiMichele is an underrated runner at QB, and has grown into his role as the team’s field general. Penn State’s pass defense has been very suspect so far. DiMichele has to get some passes going to Bruce Francis, especially if Temple wants to open up any running room.

What will happen: I keep thinking PSU is due for a closer-than-expected game this season, but it just hasn’t happened. Temple’s offense just isn’t up to speed, and may have a lot of trouble moving the ball in a hostile environment. Joe Paterno won’t want to risk any injuries the week before Illinois comes to town, so if there’s an early big lead against Temple, the starters won’t go back in. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see PSU score another 35 first-half points (35 FH pts in first 3 gms), in order to get the starters out. Against a stingier Temple defense, we might see PSU’s first interception, and I’m calling for TU to hold PSU under its 55.3 ppg season average.

Prediction: No. 15 Penn State, 49 - Temple, 9

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Early Point Spreads You Should Know

The leader in picking college football games, CollegeFootballPoll.com, has released its MAC, Big East and Pac10 previews. I don’t believe there’s a more accurate operation out there for setting lines and picking W/L records in college football. Sure, I love to read the hundreds of previews throughout the year, but when it comes down to game time, I’m checking the lines set by CFP’s computers.*

Not to say that I’m at all surprised, but Penn State is favored by relatively comfortable margins in three games released. The Lions are early 2.72-point favorites against the Beavers in week two, Syracuse is an early 25.74-point underdog in the Carrier Dome, while in-state rival Temple is an early 15.04 underdog for the Owls’ visit to Beaver Stadium in week four.

The only one of those games I'm a little concerned about is Oregon State. Now, I fully believe Penn State will win it, but I also agree with the CFP computers that it could be a very close game. I was really surprised with the Syracuse line. The Orange(men) won't go to a bowl game, not even close. But for CFP to set a line larger than 25 points, the Syracuse faithful should start bracing themselves for an ugly afternoon. This could set up a very interesting story line when the Fighting Illini come to town and Penn State is sitting pretty at 4-0.

*CFP has been freakishly accurate since its inception in 1993. From CFP: “The computer has picked the winner in 74.7% of all games played since 1993 (7,828-2,645) while beating the spread in 54.2% of those games (5,221-4,419)... The computer has predicted the national title match-up three times (1993, 1998 and 2005), and at least one contestant every year except 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2006. The team it picked to win the title did so three times (1993, 1998, and 1999), and lost in the title game four times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005).” Yeah, I’d call that freakish.

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First Look: Temple Owls

With this coaching staff, Penn State really needs to schedule Temple as its homecoming game. Really, Temple Head Coach Al Golden was one of the great Penn State tight ends (’91), Defensive Coordinator Mark D’Onofrio was his team mate and an outstanding linebacker for the Lions, and even the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Matt Ruhle is a former lion (’97). I think the biggest draw for this game is already being set up--the pupil vs. the mentor. But the underlying story line--one PSU fans may overlook--is the amazing job Golden has done in Philadelphia since his arrival in 2006. Five years ago, if you said “Temple” and “bowl game” in the same sentence, it was part of a joke. Now, it’s a real possibility. Scary, huh?

Three things you should know about Temple:

1. Could be the best staff in the nation -- That’s not an understatement. If Golden and Co. pull of the once-impossible and take the Owls bowling, this will turn into the new Rutgers-type feel good story. The results may not blow your mind, but this staff has changed the attitude of a program. In Golden’s first year, the Owls were outscored by 365 points. Last year that margin shrunk to 118, and won four games! Those four wins were the most since 2002, and the three-game win streak was Temple’s longest since 1990!

2. Everyone returns -- Temple returns every single starter from 2007, and some have moved to backup spots to make room for some new young talent. That will translate into crucial depth if this team has to finish strong to gain bowl-eligibility. Quarterback Adam DiMichele (PSU Transfer) enters his senior season behind a veteran offensive line, with big play threats like Bruce Francis and Jason Harper, and a shut-down defense. If the Owls can win the turnover battle (broke even in ’07), this could turn from a promising year to a special one.

