Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Football Games Are Won in the Trenches
8.22.15 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - College football is a game largely dependent upon making adjustments. If a starter goes down, the strategy may change to benefit the newcomer. If one approach isn't working during a game, coaches may adjust blocking angles or snap counts to reverse the fortunes. Student-athletes adapt their habits or time management to reach their goals and maximize their output. Even the NCAA made an adjustment last season by introducing the College Football Playoff to determine a national champion while maintaining the prestige of bowl games and the importance of the regular season.
Within a program, certain student-athletes can expect their roles to change during their careers. This especially holds true for the biggest and most athletic of players. Guys like redshirt sophomore Brian Carter and senior Shabazz Ahmed who played defensive line in high school and even in college might not stay there. Coaches can see certain physical attributes and decide those are better served to work on the offensive line. While largely unheralded, the guys up front are integral to offensive productivity and dictating the pace of a game. Temple's running and passing game greatly depend upon strong blocking and pass protection.
The transition to the other side of the line can be difficult for student-athletes even if it's early in their careers. Ahmed was an all-conference pick at defensive end his senior year at Paul VI High School in South Jersey, while Carter earned all-Mid Penn Conference honors at Harrisburg High School and selection to the prestigious Big 33 game in 2013. Both noted the biggest transition from high school to college play was the tempo of the game. Switching sides of the line of scrimmage certainly didn't slow anything. However, the strike-first mentality of defensive linemen does help blockers at the point of attack or engaging defenders in pass protection.
It takes a certain size and strength combination to succeed on the offensive line. Both Carter and Ahmed stand 6'3" and are over 290 pounds. In the modern game, where pass protection and shifting to block comes at such a premium, great linemen also need to move swiftly. Ahmed used his speed to slash into the backfield and recorded two sacks while making five starts at defensive end in 2013. Carter is one of the largest members of the Owls, weighing in at 309 pounds, but that size becomes a matchup nightmare for smaller defenders when he's in motion on sweeps or screen passes. Carter made his first start last year against UCF at defensive tackle before premiering the following week against #21/19 nationally ranked East Carolina in the offensive line rotation. Carter explained the most difficult part of his transition was the mental aspect "I had to learn so much. I had to put more effort into it, studying my playbook." Coach Rhule considers Carter one of the most athletic players in his offensive line rotation, suggesting he could be an all-conference selection once he gets more experience.
Ahmed began his career at Temple on the punt return team as a true freshman, which combines the rushing of defensive linemen with the downfield blocking assignments of the offensive line. He started the 2013 opener at Notre Dame and made five starts in ten games that year. Midway through spring 2014, the coaches decided to move him to the offensive line. When the Owls opened up at Vanderbilt, he started at left guard, where he made eight of his nine starts last season.
Initially the transition wasn't easy for Ahmed, after earning two letters as a defender and playing defense for almost all of his youth. However, in the true Temple spirit, he trusted the process. "I was open to whatever Coach Rhule wanted. He saw a vision in me and I wanted to make that vision come true." In addition to his work ethic on the field, Ahmed shines in the classroom. He has made the All-American Athletic Conference academic team in the last two seasons, was named to the Big East All-Academic team in 2012. He has also made Athletic Director's Honor Roll, earning a GPA above 3.0, for each of his first three years at Temple.
For Coach Rhule and the Owls, every day is a building block and every experience can teach. More players will benefit from the process that has developed the talents of Shahbaz Ahmed and Brian Carter. Junior Kiser Terry has appeared in 14 games for the Owls on defense, including three starts as a true freshman. While he starred as a two-way end at Neshaminy High School, moving to the offensive line rotation could provide challenges. For redshirt junior Julio Derosier, the transition might be easier. Before playing the defensive line in junior college and in his Owls debut last year against Vanderbilt, he was a standout offensive lineman at Florida powerhouse Homestead High School.
Terry admitted it was difficult to leave the rotation he was part of his first two years in college but welcomed the challenge. He saw a need for his transition and stepped up. He knew the switch required learning new technique but he drew on Ahmed's success in the process for confidence. "I'm happy to be on that side of the ball and happy to support my team. We're still linemen and we're still in the trenches. You still gotta be gritty and still gotta be hard between the tackles." His experience sums up the attitude instilled by Coach Rhule and his assistants. As more players transition in the future, they can learn from those who have completed the change and continue to show that Temple Made is Temple Tuff.
