Defending Temple's Offense

[Dr Z]

How should we defend Temple defensively? Lets look at their last 3 games and see how they attacked Toledo, Navy and Miami.Seems to me that they are gaining a LOT of yards on the ground running the ball, and not a whole lot of yards through the air. Lets take away what they do best (running the ball) and make them beat us through the air. Test their passing game, force them into making mistakes. Come out with a BIG defensive package, get some size up front to stop the run and let the CB play some man. STOP the run and make them pass. If we come out with the 3-3-5, we are going to get run over while playing right into their hands. Let's try to make it hard for them to get first downs. I can not accept a undersized man in our secondary getting 15 tackles this week, because they will be 7 to 20 yards down field.

[ziptrumpet87]

Temple - Akron loomsSounds like if the O-line plays well and protects Nicely and he and the receivers get going the Zips have a chance in this one.

[Dr Z]

Temple - Akron looms

Hmmmmm

The redshirt sophomore quarterback replaced redshirt junior starter Vaughn Charlton Thursday night and did what coach Al Golden wants from the quarterback position – manage the clock and avoid turnovers

This should be a defensive coordinator's DREAM!!! Put 8 in the box and turn the big dogs loose.

[johnnyzip84]

If it's even possible, I think Temple's dependence on the run is even greater than the numbers indicate. I've seen their QB Vaughn Charlton on TV a few times and he has to be one of the worst at the position I have ever seen at the FBS (1-A) level. It speaks volumes of the remaining talent available to the Owls that they are winning with him behind center.Of course, game-planning to stop the run and actually carrying it out are two different things. Bernard Pierce is as good a FR running back as the Zips have played against in a long, long time. If the Zips pick up where they left off with the run support from Saturday, perhaps we can at least make him work for his yardage or even get him to cough it up a few times.As pointed out, the Zip O-Line must play well, perhaps even better than they did against Can't. Temple's front seven was particularly impressive when I watched them against Navy.Considering everything, I agree the Owls might be ripe for the picking. The Golden Boy might have his work cut out for him in getting them ready to perform well against a 2-7 team.Edit: I didn't realize Charlton had been replaced by Stewart. That was a matter of time I suppose. The game plan should remain the same of course.

[ZachTheZip]

Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run.

[Aaron]

Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run.

Temple has the worst pass defense in the MAC - shouldn't we 'pass the ball and stop the run?'

[ZachTheZip]

Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run.

Temple has the worst pass defense in the MAC - shouldn't we 'pass the ball and stop the run?'

Sure, pass the ball. But you have to run it. Temple will try to blitz Nicely constantly, otherwise.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run.

Temple has the worst pass defense in the MAC - shouldn't we 'pass the ball and stop the run?'

I liked the mix we had at the K.e.n.t. game.Nicely should throw 30 - 40 passes. Not 59, like Keith.

[Dr Z]

Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run. Run the ball and stop the run.

Temple has the worst pass defense in the MAC - shouldn't we 'pass the ball and stop the run?'

I liked the mix we had at the K.e.n.t. game. Nicely should throw 30 - 40 passes. Not 59, like Keith.

If we are going out of the shotgun, I agree. No sense running (except for a change of pace & to keep the D honest) when the running back has to run 5 yards just to get back to the line of scrimmage. Both our offensive & defensive schemes seem like they are set up to stop our running game, and get the opposition's going. Now, if you give me a full back and a tight end and go under center, then I think we should run the ball, control the clock, and set up our QB to make some easy play action passes. But we all know that ain't happening in the next 3 Zip games.

[Z.I.P.]

If we come out with the 3-3-5, we are going to get run over while playing right into their hands. Let's try to make it hard for them to get first downs. I can not accept a undersized man in our secondary getting 15 tackles this week, because they will be 7 to 20 yards down field.

Well...here's my prediction: We are going to get run over while playing right into their hands.When has a JD Brookhart-coached team ever shown the ability to adapt to what the opposition puts on the field -- or for that matter to what they have on the field themselves?So, my analysis says, to be competitive, Akron must not only STOP this dude Pierce who has 89 carries in the past three games, but must make plays and turn the ball over the same way Miami did last week -- and better yet, help out Patrick & Co. by putting points on the board defensively. Does anyone know if Devoe will be able to play this week? He seems to give us the long running threat we lack otherwise.

