Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Owls Gear Up For Vanderbilt in Camp
8.19.14 | Football
The Owls held their eighteenth practice of training camp on Tuesday, August 19. After practice, head coach Matt Rhule spoke with the attending media. Selected quotes from Coach Rhule are below. To see the full video, click here.
The team will hold their final scrimmage of camp at 8pm at Widener University.
On P.J. Walker's level of play: "I think he's played well. He made a bad decision today, so I took him out; he's got to protect the ball in the red zone. But I think his level of play has gone up, it's just going to be the game reps, decision making in crucial times, and understanding that we can't do the things that cause us to lose. We can't turn the ball over, we can't have penalties, if you do that, we don't beat ourselves, and we can focus on winning the game. So, P.J.'s made great strides, it's going to come down to in the game, though. Can he do it in the game with the lights on? Or is he going to try and make that play? If he does and he takes what the defense gives him, I think he'll have a great year."
On the kicking game: "They're competing, it's every rep. It's an everyday thing. We have another scrimmage tomorrow and then Monday of next week will be the last day to really kind of compete…I don't know if I'll name a starter. I'm going to look at the approach, how the guys are handling it. When it becomes clear, it becomes clear. It hasn't been clear yet; one guy has a great day, then comes out yesterday and misses three or four field goals, it makes you rethink things. Our program is built on competition and you can't have a bad day. And when you have a bad day, you have to respond."
On WR Khalif Herbin as a punt returner: "He's got great change of direction, he's fearless, he's a fast kid. We're looking for him to be a spark, looking at him to be the guy who changes field position for us and really flips the field. We're hoping it can be him."
On getting ready for Vanderbilt next week: "We really have to hone in on what we're going to do now. Starting on Friday, begin turning our attention to the first game and our opponents. I really want to make sure that now it goes from so much physical and begins to be mental as well. I think our guys have done a good job, worked really hard. We're way ahead of where we were last year at this time. What we really need to do now is accelerate ourselves mentally, while at the same time getting our legs back a little bit and getting fresh. To play such a great team in the first game, a team from the SEC, one of the best conferences in college football, we have to be our freshest."
The team will hold their final scrimmage of camp at 8pm at Widener University.
On P.J. Walker's level of play: "I think he's played well. He made a bad decision today, so I took him out; he's got to protect the ball in the red zone. But I think his level of play has gone up, it's just going to be the game reps, decision making in crucial times, and understanding that we can't do the things that cause us to lose. We can't turn the ball over, we can't have penalties, if you do that, we don't beat ourselves, and we can focus on winning the game. So, P.J.'s made great strides, it's going to come down to in the game, though. Can he do it in the game with the lights on? Or is he going to try and make that play? If he does and he takes what the defense gives him, I think he'll have a great year."
On the kicking game: "They're competing, it's every rep. It's an everyday thing. We have another scrimmage tomorrow and then Monday of next week will be the last day to really kind of compete…I don't know if I'll name a starter. I'm going to look at the approach, how the guys are handling it. When it becomes clear, it becomes clear. It hasn't been clear yet; one guy has a great day, then comes out yesterday and misses three or four field goals, it makes you rethink things. Our program is built on competition and you can't have a bad day. And when you have a bad day, you have to respond."
On WR Khalif Herbin as a punt returner: "He's got great change of direction, he's fearless, he's a fast kid. We're looking for him to be a spark, looking at him to be the guy who changes field position for us and really flips the field. We're hoping it can be him."
On getting ready for Vanderbilt next week: "We really have to hone in on what we're going to do now. Starting on Friday, begin turning our attention to the first game and our opponents. I really want to make sure that now it goes from so much physical and begins to be mental as well. I think our guys have done a good job, worked really hard. We're way ahead of where we were last year at this time. What we really need to do now is accelerate ourselves mentally, while at the same time getting our legs back a little bit and getting fresh. To play such a great team in the first game, a team from the SEC, one of the best conferences in college football, we have to be our freshest."
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