Knowing the Enemy: Penn State

It's that time again.

The highly anticipated game is upon us. Temple vs. Penn State has all the makings to be a great game. Two 2-0 teams, inner state rivals, and with revenge on the mind of every Temple Owls player, this Saturday's game can't come any sooner.

To help us get a better understanding of what the Penn State Nittany Lions look like, I spoke with Charlie of Nittany White Out.

1. How would you grade freshman quarterback Robert Boldin's performance so far this season, and what kind of impact do you see him bringing to the game this weekend?

Robert Bolden is a work in progress. If I could award him an Incomplete that would be the grade I would give him. But just for argument's sake he gets a B. This is a very talented QB with outstanding poise that breaks the mold of your typical true freshman. He was superb against Youngstown State (20/29 239 yards) and Kent State (17/27 217 yards), but against those opponents could have made anyone look good. Fortunately Penn State faced the defending and top ranked team on the road. Against Alabama, Bolden was 13 for 29 in a hostile environment. Not bad when you consider McElroy's numbers 16 of 24 during the same game. Bolden was able to pass the ball down the length of the field against the Bama D on numerous occasions only to turn over the ball in the red zone. Once he stops forcing the ball into bad situations and learn to throw the ball away instead, he will earn his way to an A.

2. Continuing with Boldin, do you think he will be able to lead the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten championship this season? How about the future?

No. Although the turnovers hurt, Bolden won't be the reason why Penn State won't have a shot at the Big Ten championship this season. Surprisingly Penn State's weakness is on the defensive side of the ball. Against Alabama, the O-line managed to hold Alabama to 0 sacks all game, the defensive however was gashed for 180 yards on the ground and 229 through the air. A defensive breakdown unseen since USC's performance in the Rose Bowl. Bolden's performance so far has been commendable, and the fact that he is a true freshman has Lion fans giddy about the possibilities in seasons to come.

3. Evan Royster is, perhaps, you're most explosive weapon on offense. But Stafon Green (correct me on spelling if I'm wrong), is also a talented halfback. Which one will play the biggest role against Temple?

Evan Royster has yet to find his footing this season. His performance thus far has been disturbing for Penn State fans who expected Royster to carry the offense before we saw what Robert Bolden was capable of. Instead, Stephfon Green has helped in carrying the load as everyone waits for Royster to return to last season's form. It isn't Royster nor Green that Temple fans should be worried about this Saturday though. By the time the game is over, Owl fans will know the name Silas Redd.

To date, Royster has carried 31 times for 110 yards (3.5 average) and Stephfon Green has carried 22 times for just about as much (104 yards, 4.7 average). Silas Redd has actually half the number of carries as Royster, but just 40 less total yards. Among the 3 featured backs, he actually leads the team in average yards per carry.

4. Temple's offense, led by Bernard Pierce, has been night-and-day this season, particulary Pierce. After a strong outing against UCONN, the offense is flying high. How will Penn State gameplan for Temple's running game, and what specific defenders should Temple fans keep an eye out for?

Penn State has always been stout against the run (Alabama aside). Look out for defensive tackle Devon Still who leads the team in sacks. Defensive end pressure has been a bit of a concern heading into last week's game. Through 2 games, none of the DEs have logged a sack until Kent State.

5. History suggests that Penn State will walk away with the win against Temple, but in all honesty, what are your feelings on the game? Are you at all fearful of a loss, as hard as that may seem?

I'd put my mood at cautiously optimistic. Let's just put it this way, Temple with arguably it's best squad in recent memory last season, the one that went 7-0 in conference play before falling to Ohio for the MAC East title and a shot at the MAC championship, still merely managed 2 field goals against Penn State. I get that the Owls are 3-0, their best record since 1979, and against somewhat legitimate opponents, but don't forget that Joe Paterno is undefeated against Temple. To date, he has never lost against Wayne Hardin 8-0, Jerry Berndt 4-0, Ron Dickerson 4-0, Bobby Wallace 1-0, and current head caoch Al Golden 4-0 and I just don't see that changing this season.

6. It's that time. Give us your prediction.

Penn State 31 - Temple 14

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We thank Charlie of Nittany White Out for taking some time to take part in our weekly preview, and I suggest you check out his site for more coverage of the Penn State-Temple game.

Temple, Penn State Extend Series

The undefeated Temple Owls are set to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (2-1) this Saturday, but before the game begins, word broke out that the season series will continue for another three years.

The series will carry into 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.

Currently, Penn State and Temple are in the midst of a seven year series that began in 2006, and will end in 2012. That means there will be a one year gap in 2013 in which Temple won't play Penn State.

The overall series has consisted of 39 games between the two inner state rivals. However, Temple has been on the short end of the stick in nearly all 39 games. They have won a dismal three games out of those 39 meetings.

Since Joe Paterno has taken over at Penn State (which was forever ago), the Nittany Lions are a perfect 25-0 against the Owls.

The last time Penn State lost to Temple was in 1943 when the Owls won 13-0.

Hopefully, Temple can find a way to get their fourth win of the season, as well as their fourth win ever against Penn State, when the two teams meet this Saturday.

Temple's quest for national recognition

'Mid-Major schools don't deserve national recognition', however, a new dawn is upon us, and the mid majors are quietly rising to the occasion.

