5 Things No. 18 ECU Should Expect From Temple

By Mike Gibson

5 Things No. 18 ECU Should Expect From Temple

P.J. Walker, Temple, — It’s been 19 years since any East Carolina football fans have seen their Pirates play the Temple Owls in football, but the teams were once regulars on the other’s schedule, playing nine-straight times between 1982 and 1990. The No. 18 Pirates can expect to see this from the head coach Matt Rhule and his offensive coordinator, Marcus Satterfield, on Saturday at noon.

5. All Passing All The Time

Romond Deloatch, Temple,

5. All Passing All The Time

Romond Deloatch, Temple, — Temple will give a half-hearted attempt to establish the run game with Jahad Thomas in the pistol behind P.J. Walker. When he gains one and two yards on his first two carries, it will abandon the run game and blame the blockers. “We have to do a better job blocking,” TU head coach Matt Rhule will say afterward. “I will talk to them on Monday about it.” Nobody will remind Rhule he said the same thing after the prior two games.

4. Short Game

Jalen Fitzpatrick, Temple,

4. Short Game

Jalen Fitzpatrick, Temple, — Temple will throw no less than five two-yard passes on third-and-eight to a slow possession receiver, hoping he can break five tackles before getting to the sticks. None of them will work.

3. No Toss Sweeps

Jahad Thomas, Temple,

3. No Toss Sweeps

Jahad Thomas, Temple, — Temple will not attempt a single toss sweep with Jahad Thomas running behind dynamic blockers in fullback Kenny Harper and tight end Colin Thompson. “I suggested to Marcus that was something we tried and once worked for 268 yards and two touchdowns for Bernard Pierce behind Wyatt Benson and Steve Manieri at Navy,” Rhule might say after the game. “Marcus told me he's not comfortable with those plays and we left it at that."

2. P.J. Walker Being Asked To Threat Needle

P.J. Walker, Kyle Friend, Temple,

2. P.J. Walker Being Asked To Threat Needle

P.J. Walker, Kyle Friend, Temple, — Temple will line up three wide receivers most of the time, but ECU will pick up all three in its nickel package and quarterback P.J. Walker will have no blocking back to protect him and one-half second to pick from three well-covered receivers. “P.J. is just going to have to thread the needle better,” Rhule will say afterward.

1. No Punt Returns

Khalif Herbin, Temple,

1. No Punt Returns

Khalif Herbin, Temple, — Temple will fair catch five punts and start all of its possessions from inside the 20, because they use a slow possession receiver to return punts rather than a breakaway threat like 2011 New Jersey State player of the year Khalif Herbin, who the Owls limit to just kickoff returns.

Teams in this article »

Temple Owls

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East Carolina Pirates

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