5-Part Game Plan That Would Guarantee a Temple Opening-Game Upset of Penn State

5-Part Game Plan That Would Guarantee a Temple Opening-Game Upset of Penn State

By Mike Gibson

July 19, 2015

5 Ways Temple Could Upset Penn State in Opener

Temple football, Penn State football, — Summer practice at Temple begins in a few weeks and nothing would help jump-start the season like a win over in-state rival Penn State in the Sept. 5 opener at Lincoln Financial Field. To win their first game in the series since 1941, the Owls will need to learn from their past failings against the Nittany Lions, and these are just five fixes to incorporate into a game plan that would guarantee a win.

Summer practice at Temple begins in a few weeks and nothing would help jump-start the season like a win over in-state rival Penn State in the Sept. 5 opener at Lincoln Financial Field. To win their first game in the series since 1941, the Owls will need to learn from their past failings against the Nittany Lions, and these are just five fixes to incorporate into a game plan that would guarantee a win.

5. Return the Punts

Temple punt return,

5. Return the Punts

Temple punt return, — Last year, the Temple coaching staff decided the best way to handle punts was just to fair catch them with a slow possession receiver. To beat Penn State, the Owls are going to have to turn that into an offensive play. They have the athletes to flip the field, including Pennsylvania’s leading scholastic returner of all time, backup DB Nate L. Smith, and incoming All-American Kareem Ali Jr., whose spring punt returns were highlight-reel quality.

Last year, the Temple coaching staff decided the best way to handle punts was just to fair catch them with a slow possession receiver. To beat Penn State, the Owls are going to have to turn that into an offensive play. They have the athletes to flip the field, including Pennsylvania’s leading scholastic returner of all time, backup DB Nate L. Smith, and incoming All-American Kareem Ali Jr., whose spring punt returns were highlight-reel quality.

4. Get Robbie Anderson Eligible

Robbie Anderson, Temple,

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4. Get Robbie Anderson Eligible

Robbie Anderson, Temple, — In January of 2014, Anderson—who was second in the nation in yards-per-catch during the 2013 season (18.7)—flunked out of Temple. Some hard academic work at Florida community colleges led to the credits needed to re-enroll at Temple but Anderson still has another Temple summer session to get eligible and he needs to be followed to every class. Anderson is a NFL-level talent and PSU cannot cover him and might not even be able to contain him.

In January of 2014, Anderson—who was second in the nation in yards-per-catch during the 2013 season (18.7)—flunked out of Temple. Some hard academic work at Florida community colleges led to the credits needed to re-enroll at Temple but Anderson still has another Temple summer session to get eligible and he needs to be followed to every class. Anderson is a NFL-level talent and PSU cannot cover him and might not even be able to contain him.

3. Establish the Run

Jahad Thomas, Temple,

3. Establish the Run

Jahad Thomas, Temple, — The Owls were last in the AAC in rushing and that led to the worst third-down efficiency in the nation. That should change with four-star tailback recruit T.J. Simmons enrolling, but nothing would help either Simmons or returning tailback Jahad Thomas (34) than an additional blocker at the point of attack with a fullback. Temple has never had a great running game without a great blocking fullback and the Owls and that's no coincidence.

The Owls were last in the AAC in rushing and that led to the worst third-down efficiency in the nation. That should change with four-star tailback recruit T.J. Simmons enrolling, but nothing would help either Simmons or returning tailback Jahad Thomas (34) than an additional blocker at the point of attack with a fullback. Temple has never had a great running game without a great blocking fullback and the Owls and that's no coincidence.

2. Throw Off Play-Action

Zaire Williams, P.J. Walker, Temple,

2. Throw Off Play-Action

Zaire Williams, P.J. Walker, Temple, — The Owls did a terrible job protecting their talented sophomore quarterback, P.J. Walker, against Penn State a year ago because they gave him a steady diet of empty backfields, leaving him vulnerable to blitzing linebackers. By establishing the run and throwing off play-action, Temple receivers should be running so free through the secondary Walker will not know which one to pick out.

The Owls did a terrible job protecting their talented sophomore quarterback, P.J. Walker, against Penn State a year ago because they gave him a steady diet of empty backfields, leaving him vulnerable to blitzing linebackers. By establishing the run and throwing off play-action, Temple receivers should be running so free through the secondary Walker will not know which one to pick out.

1. Sack Christian Hackenberg

Northwestern football, Christian Hackenberg, Penn State football,

1. Sack Christian Hackenberg

Northwestern football, Christian Hackenberg, Penn State football, — A then 1-2 Northwestern team established the 2014 blueprint for beating Penn State by putting quarterback Christian Hackenberg on his backside early and often in a 29-6 win. A sacked Hackenberg leads to a hearing-the-footsteps Hackenberg, and that leads to numerous interceptions and fumbles. Temple needs to make Hackenberg extremely uncomfortable, preferably rushing out of its base 5-2 defense but blitzing if necessary.

A then 1-2 Northwestern team established the 2014 blueprint for beating Penn State by putting quarterback Christian Hackenberg on his backside early and often in a 29-6 win. A sacked Hackenberg leads to a hearing-the-footsteps Hackenberg, and that leads to numerous interceptions and fumbles. Temple needs to make Hackenberg extremely uncomfortable, preferably rushing out of its base 5-2 defense but blitzing if necessary.

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Penn State Nittany Lions

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Temple Owls

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