When you think of Mid-Major schools, teams like Boise State, TCU, BYU, and even Utah come to mind. Not so fast. There's another team quickly joining the ranks of those schools, the Temple Owls.

The national media and fans of college football are quick to point out that Temple never gets quality wins, and being stuck in the Mid American Conference gives them no legitimate conference wins.

Though this may have been true at one point, the Owls have strung together three QUALITY wins this season, and are sitting pretty at 3-0.

They opened their season with a huge victory over inner-city rival Villanova, who was coming up off a FCS National Championship run. The Wildcats returned nearly all of their starters from a year ago, which means that Temple defeated a championship team. Also, don't forget that the Big East is trying to bring 'Nova into their conference in the coming years. Well, what about Temple?

Following their win over the Wildcats, Temple knocked off the "Kings of the MAC", Central Michigan. The Chippewas dominated the conference for the past several years under the reigns of Dan LeFevour. So Temple knocked off a conference champ, not too shabby.

Then came September 18, the day that Temple finally knocked off a BCS-school. The UCONN Huskies, belonging to the Big East, were lit up the Owls on all cylinders.

Wait, so Temple defeated the following:

• Reigning FCS National Champions
• MAC Champions
• Big East school

Sounds to me that Boise State, TCU, BYU, and Utah have some competition.

Animated Drive Chart: UCONN-Temple

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Pierce, Defense Guides Temple to 30-16 Victory

For the first time since 1979, the Temple Owls are 3-0 after their victory over Connecticut, 30-16.

Sophomore sensation, Bernard Pierce, finally was able to get off on the right foot for the first time this season. After rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2009, Pierce was still in search of his first 100-yard game of the 2010 campaign, but that search has ended after Pierce complied 179 yards against the Huskies.

In addition to his 179 yards, Pierce reached the endzone on three occasions, including a 27 yard reception to start off the scoring for Temple.

Pierce's backup, Matt Brown, was rarely used, only receiving two touches for six yards.

The passing attack was led by Chester Stewart's 160 yards on 16 completions, with his biggest weapon coming in the form of Joe Jones, who led Temple with 74 receiving yards, and made an all important block on a Bernard Pierce run to set up a touchdown.

Defensively, Temple was led by reigining MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Adrian Robinson Jr. In what appeared to be a "Houdini-like" play, Robinson ripped the ball out of UCONN's star running back Jordan Todman's hand, and took the ball down the sidelines for a touchdown that gave Temple a 20-16 lead.

The entire defense played great all four quarters, despite allowing Todman to rush for 167 yards.

Pierce and Robinson were the catalysts in Temple's unbeliveable victory, but punt returner Delano Green made, arguably, the most important play of the game.

Half way through the fourth quarter, Green fielded a punt, even though he should have called for the fair catch. With a swarm of UCONN and Temple players surrounding him, Green broke right, then bounced backwards and back outside, picked up two huge legal blocks, and stormed his way up field before being tripped up by his own guy at UCONN's four yard yard line.

Pierce ended up scoring a few plays later, and that all but clinched Temple the victory.

With Temple now standing at 3-0, the Owls will be on the road for the first time this season in Happy Valley, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Not many folks predicted Temple to defeat UCONN, and the same will apply for Penn State, but we have all seen miracles happen before.

Animated Drive Chart: CMU-Temple

Courtesy of Rocky Top Talk, I now have access to an animated drive chart of each and every game for the Temple Owls.

 

What is an animated drive chart? Well, it's sort of something that you would see on ESPN if you were watching the gamecast for a particular game. The interactive tool will display each and every drive with the outcome of each drive, and will keep score at the top, just as if you were watching it live.

 

Enough of the explaining, let's check out the feature in it's full display!

 FULL SCREEN VERSION

Why Matt Brown Should Start

At the beginning of the season, Matt Brown was nothing but an after thought to fellow running back Bernard Pierce, who was coming of a stellar freshman year.

Pierce was getting a lot of local hype as a possible Heisman candidate, while Brown was not even talked about leading up to the season. He was assumed to get very few touches and only come in when Pierce needed a break, or if there was ever an injury to his counterpart.

Fast forward, now we are 2 weeks into the season and Matt Brown is Temple's starting running back. Pierce has struggled with nagging injuries that have forced him to lose touches so far in the season. Brown jumped on this opportunity, and has performed far and above his expectations.

In the young season, Brown has 102 yards rushing on 26 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. Brown has even added 22 yards on five receptions. Brown is also tied with Pierce at a touchdown-a-piece on the year. He has proven he can produce when given the opportunity.

Pierce has seemed much less effective this year because he hasn't been able to run people over like he did last year. Brown, on the other hand, has continued to work on finding the holes the offensive line leaves for him and sprint through for a big gain. Brown is the complete opposite of Pierce, a very small elusive back that doesn't need to run through defenders to get to open space. He is able to fit into small holes and get extra yardage. Pierce has to rely on yards after contact. However, Pierce has had injury problems this year that have made him much less effective.

Brown will get better over time with finding holes and getting faster. I feel Pierce may deteriorate over time and he will end up not running for huge gains because he can't run people over. If Pierce can't stay healthy this season, then Brown should be able to take over the starting spot for good.