Temple says no chance for letdown vs. Navy

Part of the preparation for Temple's Saturday home opener against Navy was to get in a good, crisp practice a week ago and then, with fatigue still upon them, gather and watch Navy make its 2014 debut against then-No. 5 Ohio State.

Temple coach Matt Rhule, more than anything, wanted to guard against the Owls, who have started the season 2-0 just twice in the last 32 seasons, growing complacent headed into their game with Navy, which will join the American Athletic Conference next season.

"That's always going to be an issue here," Rhule said of a potential letdown. "They left here Saturday after watching that game live on TV knowing that this is a really good team. It might be the best team that they face all year.

"So, they know you have got to execute and play at a really high level against these guys. I think that's going to help us. They know we've got to fight tooth and nail just to hang with these guys."

The players appear to have gotten the message.

"It's not going to be a problem," Temple cornerback Tavon Young said. "We worked hard to get to this moment. I don't think anyone has worked any harder than we have going back to the end of the [last] season to get to where we are. They are a very good team. There is no way we'd let up against them."

While it is hardly a secret that Navy will look to run the ball on Temple - 370 of their 390 yards against Ohio State came on the ground - the Owls, despite a banged-up wide receiver corps, will likely look to throw the ball downfield against Navy. Last week, Navy's defense gave up 226 yards in the air to Ohio State freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, who completed 12 of 15 passes for two touchdowns.

Against Vanderbilt, the Temple defense played as well as it has under second-year coach Rhule, forcing seven turnovers and limiting the Commodores to 54 yards rushing and 278 total yards.

Offensively, the Owls gained 144 yards on the ground and 351 overall. And they protected sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker, who threw for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Temple closed the game by scoring 30 unanswered points.

When: Saturday at 1 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Financial Field

Records: Navy, 0-1; Temple, 1-0.

TV/Radio: ESPN3; 97.5 FM The Fanatic.

Coaches: Navy, Ken Niumatalolo (7th season, 49-31); Temple, Matt Rhule (2d season, 3-10).

Series: 5-5. In the last meeting, Temple won, 27-24, on Oct. 31, 2009.

Three Things to Watch

1. With its lethal triple-option, Navy's running game posseses a huge threat to the Owls, whose defensive line needs to win the line of scrimmage.

2. Temple is banged up at wide receiver. That won't prevent the Owls, looking for a young receiver to establish himself, from taking shots downfield.

3. The Midshipmen only committed 13 turnovers last season, and they don't beat themselves. The Owls forced seven in their season opener.

Three Things You Might Not Know

1. After being an independent team since 1978, Navy will join the American Athletic Conference next season. The Midshipmen will be part of the West Division, with Houston, Memphis, Southern Methodist, Tulane, and Tulsa.

2. Navy coach Niumatalolo is the second coach in Army-Navy history to win his first six games in the rivalry. (Paul Johnson, 2002-07).

3. Former Temple coach Wayne Hardin coached Navy from 1959-1964 (38-28-2). While at Navy he coached Heisman Trophy winners Joe Bellino and Roger Staubach. - John N. Mitchell

EndText

@JmitchInquirer