[Lee Adams]

temple has a solid resume for a mac team...they can and will slug it out on both sides of the ball...al golden changed qb's when he figured it would help the team...i don't believe fleming's defense can slug it out..never has been able to...temple wins the mac east...

[Dr Z]

temple has a solid resume for a mac team

So how would you defend it?

[GP1]

When has a JD Brookhart-coached team ever shown the ability to adapt to what the opposition puts on the field -- or for that matter to what they have on the field themselves?

The MAC Championship Game was the best coached game in the D-1A era. Huge come from behind win. Defense adjusted to what NIU was doing and held them to field goals instead of TDs. Zips score seven instead of six and win by one. Many of the games the Zips won under Brookhart had decent coaching. The problem is there are too few of the well coached games and too many of the poorly coached games.With good coaching, the team can do much better next year. After suffering through MAC games this week on TV, I am convinced we can beat any team that has been on TV with the exception of CMU. The players proved to me last week they have talent and can execute a game plan even when they are not put in the best position to win. I was very proud of the players last week and I remain very bullish about the near future of this team.

[ZIPFB#1]

I agree with you GP1...I have said for weeks that the only teams we should have lost to are CMU and Penn St. We are comparable to any other MAC team. The talent is there...maybe after the Can't win, the confidence is there too! The defense will play tough tonight. Hopefully the offense will do what they did last week...it should be a good game! Go Zips!

[Captain Kangaroo]

When has a JD Brookhart-coached team ever shown the ability to adapt to what the opposition puts on the field -- or for that matter to what they have on the field themselves?

The MAC Championship Game was the best coached game in the D-1A era. Huge come from behind win. Defense adjusted to what NIU was doing and held them to field goals instead of TDs. Zips score seven instead of six and win by one. Many of the games the Zips won under Brookhart had decent coaching. The problem is there are too few of the well coached games and too many of the poorly coached games.With good coaching, the team can do much better next year. After suffering through MAC games this week on TV, I am convinced we can beat any team that has been on TV with the exception of CMU. The players proved to me last week they have talent and can execute a game plan even when they are not put in the best position to win. I was very proud of the players last week and I remain very bullish about the near future of this team.

OU is terrible. Too bad it was Nicely's 1st game and not his 4th. Hell...if Nicely plays the entire game we probably beat them.Buffalo is terrible. The INT at game's end hurt us...but a true Fr QB will do that stuff on occasion. Certainly a winnable game.NIU is mediocre. Miller catches the Nicely bomb in the 4th quarter and it is a dramatically different outcome. 17-6 would really have put the heat on NIU.K.e.n.t. is terrible.EMU is terrible.BG is terrible.Temple is a good benchmark for JD and the Zips. Nicely now has his feet wet. The D has held opponents under 29 points in 5 consecutive games (no small feat considering our 26-yard rugby punts, pop up kick-offs and penchant for offensive 3-and-outs). The O-line is coming off their best performance of the season. We're at home.I say - if Tuzze has over 50 yards rushing, we win.

[Lee Adams]

temple has a solid resume for a mac team

So how would you defend it?

with fleming's defense?!!! please...these guys beat Navy for goodness sake...akron will not be able to run...might be best to let temple get their yards on the ground and avoid big plays by their offense...akron's secondary needs to play man on the temple receivers... and hope...the d line and linebackers such as they are can slow down the run...need to read at the line and TRY to shut down the run w/o overcomitting on the rush...my real fear is that the temple D will completely control the game...the akron offense will not be able to do what they did against Can't...don't be fooled by last weeks game..temple is playing for a MAC championship...they won't be ambushed...

