Matt Rhule’s Memory Lapse Caused Temple’s Loss to Memphis

Amnesia is a terrible thing to have once in a lifetime, let alone twice in the same week.

Evidently, though, that is just what happened to Temple head football coach Matt Rhule after the glorious 20-10 win over East Carolina, fueled by a renewed emphasis on a Temple trademark, running the football. Rhule said he promised himself he would run the football more on the plane ride after a loss to Central Florida. In a 16-13 loss to Memphis on Friday night, Rhule forgot that promise. Temple ran 71 offensive plays and lined up in three wide receivers on 68 of those. Temple ran the ball 32 times and passed it 39 times. By any definition, that doesn’t jive with a game plan predicated on running the football.

Against East Carolina, Temple ran 56 offensive plays, lined up in three wide receivers 22 times and ran the ball on 37 of those offensive plays. Of the 37 running plays, Temple lined up with fullback, Marc Tyson, 20 times. Both Temple offensive touchdowns were a result of a Tyson block off a two-back formation. Tyson, like so many uniquely talented Temple players the last two seasons, joined federal witness protection Friday night.

Fans can blame the Memphis loss on dropped passes by TU wide receivers all they  want, but that’s something the coaching staff cannot control. The coaching staff can control the commitment to the running game. Not only did the Owls’ coaching staff forget about it in game-planning this week, it forgot to stick to the running game after Kenny Harper ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run.

Amnesia happened twice in one week, eschewing a running game that worked against ECU for a passing attack that didn’t against UCF and Houston and, not surprisingly, Temple lost to Memphis like it did those games prior to ECU. Hopefully, on the short bus ride home from Lincoln Financial Field, Rhule remembers what he said on the long plane ride home from UCF and, this time, never forgets.

Mike Gibson is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.