Temple football 2016 scouting report

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How will Temple replace all of the departed talent on defense? Will the offense be able to consistently carry the load for the team? Can the Owls get back to the AAC East title game?

CSNPhilly.com producers/reporters Tom Dougherty, Matt Haughton and Greg Paone break down what to expect from the 2016 Temple Owls.

Offense 
The Owls' core leadership group has shifted from defense to offense, with seniors Phillip Walker and Jahad Thomas expected to be more vocal and take on more responsibility. Walker looks to become the first Temple quarterback to lead the Owls to two bowl games, and he will, in all likelihood, continue to put his name in the program's record books.

Thomas will remain the featured back for Temple, but he will have company in the backfield, as Ryquell Armstead, David Hood and Jager Gardner will be part of a rotation. As for Walker's targets, his go-to receiver, Robby Anderson, has graduated to the NFL — enjoying a productive preseason with the Jets — so Ventell Bryant and Adonis Jennings will be relied on more in the passing game, while Colin Thompson starts at tight end.

With Kyle Friend graduating, Temple's offensive line has some questions and inexperience. Dion Dawkins and Leon Johnson return as starters, while senior Brendan McGowan replaces Friend at center. Redshirt freshman Jovahn Fair will start at left guard, while redshirt junior Adrian Sullivan cracks the starting lineup for the first time in his career at RG.

- Dougherty

Defense
The defensive side of the ball figures to be the biggest key to Temple's season. Most importantly, how the Owls respond to the departures of award-winning linebacker Tyler Matakevich, defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis and cornerback Tavon Young for the NFL.

Filling those shoes will start with redshirt senior Stephaun Marshall, who will move over to WILL linebacker to replace Matakevich. He will be able to lean on fellow senior LBs Avery Williams and Jarred Alwan. Still, how Marshall handles the pressure of being the primary playmaker and leadership voice will go a long way in determining Temple's success on D.

Finding a replacement at CB could prove to be even more difficult. With Young in the NFL and Sean Chandler now playing safety, the Owls will look brand new outside on defense. There are a handful of talented players that will likely see time at cornerback, but they lack experience, which could come back to bite TU once the club gets into the teeth of the schedule.

Down on the interior, Temple will go with depth to replace anchor Ioannidis, Hershey Walton and Nate D. Smith. Defensive end is where the Owls will cause some havoc, with Haason Reddick and Praise Martin-Oguike back on the edge for a squad that racked up 32 sacks a season ago.

- Haughton

Coaching
Matt Rhule is back for his fourth season at the helm of Temple’s program. After last season’s 10-4 campaign, his overall record at Temple now sits at 18-20. Considering Rhule’s Owls went 2-10 in his first season as head coach, it’s an overall mark that shows incredible improvement during his tenure. This is a big year for Rhule in this sense — many of the players who will play important roles this season are his recruits from the past couple of years. This is a season in which the Owls will really start to evolve into the type of team Rhule has envisioned.

With Marcus Satterfield leaving for the head job at Tennessee Tech, Temple has a new offensive coordinator this year in Glenn Thomas, who was the quarterbacks coach last season. Prior to last year, Thomas spent three seasons as the quarterbacks coach of the Atlanta Falcons and helped Matt Ryan reach two Pro Bowls. Thomas played a hand in one of Temple’s most successful offenses last year, so don’t expect much to change this season. Under Thomas’ tutelage, Walker broke a school record last season with 2,972 passing yards. Walker also set a career high with 19 touchdown passes in 2015. 

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow brings his aggressive scheme back for another season. With the losses of three 2015 senior leaders to the NFL, Snow’s defense will need to replace plenty of production this season, but the talent to do it is there.

- Paone

Player to watch
Dougherty: Stephaun Marshall
Marshall moves from MIKE to WILL, replacing Matakevich in Snow's defense. That position, no matter the player, generally has produced under Snow throughout his career. The senior 'backer had a productive junior season, and he'll have an elevated role his final year at TU. Keep an eye out for No. 6 and see if he'll pick up Matakevich's tackles.

Haughton: Sean Chandler
"Champ," as he is known to just about everyone, Chandler will need to play like one for Temple's secondary this season. The junior has shifted from cornerback to safety, which should benefit his ball-hawking style (team-high four interceptions in 2015) and pro prospects. In addition to his on-field performance, the Owls will need Chandler to help usher in the team's young and inexperienced wave of CBs. Throw in his duties as a punt returner and Chandler will be among the most important players on TU's roster.

Paone: Adonis Jennings
Temple has to replace Walker’s go-to target in Anderson, who went undrafted but is currently enjoying a strong preseason with the New York Jets. While Bryant had a very nice 2015 freshman season with 579 yards and three touchdowns, Jennings could be the Owls’ next breakout star. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and with blazing speed, Jennings has all the physical tools to be a dominant receiver. The junior will have ample opportunity to make his presence felt this season as his role should expand greatly. In limited action last season, the Pitt transfer had 14 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Expect major boosts in each of those categories this year.

Game to watch
Dougherty: Sept. 17 at Penn State
Yes, Temple beat Penn State for the first time since 1941 last season. Yes, Temple should beat Penn State again this season. But the reason to watch this game is because it's the Owls' first real test of the year. Temple opens against Army and Stony Brook. One team runs the triple option, the other team is Stony Brook. How will Rhule's team fare against a Nittany Lions team that doesn't want to lose back-to-back years to Temple, and this time at Beaver Stadium? There are plenty of reasons to circle this one.

Haughton: Oct. 1 vs. SMU
It may not have the cache of playing Penn State or the importance of facing South Florida, but this matchup at Lincoln Financial Field may very well be the most entertaining. Temple and SMU nearly broke the scoreboard last season in Dallas, as the Owls walked away with a 60-40 win. With the Owls' offense expected to take another step forward and dual-threat quarterback Matt Davis back under center for the Mustangs, expect another track meet at the Linc.

Paone: Oct. 21 vs. South Florida
For as great as his team was last season, Rhule’s said that it lacked true athleticism. That could be seen at times on defense, where the Owls struggled with fast-moving offenses. Take for example last November’s 44-23 loss at South Florida when Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack torched the Owls. Flowers and Mack are both back this year and South Florida is expected to be Temple’s top contender in the AAC East. In fact, the Bulls were picked first for the division in the preseason poll, with the Owls coming in second. The two teams meet Friday, Oct. 21, at the Linc in a matchup that could very well decide who represents the East in the AAC title game.

Prediction
Dougherty: It should be another successful season on North Broad Street, but it won't reach the level it did last year. College GameDay won't be coming back to Philly. Temple goes 9-3, finishes second behind USF in the East Division and goes bowling again.

Haughton: This could be a strange season in which Temple turns in another extremely successful season for the program but still ends up feeling a bit disappointed in the end. The Owls won't experience the historic highs of a year ago, but they will still be in the mix for the AAC East crown. However, I see some youth at key spots leading to a few hiccups along the way. Put them down for an 8-4 season and a second straight trip to a bowl game.

Paone: The Owls should be a very good team again this season. Very good can turn into great if some of the youth that will be infused into the lineup can make considerable impacts. I’ve got them at 9-3 with losses at Penn State, at Memphis on a short week and a wild-card, unexpected loss somewhere in there, too. I do see Temple beating South Florida at home, though. Whether that will be good enough to take the AAC East again remains to be seen.

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