3. A challenging, but not impossible schedule -- Temple gets only five home games this season, but only one of them is probably out of reach (UConn). The away games set up nicely with trips to Army, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Central Michigan, Navy and Kent State. I figure only Central Michigan and Navy should pose real problems for the Owls. But if Temple could have a winning road record this year, a bowl is certainly reachable, with the final two games at home against Eastern Michigan and Akron.

That wraps up the non-conference slate for First Look. Penn State has every chance to arrive here at 4-0, but that doesn’t guarantee much after last season’s disappointing Big Ten campaign. What purpose these first four games will serve may not be realized until October, as the early schedule will allow Penn State to work in its new quarterback(s) and gain some identity on both sides of the ball. Don’t expect these teams to go quietly. Just ask Michigan how easy I-AA teams are. Just ask Syracuse if they’re going to be jacked up to play a bitter old rival. Just ask Oregon State if they’re going to take their 2,000-mile journey lightly. And just ask the Temple Owls if they want to help their coach beat his old team.

And you thought the non-conference games weren’t that interesting.

Next week’s First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini.

-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

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If you want respect, schedule good teams, Part 1 of 4

1/4.

Everyone argues that strength of schedule should mean everything in college football, until someone calls their team out on scheduling Directional Community College...

I don’t know the real reason Penn State pulled a U-ie by dropping Arkansas State from the 2008 schedule, replacing ASU with the Oregon State Beavers. But I know one thing; they didn’t do it for the jokes. Could it be that Tim Curley grew a set and went door to door, asking for any BCS school to come to Happy Valley? Even more surprising was that OSU didn’t demand a return game. But even if they did, it would allow PSU to really test the guts of the program. If the team can make a trip like that and pull off a win in a tough place to play—OSU ended USC’s 33-regular-season-game win streak in 2006 in Corvallis—it would pay enormous dividends in recruiting and national perception.

That aside, I’ve heard for years about PSU’s lack of interest in using the new 12-game schedule to renew the rivalry with Pittsburgh. Some have even said that if PSU doesn’t want to play Pitt any time soon, at least have an on-going rotation of former eastern rivals like Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia. While I understand that PSU might not want to lock themselves into a long-term deal with one school—Lord knows, the Michigan/Notre Dame series has failed miserably and never gets good ratings—the atrocious scheduling policies used by PSU athletics is hurting the program. There’s no excuse for scheduling a I-AA school. I don’t care if Florida, Michigan (we know how that one worked out) or Texas does it. Penn State has gained a reputation for not being able to beat good BCS teams, and scheduling bottom-feeders won’t help.

The fight over whether or not a school should schedule I-AA’s will never end, so I’m just going to move past that. I’m just not buying PSU’s line that “We need the seventh home game.” It’s not so much that PSU wants to have seven home games; that’s perfectly fine. I don’t like that they’re using it as justification for not being more aggressive in their scheduling of BCS schools, and—dare I say—playing some away games.


In 2000, PSU and Pitt played their last games against one another, and if you subtract the Kickoff Classic, it was a pretty ordinary 11-game season—six home games, five away games. You didn’t hear PSU crying like a baby for that seventh game then. Now take a look at 2001. There were only three out-of-conference games that season, and all three slots were used for quality opponents. I’d say opening with Miami, taking on a good Southern Miss program and then traveling to Charlottesville is a damn good job of giving your team the upper hand when people look at strength-of-schedule.


I think 2002 was a fluke. No team should be allowed to play eight home games in one season. But it wasn’t even like that helped PSU, as it couldn’t even go through the home slate clean. That’s beside the point. 2002 and 2003 felt like a scheduling onslaught, with PSU traveling to Lincoln (remember Nebraska was still considered a power then) and taking on Boston College. At this time, Temple was still technically a BCS team, playing in the Big East. Penn State knew that 2002 and 2003 would have 12 games, and scheduled two very good BCS teams. It didn’t kill the program.

I almost have to give PSU a pass on 2004 and 2005, as Alabama was supposed to play a home-and-home series, but backed out like pussies. Just think of how strong PSU’s schedule would have been had it played Bama those two seasons. Would it have changed the landscape of 2005? We can only wonder. Overall though, I’d give PSU a failing grade for 2004, as I believe they could have found some better team than UCF to replace Bama. 2005 was a much better deal, since PSU sort of lucked out with CMU turning out to be one of the better MAC teams. Cincinnati and South Florida, looking back, had a lot of future stars in 2005.


