Cherry And White Preview

The latest Nike commercial features a variety of professional athletes proclaiming: My better is better than your better. The same phrase might apply to MAC football, as nearly every team in the league expects to be better in 2008. Temple fans will get a chance to see how much better the Owls are in the Cherry and White Game on Saturday in Ambler.

The latest Nike commercial features a variety of professional athletes proclaiming: My better is better than your better. The same phrase might apply to MAC football, as nearly every team in the league expects to be better in 2008. Temple fans will get a chance to see how much better the Owls are when they conclude spring practice with the Cherry and White Game on Saturday afternoon in Ambler.

The better-better talk has different meanings for the Temple offense and the Temple defense. On offense, the Owls have to get better. They had the worst offense in the MAC last season. Conversely, the young Temple defense was number one in the league statistically. And with everybody back, it’s hard to imagine they won’t be better.

So what should we be looking for, defensively, in the Cherry and White Game?

Keep an eye on the defensive tackles. No, not the starters. Terrance Knighton and Andre Neblett are two of the best in the MAC. Knighton should be a candidate for MAC Defensive Player of the Year.

But with sophomore Chris Tremel’s move from defensive tackle to offensive guard, there’s an unpredictable competition for the two backup spots. And the Owls are committed to rotating two players at every position on the front four.

Sophomore Dave Nwasike has made his way onto the depth chart this spring after two years on ice. Is that because his better is suddenly a lot better than it was before? That’s a good question. Junior college transfer Josh Williams is another one to watch.

Nwasike and Williams have both jumped ahead of Eli Joseph, who saw regular action as a true freshman last year. Wild cards such as Terrance Banks and Daniel Popper are not listed on the most recent Cherry and White roster card posted by Coach Al Golden. Banks, who played a great deal as a true freshman in 2006, has seemingly been in Golden’s doghouse since last summer.

Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio would surely love to see a strong pass rush from defensive ends Junior Galette and Morris Blueford on Saturday. Productive but inconsistent last season, Galette probably has the greatest potential for a breakout year.

Not that it matters, but the Owls have changed the name of Galette’s position from rush end to rush linebacker. It’s still a 4-3 look. On the other side, it’s still (Leyon) Azubuike and (Brian) Sanford, or Sanford and Azubuike, depending on the day. Don’t expect any surprises there.

In terms of the better getting better, or more exactly – you better get better – the linebackers provide a storyline as interesting as the backup defensive tackles.

Spring practice reports on Temple’s website indicate that sophomore Elijah Joseph (now officially listed as “Peanut” Joseph) has gotten better, giving the Owls even more depth in an area where the numbers are strong. The problem is that the good news is the same as the bad news. Are the linebackers interchangeable because they’re all very good or because nobody has been able to stand out from the crowd?

Clearly it’s more of the latter.

There just weren’t enough big plays from the linebackers last season. In the Cherry and White Game, it would be nice to see some “separation” from a couple guys, maybe Alex Joseph at middle linebacker or Amara Kamara on the perimeter.

No, the linebackers aren’t a weakness. Guys like John Haley and Omar McDonnaugh-Hales and Tommie Weatherspoon have proven themselves as on-field assets.

But think how good the Owls defense would be with a couple of great linebackers.

The defensive backfield may have already taken that step with the addition of Daryl Robinson to the cornerback stable.

The Owls were generally sound in the secondary last season, evidenced by the fact that they ranked first the MAC in pass defense despite finishing near the bottom of the league in sacks. Without applying tremendous pressure on the quarterback, Temple still allowed the fewest touchdown passes and only four teams had more interceptions.

In order to take the next step – creating more turnovers and more scoring opportunities for the offense – the defensive backs need to become great. Don’t bet against it. Physically, there’s more potential for greatness in the secondary than at any other position on the team. There’s also more true competition than anywhere else.

Robinson changed the equation this spring, earning a No. 1 job PDQ and holding on to it. And from Anthony Ferla to Jamal Schulters to Tommie Williams to Evan Cooper, the Owls can feel secure with any one of them on the opposite island. The same applies to safeties Jaiquawn Jarrett, Dominique Harris, Richard Sheppard, Wilbert Brinson, and Georg Coleman.

Count ‘em up – that’s 10 capable deebees, which should also be a big help on special teams.

On Saturday, we’ll see who’s better is best.