Temple defense forcing turnovers

Surreal is how Averee Robinson describes it.

"I didn't even know I had it until Tyler Matakevich told me I was halfway there and I was going to score," said Robinson, a 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive tackle.

Robinson was recounting the second of his two fumble recoveries in the Owls' season-opening 37-7 rout of Vanderbilt. Robinson scooped up a fumble caused by Avery Ellis' sack of Vanderbilt backup quarterback Stephen Rivers and rambled 55 yards for a touchdown.

It was one of seven turnovers recovered by the Owls in that game. They recovered three more in their loss to Navy the following week, converting one - a sack and fumble recovery by Sharif Finch - into a touchdown, giving them two scores off turnovers this season.

One year after finishing last in the American Athletic Conference in turnovers gained (and 115th in the country), the Owls, with 10 this season, lead the conference and are second in the nation in turnover margin (plus-3) this season. Temple has recovered seven fumbles and picked off three passes.

Taking the ball away from opposing offenses was one of the main points of emphasis for the defense when they began practicing in the spring.

"Last season, we weren't as focused on it as we are now," Robinson said. "But now, if the ball is on the ground, we are focusing on scooping and scoring."

Everything about the Owls in coach Matt Rhule's second season has been about playing with more physicality. Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow believe that a huge part of this involves jarring the ball loose for fumbles and playing aggressively in the secondary in pursuit of interceptions.

"It's a very simple formula, and so far it is paying dividends," Robinson said. "We are practicing stripping the ball and making tackles. Now that we are seeing the result of what our coaches have been telling us, we are really believing it and buying into it more. Great defenses give your offense more opportunities to score, and, obviously, that is what we want to do."

Rhule does not want the Owls focusing on just stripping the ball and not tackling, something that can happen, he believes, if the focus on taking the ball away is too heavy.

"You have to balance it," Rhule said. "We want them thinking tackle and then strip. As long as they play aggressively, they are going to see and like the results."