OK, it's Game 1 in 5 days. Should we be worried about Temple because of ther strong D?

[Jerademan74]

I know they have many returners on defense and had high national ratings last year. Their Offense has many question marks though. My feeling is that Temple will be a great test to see how well our OL may have improved (at all), but can their O muster up enough points to stay with us?

 

[LafayetteBear]

I thought I read somewhere that Temple went something like four or five games without scoring a TD last year. If their offense is still that bad, their defense would have to be like the '85 Bears in order to keep them in the game..

 

[Jerademan74]

I thought I read somewhere that Temple went something like four or five games without scoring a TD last year. If their offense is still that bad, their defense would have to be like the '85 Bears in order to keep them in the game..

I agree and doubt they score a TD against us this year, especially with many first year players on O. Therefore, I don't understand why I've read so many posters think Temple will give us a run for our money. I know they play hard against us and give them credit to try to show they can beat their big brothers, but I see a score of something like 31-9, PSU!

 

[ILLINOISLION]

IMHO, the only way PSU loses is if we give up cheap scores on Offensive turnovers or Special Team screw -ups.

 

[fairgambit]

I know they have many returners on defense and had high national ratings last year. Their Offense has many question marks though. My feeling is that Temple will be a great test to see how well our OL may have improved (at all), but can their O muster up enough points to stay with us?

No, we should worry about Temple because....well because of....I mean, because of.....ah, screw it. We should not worry about Temple at all. We Are Penn State and they are not. We win 38-14.

 

[NitNE73]

The only reason to worry is because it's the first game. We are light years ahead of Temple, but crazy stuff happens at the beginning of seasons.

 

[nits74]

The only reason to worry is because it's the first game. We are light years ahead of Temple, but crazy stuff happens at the beginning of seasons.

True. And I worry about every game, no matter.

 

[phillybillyreprise]

Temple has become a disciplined team. Beating PSU would be a great start to their season. Sometimes the ball takes funny balances. PSU cannot be over confident.

 

[bdgan]

Temple has become a disciplined team. Beating PSU would be a great start to their season. Sometimes the ball takes funny balances. PSU cannot be over confident.

Temple will be geared up for this game. PSU should win but there's a reason why were only 6 PT favorites. We had the worst offense in the B1G last year and our kicking game is questionable. If we turn the ball over it could be very close. If we get some turnovers or breakaway scores we could pull away.

 

[OhioLion]

First games of the season - University of Toledo I believe in 2000 or 2001.

 

[PhillipintheValley]

I know they have many returners on defense and had high national ratings last year. Their Offense has many question marks though. My feeling is that Temple will be a great test to see how well our OL may have improved (at all), but can their O muster up enough points to stay with us?

We should be worried because we're still not past the sanctions. Until proven otherwise, games like this could still bite us. I'll be so grateful when we no longer need to be concerned about games like this. I'm optimistic, but until the Oline proves they can block, I'm officially in the I'll believe it when I see it camp.

 

[fairgambit]

First games of the season - University of Toledo I believe in 2000 or 2001.

It was 2000, but Temple is no Toledo. Toledo was a very good football team finishing 11-1. Temple will be lucky to win 7 games.

 

[bdgan]

It was 2000, but Temple is no Toledo. Toledo was a very good football team finishing 11-1. Temple will be lucky to win 7 games.

What if we can't punch it in the end zone and we miss FGs? I don't think that will happen but Temple's good defense could give our weak offense fits. Anything can happen in a low scoring game.

I'm surprised the o/u is 39 points. If that many points are scored PSU is probably the winner.

 

[fairgambit]

What if we can't punch it in the end zone and we miss FGs? I don't think that will happen but Temple's good defense could give our weak offense fits. Anything can happen in a low scoring game.
I'm surprised the o/u is 39 points. If that many points are scored PSU is probably the winner.

Don't worry. We're playing Temple, not Alabama, although Temple fans would lead you to believe otherwise. Yes, I'm saying we'll win by 21, and I may be wrong. It may be 18, or 14, but even if it is 1, we will win and that's all that matters.

 

[bmejnes]

It's our first game... Yes, I'm a little worried! New players in place and our line is unknown at this time.

 

[fairgambit]

It's our first game... Yes, I'm a little worried! New players in place and our line is unknown at this time.

I am going to tell all you Nervous Nellies this one more time. We are playing TEMPLE!
T-E-M-P-L-E. Think about that. Now, was Temple 10-1 last year? No. Were they 8-4? No. Were they 7-5? No. They were 6-6. We beat them by 17, while on sanctions. TEMPLE. Where has this idea come from that Temple is the second coming of Alabama? They are TEMPLE. WE ARE....PENN STATE and we will win!

 

[T J]

Don't worry. We're playing Temple, not Alabama, although Temple fans would lead you to believe otherwise. Yes, I'm saying we'll win by 21, and I may be wrong. It may be 18, or 14, but even if it is 1, we will win and that's all that matters.

Hope we can count on our kicking game this season. FGs and field position can be difference makers in many games.

Errors by inexperienced players can also be factors, as coaches try different players in early games.

