Temple thoughts

I was dying to blog this game, though either blogspot or filters at Lincoln Financial weren't cooperating. It's a good thing no one in CT gets ESPNU because the I am certain there were those people who would have been in meltdown mode.

Still, a 12-9 victory is better than a 6-0 loss. Winning masks all ills. It's yet determined if this is correctable.

Here is my take:

First the good:

Donald Brown was even better than his numbers. I thought he ran with such strength and power the Temple defense wanted no part of him. Look at his stats,only one rush stuffed for negative yards. That is a tremendous job by the offensive line. I even like Tyler Lorenzen running much more. He is a good athlete and they have to do this.

The defense was outstanding. They picked on Jasper Howard early, but he got back in shape. Just a couple of breakdowns on long pass plays. I thought the defense was stellar. temple was never comfortable. When Al Golden went on it at 4rth and 1, I didn't think temple was going to make it. I think the defense can be that good.

Now onto the passing game:

Like I said above, winning masks all deficiencies. I am not sure how much the weather really affected Tyler Lorenzen throwing the ball, though I am sure it did immensely. Yes, Temple played in it too, but some of Lorenzen's passes were so off I wonder if he never got a good grip on it. I don't know what to make of the passing game yet this year.

A disturbing trend (probably further magnified by the weather) was the constant passes out to the flat. I don't get dumping off to the RB or tight end for a 2 yard gain. I would just have run the ball.

The passing game goes sideways, nothing vertical. Even if its worthless to go "over the top" (which, like I said is not possible in the weather) I am more curious about nothing in the middle of the field. I wish I had the stat yards per pass play. I can't remember a play that tried to go 20 yards, much less started as a 20 yard pass. Not a single shot down the field.

With the way Brown is running, you can't play-action your way to one big gainer on the day? What does that say about your receivers?

The problem isn't the deep ball, Huskies don't have the players to do that. There is no intermediate passing game either. You have to be able to complete 10-20 yard passes. The Huskies were going very short all day ( maybe by design?)

Is it Lorenzen? I saw him last year orchestrate some pretty good drives passing the ball last year. I also saw D.J. Hernandez, Steve Brouse, Brad Kanuch and Donald Brown drop some passes that should have been caught Saturday.

Lorenzen also missed an open Kashif Moore on a slant by short-hopping him and threw perhaps the worst pass of his career missing an open Mike Smith in the endzone by about 10 feet and short.

Randy Edsall knows it has to be better, but the offense did put up 293 yards rushing. Why even attempt to go away from that? This team doesn't need a great passing game, it just needs an effective passing game that can move the chains on third and 5. If they can do that, ride Brown, and rely on the defense, they are going to win a ton of games.

To be fair, evaluating the game is hard considering the conditions. Not saying throw it out, but there are mitigating circumstances.

Lorenzen said he had a miserable time gripping the ball after the game.

Like I said. I wasn't that enthralled with the receivers in fall camp, and I don't think the passing game has shown any degree of productivity in two games.

The weather. It is a factor. I can't say how much. I was dry all day, and there were some terrible passes out there as well as horrendous drops. When it is played in a rain storm, what areyou supposed to do?

At 2-0, the only play is wait and see.

The answers are coming soon. The Huskies are going to need to pass on Saturday against Virginia. They won't be able to manage the game around that one.



Other thoughts:

Temple coach Al Golden -- according to transcripts -- was irate about the first overtime and how the chains were moved. The Owls had a 16 yard gain on the opening play of the OT and there was a holding call. The ball was moved back and firstdown was replayed.

Here is the problem, the officals ruled it initially as first and 10, but after first down, the chains were switched to 1st and 4, which after an incomplete became second and four.

Golden was irate because he said he would have run a different play at 1st and 4 because they would be ahead of schedule.

"It should have been 1st and 4, and it was 1st and 10. When you are 1st and 4, you guys that go to AC (Atlantic City) know that you are playing with house moneyThey said it wrong. They ruled it wrong on the field and they apologized after the game. 1st and 4 you are taking shots into the endzone. First and 4 is a lot different, you are ahead of schedule on second down. How they can do that I don't know? End of story?"

Not quite. DeMichele was sacked on second and 4, but the Huskies were whistled for a late hit giving Temple a first down.

Golden downplayed that there is a conspiracy against Temple.

"There is no conspiracy. All I'm saying is that was a bad deal. Not only do we get a flagg, that takes a play away, but they set the ball wrong. That's bad. "

Big East officials did the game.