Probably the most disappointing schedule in a long time was the 2006 docket. Youngstown State was the first I-AA team scheduled in, well, a really long time. That was sort of the final straw for me. There were dozens of better choices for that spot. I remember hearing that SMU was free that week. How cool would it have been for PSU to play SMU in a revenge game for 1982? Great story line for the ESPN guys to harp on. They should have put Craig James on the crew for that one. Buffalo in 2007 was a curious choice. It wasn’t horrible, but not good. Florida International was a worse team to play than YSU in 2006. There are 70 teams in I-A which could be considered “quality” opponents. Penn State basically told everyone that it was too lazy to go out and find one of them to play.

*Temple: Before I finish up, just a word on Temple. It’s a nice idea to have Temple back on the schedule again. It builds excitement in the eastern part of the state, and strengthens PSU’s ties to South Jersey. It’s also a great situation with the Owls getting better, and several former PSU standouts are leading them to respectability. Even if it’s just a farce, and PSU is in it only for the quick buck (which I’m sure they are) I’m relatively happy that Temple will be on the schedule in the future, as long as the Owls are the only OOC “cupcake” PSU plays each season.

I'll have Part 2 up by the end of the week. In that installment, I'll look at some of the worst BCS team schedules played all over college football since 2000. Next week, I'll have Part 3, a look at the best BCS team schedules since 2000. Then, in the final installment I'll list the matchups I'm looking forward to seeing, and the ones I would love to see.

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Article of the day: The Future Penn State Coaching Staff?

I generally try to feature an article each day from another site. Usually they're from Penn State or Big Ten blogs, sometimes from other sites. Please check out the author's Web site. I always supply the link in the introduction.

I'm feeling like crap today, so I may only get an AOTD up. So, here it is. It's very interesting how quickly the Temple football staff is gaining recognition for their work, and Head Coach Al Golden is rewarding them accordingly. Even more interesting is the fact that most of them are Penn State graduates. This begs the question, "Is this the future of Penn State football?" We can only wait and see.

Three assistant football coaches receive promotions after DeLeone resigns
By Tyson McCloud

Longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno recalled Mark D'Onofrio as a strong leader when the former Nittany Lions linebacker played for him from 1988-1991. He also remembered that D'Onofrio, Temple's defensive coordinator last season, wasn't the easiest player to handle.

"D'Onofrio used to drive me nuts because of his temper," Paterno said after the Nittany Lions defeated Temple in November. "I was kidding him before the game . . . I said, 'Mark, you're the only guy I threw out [of practice] before stretch.'"

The 39-year-old North Bergen, N.J. native has come a long way since then.

On Friday, D'Onofrio was promoted to assistant head coach, while retaining his role of defensive coordinator and gaining additional administrative duties.

Two days later, quarterbacks coach Matt Rhule and Andrew Dees, the tight ends and offensive guards coach, also received promotions. Rhule, who will continue operating as quarterbacks coach, was named offensive coordinator, replacing George DeLeone, who resigned after two seasons as the Owls' offensive architect to become tight end coach for the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Dees will be in charge of the offensive line after serving as tight ends and offensive guards coach the past two seasons.

Under D'Onofrio, the Owls led the Mid-American Conference in five defensive statistical categories in the team's inaugural season in the MAC.

"What Mark has done with our defense between years one and two is truly exceptional; considering that we did not have any seniors on the depth chart," coach Al Golden said in a statement. Golden and D'Onofrio were teammates at Penn State and coached together at Virginia.

"Coach D'Onofrio is a brilliant coach, a tremendous motivator of young men, and widely considered amongst the best recruiters in the business," Golden said.

Rhule, who played at Penn State from 1994-1997, has a "tremendous overall conceptual knowledge of football," DeLeone said.

"He can continue and exceed the foundation that has been laid in the prior two years on the offensive side of the ball," DeLeone added.

Dees, 38, a three-year starter at Syracuse from 1988-1991, also received praise from the former offensive coordinator.

"Without question, he is the right choice to move Temple's offensive line to championship level play," DeLeone said.

Tyson McCloud can be reached at tyson@temple.edu.

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