If we play reasonably up to our potential and don't give away advantages, we should have a really fun first game.

 

[fairgambit]

Hope we can count on our kicking game this season. FGs and field position can be difference makers in many games.

Errors by inexperienced players can also be factors, as coaches try different players in early games.

If we play reasonably up to our potential and don't give away advantages, we should have a really fun first game.

Any issues we have, Temple has more, and we have better players to solve them.

 

[T J]

Any issues we have, Temple has more, and we have better players to solve them.

No disagreement on those points fairgambit.

I'll have fun focusing on our stable of talent and how our new players adjust and gain experience, in all of our out-of-conference games.

Looking forward to the season. We've got lots of strengths.

 

[fairgambit]

No disagreement on those points fairgambit.
I'll have fun focusing on our stable of talent and how our new players adjust and gain experience, in all of our out-of-conference games.
Looking forward to the season. We've got lots of strengths.

We're good and we'll be a lot better by the end of the season. It should be fun.

 

[PSU87]

I am going to tell all you Nervous Nellies this one more time. We are playing TEMPLE!
T-E-M-P-L-E. Think about that. Now, was Temple 10-1 last year? No. Were they 8-4? No. Were they 7-5? No. They were 6-6. We beat them by 17, while on sanctions. TEMPLE. Where has this idea come from that Temple is the second coming of Alabama? They are TEMPLE. WE ARE....PENN STATE and we will win!

Between this analysis and the Horatio Gates prediction....this one's in the bag!

 

[fairgambit]

Between this analysis and the Horatio Gates prediction....this one's in the bag!

How kind of you to remember. Yes. I dare not use the word "guarantee" because the Temple loons come out of the woodwork, but I predict we win win 38-14, and I'm not blowing smoke. I really think we will win easily. Of course, I had the Pirates in the World Series last year......

 

[Nitwit]

I can't see us scoring 38 in the opener unless we get some pick 6s or special teams scores. My prediction is 24 - 13. Temple's D will keep them in the game, but like last time, we will wear them down in the second half.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

I think I will go have a Yeungling Porter. You guys can go worry.

 

[KnightSlayer]

No, we should worry about Temple because....well because of....I mean, because of.....ah, screw it. We should not worry about Temple at all. We Are Penn State and they are not. We win 38-14.

You obviously know nothing about Temple. Here are some details about their 6-6 record from last year.

5 of their 6 victories came against the following teams.

Vanderbilt. (3-10) Only 1 win against an FBS team; UMass. Also beat Charleston Southern and Old Dominion.
Delaware St. An FCS team that went (2-10)
UConn (2-10) with one of those wins against Stony Brook
Tulsa (2-10) One of their losses was to Texas State an FCS team
Tulane (3-10) One of their wins was against SE Louisiana, an FCS team.

In those 5 wins, they gave up an avg of 8.8 points per game. In their 6 losses, they gave up an average of 26 points per game.
So all but one of their wins came against teams with no more than 2 wins against FBS teams. All their losses came against teams with winning records.

Their best win of the year was against ECU.

Maybe you know more about Temple than some people think.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Tempered expectations for this team...still thin and not so talented in some positions...we're still in the immediate wake of the sanctions...should be favored in a lot of games this year (inc. temple), but until the shelves are completely stocked, I don't know that there are more than a handful of outright "gimmes" on what is a pretty easy schedule.

 

[psualum10]

You obviously know nothing about Temple. Here are some details about their 6-6 record from last year.

5 of their 6 victories came against the following teams.

Vanderbilt. (3-10) Only 1 win against an FBS team; UMass. Also beat Charleston Southern and Old Dominion.
Delaware St. An FCS team that went (2-10)
UConn (2-10) with one of those wins against Stony Brook
Tulsa (2-10) One of their losses was to Texas State an FCS team
Tulane (3-10) One of their wins was against SE Louisiana, an FCS team.

In those 5 wins, they gave up an avg of 8.8 points per game. In their 6 losses, they gave up an average of 26 points per game.
So all but one of their wins came against teams with no more than 2 wins against FBS teams. All their losses came against teams with winning records.

Their best win of the year was against ECU.

Maybe you know more about Temple than some people think.

Was going to type something like this but Knight already did it so thank you ... Temples defense is a mirage defense. They put up great PPG numbers ... But they basically shut out really bad teams and gave up a lot to above average - good ones .... They had amazing turnovers last year ... Yet they were a +12 in 2 games alone which skewed their numbers ... Temple has gotten better and they are more talented ... But they we would've had to be more talented to overcome a 17 point win from last year .... And we've gotten better ... I don't think we blow out Temple and I think they go about 8-4 this year and probably make a bowl game ... But they'll lose this one

 

[jrd23psu]

You should worry about every team you play. I mean, as fans, it doesn't matter what we worry about but the actual team should worry about every team. You should never take your opponent lightly.

I see people worrying about this game and comparing it to Ohio a couple of years ago. This game is nothing like Ohio. This isn't the first game of a first time head coach. It isn't after crippling sanctions and uncertainty about the program. It's not after that ridiculous off season where teams were trying to poach players.