[Lee Adams]

How should we defend Temple defensively? Lets look at their last 3 games and see how they attacked Toledo, Navy and Miami.Seems to me that they are gaining a LOT of yards on the ground running the ball, and not a whole lot of yards through the air. Lets take away what they do best (running the ball) and make them beat us through the air. Test their passing game, force them into making mistakes. Come out with a BIG defensive package, get some size up front to stop the run and let the CB play some man. STOP the run and make them pass. If we come out with the 3-3-5, we are going to get run over while playing right into their hands. Let's try to make it hard for them to get first downs. I can not accept a undersized man in our secondary getting 15 tackles this week, because they will be 7 to 20 yards down field.

fleming's defense can't stop a running team..period...

[GP1]

please...these guys beat Navy for goodness sake...akron will not be able to run...might be best to let temple get their yards on the ground and avoid big plays by their offense...akron's secondary needs to play man on the temple receivers... and hope...the d line and linebackers such as they are can slow down the run...need to read at the line and TRY to shut down the run w/o overcomitting on the rush...my real fear is that the temple D will completely control the game...the akron offense will not be able to do what they did against Can't...don't be fooled by last weeks game..temple is playing for a MAC championship...they won't be ambushed...

Wow, beating Navy is the sign of greatness? Here is their 2009 schedule and results. Navy hasn't beaten anybody good! Notre Dame is horrible and wouldn't come in third in a second tier conference like the Big 10. So your advice seems to be to allow Temple to get their yards on the ground (losing strategey) while keeping them from getting yards on the ground by having the front read their keys (winning strategy)....brilliant.Ladies and gentlemen, the Great GP1 is about to split the atom on this web board. Are you ready? A football game is won by running a balanced offense (near equal number of runs and passes) and forcing the other team to run an unbalanced by preventing their running game from doing anything. Get a big lead early with big plays (throw down field JD), run the ball late to kill the clock and force them to throw. How about mixing some man-to-man with zone when rushing only 3? If we are going to run blitz on first and second down, blitz from the outside and not up the middle....I think Wagner and our DLine could fight it out in the middle if they did a better job of forcing the action into the middle.....Our DBs do not tackle well enough to have the action forced out to them. One more DLineman would help to support the middle if they blitzed from the outside.Pass on first down and run on second down. Run straight at them like the Steelers did to the fraud that is the Denver Broncos Monday. >Let us pause briefly for a Great GP1 prediction.....The NFL has figured out Denver and IF Denver makes the playoffs, they will be the last team in. Cincinnati could win the AFC North and the Steelers would get a Wild Card (they now have a tie-breaker over Denver with the win Monday). Lots of other teams could buck the Broncos right out of the playoffs.<Enough predictions....................... An old rule in football is blitz early and cover late. If they have the lead and are getting pressure on the QB with their base defense, then they can win with this strategy. The only real unknown is if the Zips can actually play tight man-to-man defense. We never see them play tight man-to-man so we don't know how they will do at it. Our secondary is more concerned with not giving up big plays than making a play.If they have the lead late, run, run and run some more. Don't listen to the idiots who say that is playing not to lose.....I've watched the Steelers do it for 40 years and it seems to work for them. Teams that "play not to lose" always seem to end up losing. It isn't exciting and makes everyone nervous, but it works.

[dreal1scout]

When has a JD Brookhart-coached team ever shown the ability to adapt to what the opposition puts on the field -- or for that matter to what they have on the field themselves?

The MAC Championship Game was the best coached game in the D-1A era. Huge come from behind win. Defense adjusted to what NIU was doing and held them to field goals instead of TDs. Zips score seven instead of six and win by one. Many of the games the Zips won under Brookhart had decent coaching. The problem is there are too few of the well coached games and too many of the poorly coached games.With good coaching, the team can do much better next year. After suffering through MAC games this week on TV, I am convinced we can beat any team that has been on TV with the exception of CMU. The players proved to me last week they have talent and can execute a game plan even when they are not put in the best position to win. I was very proud of the players last week and I remain very bullish about the near future of this team.

