Two Temple QBs have migrated to new positions

It's not unusual for college players to move from one position to another. Offensive linemen become defensive linemen, receivers switch to cornerback and vice versa.

But these changes usually take place relatively early in the career of a player, which makes two notable switches at Temple dramatic.

Last season, Chris Coyer and Clinton "Juice" Granger split duty at quarterback, with Coyer starting the first nine games there and Granger the last two. Both players see themselves as quarterbacks and love to play the position, but both are playing elsewhere now.

Coyer made the switch to H-back over the summer, adding 15 pounds of muscle. He looked forward to becoming an offensive threat for the Owls (0-6), one of eight teams in the country still looking for their first win.

But season-ending injuries to tight ends Romond Deloatch and Wanemi Omuso have forced Coyer to begin splitting more time along with Chris Parthemore as a blocking tight end in two-tight-end sets.

Coyer had been given the opportunity to display his versatility earlier in the season. Against Idaho, he took some direct snaps from center and gained 24 yards on five carries. However, that wrinkle has not been seen since.

He also caught five passes for 50 yards against Fordham, both season highs, a little more than a month ago.

"It's been tough at times," Coyer said. "The hardest part has been learning the blocking, and that's where I have to make the greatest strides to play this game. The biggest thing is that I want to do whatever I can do to help our team get a win.

"Right now, that probably means doing more blocking," Coyer continued. "But that's OK. The thing is, you have to make sure you are making a contribution and doing your job. That's what I want to do."

Unlike Coyer, who hasn't played quarterback at all this season, Granger started the first half against Fordham, but an inability to get the offense moving ultimately saw him pulled in favor of freshman P.J. Walker and then Connor Reilly.

Granger soon found himself third on the depth chart. At first it was difficult, but like Coyer, Granger is a competitor who badly wants to win football games in his final collegiate season.

However, the passing attack - averaging 204 yards though six games - has not developed into the threat Rhule had hoped it would become.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Granger, who had never seen himself playing any position other than quarterback, had enough confidence in his athleticism to think he could play receiver.

As a result, much to his surprise, Granger found himself on the receiving end of a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of last week's game at Cincinnati.

Granger said earlier this week that it was his first touchdown reception playing football on any level.

"I came into the season and I envisioned myself scoring touchdowns - throwing them and scrambling - from the quarterback spot," Granger said. "I never saw this. But it just goes to show if you keep grinding and pushing, you never know what will happen."

Temple's kickers are 1 for 6 on field goals this season. Their opponents are 16 for 20 in that category.

Matt Rhule has settled into a kicking rotation of freshman Nick Visco (field goals, PATs) and Jim Cooper (kickoffs). The coach said that the two are simply going through "growing pains."

"They will get better," Rhule said. "It's going to take some time, but they both have confidence and I know they will be better."

@JmitchInquirer