Banged-up Temple could be tested by SMU
Here are two words of advice for Temple as the Owls visit Southern Methodist on Friday in an American Athletic Conference football game: forget paper.
Here are two words of advice for Temple as the Owls visit Southern Methodist on Friday in an American Athletic Conference football game: forget paper.
That's because on paper, this one should be a rout. No. 23 Temple is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the AAC and is coming off a heartbreaking 24-20 loss to heavyweight Notre Dame on Saturday.
SMU (1-7, 0-4) has allowed the most points in the AAC, 43.6 per game. Guided by first-year coach Chad Morris, the Mustangs are 2-18 over the last two seasons.
So this would appear to be the breather that Temple needs after suffering such a physical pounding against the Irish.
Not so fast.
Coach Matt Rhule said several Temple players have undisclosed injuries that could keep them out. Center Kyle Friend, the cornerstone of the offensive line, is out. The AAC's leading rusher, Jahad Thomas, hurt his ribs against Notre Dame, and it's possible that he could miss the game.
Tight end Kip Patton, who has contributed some big plays, is out because of "academic and disciplinary reasons, nothing severe," according to Rhule.
Other injured starters Rhule mentioned include defensive end Nate D. Smith, wide receiver Ventell Bryant, cornerback Tavon Young, and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins.
Even if most or all of this group plays, Temple could still be challenged by an SMU offense that is averaging 28.8 points, two points fewer than Temple.
The first quarter bears watching because SMU gets off to good starts and Temple does not. The Mustangs have outscored teams, 86-75 in the opening quarter, the only one in which they have scored more points than they have allowed.
Temple has outscored team, 30-16 in the first quarter, but it is by far its lowest scoring quarter. (The Owls have scored 59, 75 and 62 points in quarters two through four.)
If SMU gains an early lead, it could provide the confidence a losing team needs.
"We are getting better but we're not good enough right now to overcome mistakes and to be able to battle from behind," Morris said earlier this week on a conference call.
Temple will face a dual-threat quarterback in junior Matt Davis, who leads the Mustangs in rushing (450 yards) and rushing touchdowns (seven).
"They have a quarterback who can run and throw," Rhule said of Davis, who has completed 137 of 243 passes for 1,779 yards, with 14 TDs and four interceptions.
Courtland Sutton, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound redshirt freshman receiver, is a big-play threat, with 38 receptions for 719 yards and nine touchdowns.
So even against a Temple unit that is ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 15.8 points a game, the Mustangs will likely be able to score.
However, the Mustangs have a porous defense. Even if Thomas is out, freshman running back Ryquell Armstead has proved to be capable in limited duty. Jager Gardner, who is returning kicks, could see his most extensive duty in the backfield against an SMU defense that allows 259 rushing yards per game.
After this week, Temple has to travel to 4-4 South Florida and host 8-0 Memphis, but the Owls can't afford to look past SMU.
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