OU is terrible. Too bad it was Nicely's 1st game and not his 4th. Hell...if Nicely plays the entire game we probably beat them.Buffalo is terrible. The INT at game's end hurt us...but a true Fr QB will do that stuff on occasion. Certainly a winnable game.NIU is mediocre. Miller catches the Nicely bomb in the 4th quarter and it is a dramatically different outcome. 17-6 would really have put the heat on NIU.K.e.n.t. is terrible.EMU is terrible.BG is terrible.Temple is a good benchmark for JD and the Zips. Nicely now has his feet wet. The D has held opponents under 29 points in 5 consecutive games (no small feat considering our 26-yard rugby punts, pop up kick-offs and penchant for offensive 3-and-outs). The O-line is coming off their best performance of the season. We're at home.I say - if Tuzze has over 50 yards rushing, we win.

Nicely, Tuzze,.... hoo hoo. Hoo Hoo HOO HOOIs there an Owl in here? Nope, the only Owl I'll be seein' tonight is the one Temple Owl RB (#3? something) draggin' his sorry butt back to the huddle after meeting up with Mr. Monster Crushing Amondo Sewell, aka The Bird Catcher! GO ZIPS!!!

[Lee Adams]

please...these guys beat Navy for goodness sake...akron will not be able to run...might be best to let temple get their yards on the ground and avoid big plays by their offense...akron's secondary needs to play man on the temple receivers... and hope...the d line and linebackers such as they are can slow down the run...need to read at the line and TRY to shut down the run w/o overcomitting on the rush...my real fear is that the temple D will completely control the game...the akron offense will not be able to do what they did against Can't...don't be fooled by last weeks game..temple is playing for a MAC championship...they won't be ambushed...

Wow, beating Navy is the sign of greatness? Here is their 2009 schedule and results. Navy hasn't beaten anybody good! Notre Dame is horrible and wouldn't come in third in a second tier conference like the Big 10. So your advice seems to be to allow Temple to get their yards on the ground (losing strategey) while keeping them from getting yards on the ground by having the front read their keys (winning strategy)....brilliant.Ladies and gentlemen, the Great GP1 is about to split the atom on this web board. Are you ready? A football game is won by running a balanced offense (near equal number of runs and passes) and forcing the other team to run an unbalanced by preventing their running game from doing anything. Get a big lead early with big plays (throw down field JD), run the ball late to kill the clock and force them to throw. How about mixing some man-to-man with zone when rushing only 3? If we are going to run blitz on first and second down, blitz from the outside and not up the middle....I think Wagner and our DLine could fight it out in the middle if they did a better job of forcing the action into the middle.....Our DBs do not tackle well enough to have the action forced out to them. One more DLineman would help to support the middle if they blitzed from the outside.Pass on first down and run on second down. Run straight at them like the Steelers did to the fraud that is the Denver Broncos Monday. >Let us pause briefly for a Great GP1 prediction.....The NFL has figured out Denver and IF Denver makes the playoffs, they will be the last team in. Cincinnati could win the AFC North and the Steelers would get a Wild Card (they now have a tie-breaker over Denver with the win Monday). Lots of other teams could buck the Broncos right out of the playoffs.<Enough predictions....................... An old rule in football is blitz early and cover late. If they have the lead and are getting pressure on the QB with their base defense, then they can win with this strategy. The only real unknown is if the Zips can actually play tight man-to-man defense. We never see them play tight man-to-man so we don't know how they will do at it. Our secondary is more concerned with not giving up big plays than making a play.If they have the lead late, run, run and run some more. Don't listen to the idiots who say that is playing not to lose.....I've watched the Steelers do it for 40 years and it seems to work for them. Teams that "play not to lose" always seem to end up losing. It isn't exciting and makes everyone nervous, but it works.

only you used the word 'great' not me...you certainly don't have to be great to beat the zips now do you?

[Lee Adams]

When has a JD Brookhart-coached team ever shown the ability to adapt to what the opposition puts on the field -- or for that matter to what they have on the field themselves?

The MAC Championship Game was the best coached game in the D-1A era. Huge come from behind win. Defense adjusted to what NIU was doing and held them to field goals instead of TDs. Zips score seven instead of six and win by one. Many of the games the Zips won under Brookhart had decent coaching. The problem is there are too few of the well coached games and too many of the poorly coached games.With good coaching, the team can do much better next year. After suffering through MAC games this week on TV, I am convinced we can beat any team that has been on TV with the exception of CMU. The players proved to me last week they have talent and can execute a game plan even when they are not put in the best position to win. I was very proud of the players last week and I remain very bullish about the near future of this team.