Penn State is more talented than Temple and by a wide margin, too. Temple is a good team, there's no doubt. They have a good defense, but their offense was probably worse than ours last year, which is saying a lot. If both offenses improved at the same rate this off-season we should still have a better defense and better offense. Temple might win the kicking game, though.

 

[tboyer]

The young PSU backs and receivers better hold on to the ball. Temple has some players who can hit and force fumbles, and fumbles could change the complexion of this game in a hurry.

PSU is going to have to throw the ball and spread that defense. They have very big guys on their DL who are not going to be easy to move around. PSU's got to get the ball past that first line of defenders and then PSU's speed can play a role. Maybe test their speed to the sideline because their ends are big.

Fast tempo would be nice. You know O'Brien would have the Temple defense gasping for breath on the first drive. That may not be Donovan's style.

I think Franklin believes in an attacking offense as well as an attacking defense. PSU needs to attack offensively to keep the pressure off Hack. First down had better be a throwing down till PSU can protect him.

Last thing I want to see is a couple handoffs between the tackles and Hack having to drop back 3rd and 8 at the 27 yard line behind a suspect left tackle. PSU has to avoid that as much as possible.

 

[Madsol]

Was going to type something like this but Knight already did it so thank you ... Temples defense is a mirage defense. They put up great PPG numbers ... But they basically shut out really bad teams and gave up a lot to above average - good ones .... They had amazing turnovers last year ... Yet they were a +12 in 2 games alone which skewed their numbers ... Temple has gotten better and they are more talented ... But they we would've had to be more talented to overcome a 17 point win from last year .... And we've gotten better ... I don't think we blow out Temple and I think they go about 8-4 this year and probably make a bowl game ... But they'll lose this one

This is what I don't get, we couldn't run the ball on anybody last year yet we rushed for more than 250 yards on Temple. But this year we're going to be lucky to move the football on them? I don't get it. It's always a little dangerous to try to compare teams from year to year, especially when you have nothing from the current year on which to base it. But Temple's defense will have to have improved significantly from last year to shut down a PSU offense that will be better, as we saw in the bowl game.

 

[SR108]

I know they have many returners on defense and had high national ratings last year. Their Offense has many question marks though. My feeling is that Temple will be a great test to see how well our OL may have improved (at all), but can their O muster up enough points to stay with us?

No, Because our D is substantially stronger.

 

[Howie'81]

What if we can't punch it in the end zone and we miss FGs? I don't think that will happen but Temple's good defense could give our weak offense fits. Anything can happen in a low scoring game.

I'm surprised the o/u is 39 points. If that many points are scored PSU is probably the winner.

Here's the thing. I don't think PSU will have a weak offense. I just don't.

 

[TN Lion]

Truthfully, I think we could play ten instead of eleven on defense and still beat them comfortably.

 

[fairgambit]

You obviously know nothing about Temple. Here are some details about their 6-6 record from last year.

5 of their 6 victories came against the following teams.

Vanderbilt. (3-10) Only 1 win against an FBS team; UMass. Also beat Charleston Southern and Old Dominion.
Delaware St. An FCS team that went (2-10)
UConn (2-10) with one of those wins against Stony Brook
Tulsa (2-10) One of their losses was to Texas State an FCS team
Tulane (3-10) One of their wins was against SE Louisiana, an FCS team.

In those 5 wins, they gave up an avg of 8.8 points per game. In their 6 losses, they gave up an average of 26 points per game.
So all but one of their wins came against teams with no more than 2 wins against FBS teams. All their losses came against teams with winning records.

Their best win of the year was against ECU.

Maybe you know more about Temple than some people think.

Good information. Thanks. When I first predicted we'd win by 21 or more, I didn't just pick that number out of the air. I actually did study both teams and I just think we're a lot better. Some assclown Temple fans think anyone who doesn't agree with them, or the point spread, is a doofus. I may be a doofus, but my pick in this game is not the reason. Another thing I continue to say is I don't care if we win by 1 or 100, as long as we win. We will not play for a National Championship this year so style points don't matter. The most important thing is to win as many games as we can, while looking ahead to next year and those thereafter. We have a future. Temple does not. They will never be much more than they are now, and just like Rutgers last year, this may be their last chance in a very long time to even be close to us. Unfortunately for them, we have better players and better coaches. I think that will be obvious, even to Temple fans, by the end of the game Saturday.

 

[dawgduice]

Look, the ONLY reason we are just a 7 point pick is because of how "GOD AWFUL" our OL was last year. Until everyone sees them play there will be NO RESPECT.
I believe the OL will be much improved and be good enough to have a "decent year".
We should win this 28-14. I just hope we do not have a game like the UCF one last year. Tons of passing yardage, few touchdowns and NO running game.
Yes, I am aware that we ran the ball against Temple last year better than any other team.
WE ARE !!!!!

 

[CappyToCJF]

Temple has a good D for their "league" and we have a D that was statistically even better against better competition. And I believe our O improved more than the Temple D in the last year.

I believe the answer to ur question is NO.