Temple's P.J. Walker hopes to find his rhythm

As he went through the process of transforming the Temple offense that he inherited from Steve Addazio, coach Matt Rhule knew last season that his players would have difficulty grasping his pass-friendly attack.

This was particularly true of P.J. Walker. Then a freshman, Walker probably thought he would spend most of the 2013 season doing little more than toting a clipboard.

But Walker turned out to be the Owls' best option at quarterback last year. He finished with seven straight starts, throwing 20 touchdown passes - two shy of the school record - and his 2,084 passing yards tied him with Henry Burris for the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.

Even though Temple has blown out Vanderbilt (37-7) and Delaware State (59-0) en route to a 2-1 start this season, Walker has not exactly lit things up. But Rhule believes the sophomore quarterback's attitude and approach will soon get him back on track.

"I know he's not happy with the way he's playing right now and he's pressing a little bit," Rhule said. "I said to him the other day, 'Listen, I'm as brutally honest as anyone. When you're 64 percent and you've thrown six touchdowns and you're not happy with yourself, that means you have high expectations for yourself, which is great.' "

Temple begins play in the American Athletic Conference on Saturday at Connecticut (1-3, 0-1 AAC).

Playing with a high ankle sprain he suffered Sept. 6 in a loss to Navy, Walker has passed for 574 yards. However, he has thrown three interceptions this season, two of which Rhule believes were the result of poor decisions.

"He's right, and he got on me pretty good after I threw that one against Delaware State," Walker said. "It was a bad force by me and Coach Rhule let me know about it when I got back to the sidelines."

"I just don't think he's got his rhythm yet and he's trying to find it," said Rhule, who added: " We're going to need him to make plays for us. I'm confident that when the time comes he'll be ready."