OU is terrible. Too bad it was Nicely's 1st game and not his 4th. Hell...if Nicely plays the entire game we probably beat them.Buffalo is terrible. The INT at game's end hurt us...but a true Fr QB will do that stuff on occasion. Certainly a winnable game.NIU is mediocre. Miller catches the Nicely bomb in the 4th quarter and it is a dramatically different outcome. 17-6 would really have put the heat on NIU.K.e.n.t. is terrible.EMU is terrible.BG is terrible.Temple is a good benchmark for JD and the Zips. Nicely now has his feet wet. The D has held opponents under 29 points in 5 consecutive games (no small feat considering our 26-yard rugby punts, pop up kick-offs and penchant for offensive 3-and-outs). The O-line is coming off their best performance of the season. We're at home.I say - if Tuzze has over 50 yards rushing, we win.

Nicely, Tuzze,.... hoo hoo. Hoo Hoo HOO HOOIs there an Owl in here? Nope, the only Owl I'll be seein' tonight is the one Temple Owl RB (#3? something) draggin' his sorry butt back to the huddle after meeting up with Mr. Monster Crushing Amondo Sewell, aka The Bird Catcher! GO ZIPS!!!

lets see... we lost to buffalo and niu...beat Can't...haven't played bg or emu..point?

[zippy_ua_00]

please...these guys beat Navy for goodness sake...akron will not be able to run...might be best to let temple get their yards on the ground and avoid big plays by their offense...akron's secondary needs to play man on the temple receivers... and hope...the d line and linebackers such as they are can slow down the run...need to read at the line and TRY to shut down the run w/o overcomitting on the rush...my real fear is that the temple D will completely control the game...the akron offense will not be able to do what they did against Can't...don't be fooled by last weeks game..temple is playing for a MAC championship...they won't be ambushed...

Wow, beating Navy is the sign of greatness? Here is their 2009 schedule and results. Navy hasn't beaten anybody good! Notre Dame is horrible and wouldn't come in third in a second tier conference like the Big 10. So your advice seems to be to allow Temple to get their yards on the ground (losing strategey) while keeping them from getting yards on the ground by having the front read their keys (winning strategy)....brilliant.Ladies and gentlemen, the Great GP1 is about to split the atom on this web board. Are you ready? A football game is won by running a balanced offense (near equal number of runs and passes) and forcing the other team to run an unbalanced by preventing their running game from doing anything. Get a big lead early with big plays (throw down field JD), run the ball late to kill the clock and force them to throw. How about mixing some man-to-man with zone when rushing only 3? If we are going to run blitz on first and second down, blitz from the outside and not up the middle....I think Wagner and our DLine could fight it out in the middle if they did a better job of forcing the action into the middle.....Our DBs do not tackle well enough to have the action forced out to them. One more DLineman would help to support the middle if they blitzed from the outside.Pass on first down and run on second down. Run straight at them like the Steelers did to the fraud that is the Denver Broncos Monday. >Let us pause briefly for a Great GP1 prediction.....The NFL has figured out Denver and IF Denver makes the playoffs, they will be the last team in. Cincinnati could win the AFC North and the Steelers would get a Wild Card (they now have a tie-breaker over Denver with the win Monday). Lots of other teams could buck the Broncos right out of the playoffs.<Enough predictions....................... An old rule in football is blitz early and cover late. If they have the lead and are getting pressure on the QB with their base defense, then they can win with this strategy. The only real unknown is if the Zips can actually play tight man-to-man defense. We never see them play tight man-to-man so we don't know how they will do at it. Our secondary is more concerned with not giving up big plays than making a play.If they have the lead late, run, run and run some more. Don't listen to the idiots who say that is playing not to lose.....I've watched the Steelers do it for 40 years and it seems to work for them. Teams that "play not to lose" always seem to end up losing. It isn't exciting and makes everyone nervous, but it works.

the last time i checked, OSU and Pitt are pretty good teams and navy only lost to osu by 4