Within a program, certain student-athletes can expect their roles to change during their careers. This especially holds true for the biggest and most athletic of players. Guys like redshirt sophomore Brian Carter and senior Shabazz Ahmed who played defensive line in high school and even in college might not stay there. Coaches can see certain physical attributes and decide those are better served to work on the offensive line. While largely unheralded, the guys up front are integral to offensive productivity and dictating the pace of a game. Temple's running and passing game greatly depend upon strong blocking and pass protection.
The transition to the other side of the line can be difficult for student-athletes even if it's early in their careers. Ahmed was an all-conference pick at defensive end his senior year at Paul VI High School in South Jersey, while Carter earned all-Mid Penn Conference honors at Harrisburg High School and selection to the prestigious Big 33 game in 2013. Both noted the biggest transition from high school to college play was the tempo of the game. Switching sides of the line of scrimmage certainly didn't slow anything. However, the strike-first mentality of defensive linemen does help blockers at the point of attack or engaging defenders in pass protection.
It takes a certain size and strength combination to succeed on the offensive line. Both Carter and Ahmed stand 6'3" and are over 290 pounds. In the modern game, where pass protection and shifting to block comes at such a premium, great linemen also need to move swiftly. Ahmed used his speed to slash into the backfield and recorded two sacks while making five starts at defensive end in 2013. Carter is one of the largest members of the Owls, weighing in at 309 pounds, but that size becomes a matchup nightmare for smaller defenders when he's in motion on sweeps or screen passes. Carter made his first start last year against UCF at defensive tackle before premiering the following week against #21/19 nationally ranked East Carolina in the offensive line rotation. Carter explained the most difficult part of his transition was the mental aspect "I had to learn so much. I had to put more effort into it, studying my playbook." Coach Rhule considers Carter one of the most athletic players in his offensive line rotation, suggesting he could be an all-conference selection once he gets more experience.
Ahmed began his career at Temple on the punt return team as a true freshman, which combines the rushing of defensive linemen with the downfield blocking assignments of the offensive line. He started the 2013 opener at Notre Dame and made five starts in ten games that year. Midway through spring 2014, the coaches decided to move him to the offensive line. When the Owls opened up at Vanderbilt, he started at left guard, where he made eight of his nine starts last season.
Initially the transition wasn't easy for Ahmed, after earning two letters as a defender and playing defense for almost all of his youth. However, in the true Temple spirit, he trusted the process. "I was open to whatever Coach Rhule wanted. He saw a vision in me and I wanted to make that vision come true." In addition to his work ethic on the field, Ahmed shines in the classroom. He has made the All-American Athletic Conference academic team in the last two seasons, was named to the Big East All-Academic team in 2012. He has also made Athletic Director's Honor Roll, earning a GPA above 3.0, for each of his first three years at Temple.
For Coach Rhule and the Owls, every day is a building block and every experience can teach. More players will benefit from the process that has developed the talents of Shahbaz Ahmed and Brian Carter. Junior Kiser Terry has appeared in 14 games for the Owls on defense, including three starts as a true freshman. While he starred as a two-way end at Neshaminy High School, moving to the offensive line rotation could provide challenges. For redshirt junior Julio Derosier, the transition might be easier. Before playing the defensive line in junior college and in his Owls debut last year against Vanderbilt, he was a standout offensive lineman at Florida powerhouse Homestead High School.
Terry admitted it was difficult to leave the rotation he was part of his first two years in college but welcomed the challenge. He saw a need for his transition and stepped up. He knew the switch required learning new technique but he drew on Ahmed's success in the process for confidence. "I'm happy to be on that side of the ball and happy to support my team. We're still linemen and we're still in the trenches. You still gotta be gritty and still gotta be hard between the tackles." His experience sums up the attitude instilled by Coach Rhule and his assistants. As more players transition in the future, they can learn from those who have completed the change and continue to show that Temple Made is Temple Tuff.
Players Mentioned
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