@John Di Carlo and I attended Temple's football media day Monday. Geoff Collins, defensive coordinator Taver Johnson, offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude and a select group of players were made available to reporters. Collins was up at the podium for just over 27 minutes and talked about a wide range of topics, including the quarterback battle, health updates and replacing three starters at linebacker.
Here's my story -- https://temple.rivals.com/news/plenty-to-tackle-as-owls-head-into-2017-season
Some of my main takeaways from Monday:
--Patenaude said the staff would like to name a starting quarterback within two weeks of the Sept. 2 season opener against Notre Dame.
--Patenaude also said some positive things about true freshman quarterback Todd Centeio, who he was asked specifically about. It's worth noting neither Patenaude, nor Collins, fielded direct questions about Logan Marchi or Anthony Russo. John did ask Collins a question about Nutile, who's still very much in the mix to start in Temple's opener.
--Collins said Temple could have the best safety tandem in the conference -- maybe even the nation. I asked junior Delvon Randall about Collins's claim. Randall laughed and said he agreed with his head coach.
--All nine players who were injured during spring practice are set to return. That includes OT Leon Johnson, who's also set to receive work along the defensive line. Collins said Johnson will "absolutely" receive reps on the DL.
Johnson also told me he's "200 percent" healthy.
--Collins said Temple will eventually change its practice ways to allow one quarterback to receive the majority of the reps. Things will likely start to look more like a Glenn Thomas-run practice, which resembled an NFL setting. For now, all four will receive roughly equal work. All four quarterbacks will start Tuesday's practice and receive the first snaps, Collins said.
--I also asked Taver Johnson about LB Jared Folks, who sat out the spring with an undisclosed injury. He said it's too early to pencil Folks in as the starter at middle linebacker, despite his experience from splitting time at the MIKE spot with Jarred Alwan last season. Shaun Bradley's name keeps coming up. As only a sophomore, he'll compete with Folks for the starting middle linebacker gig. Bradley also switched to No. 23 from 18 in order to play running back with Frank Nutile, who also wears 18.
Here's my story -- https://temple.rivals.com/news/plenty-to-tackle-as-owls-head-into-2017-season
Some of my main takeaways from Monday:
--Patenaude said the staff would like to name a starting quarterback within two weeks of the Sept. 2 season opener against Notre Dame.
--Patenaude also said some positive things about true freshman quarterback Todd Centeio, who he was asked specifically about. It's worth noting neither Patenaude, nor Collins, fielded direct questions about Logan Marchi or Anthony Russo. John did ask Collins a question about Nutile, who's still very much in the mix to start in Temple's opener.
--Collins said Temple could have the best safety tandem in the conference -- maybe even the nation. I asked junior Delvon Randall about Collins's claim. Randall laughed and said he agreed with his head coach.
--All nine players who were injured during spring practice are set to return. That includes OT Leon Johnson, who's also set to receive work along the defensive line. Collins said Johnson will "absolutely" receive reps on the DL.
Johnson also told me he's "200 percent" healthy.
--Collins said Temple will eventually change its practice ways to allow one quarterback to receive the majority of the reps. Things will likely start to look more like a Glenn Thomas-run practice, which resembled an NFL setting. For now, all four will receive roughly equal work. All four quarterbacks will start Tuesday's practice and receive the first snaps, Collins said.
--I also asked Taver Johnson about LB Jared Folks, who sat out the spring with an undisclosed injury. He said it's too early to pencil Folks in as the starter at middle linebacker, despite his experience from splitting time at the MIKE spot with Jarred Alwan last season. Shaun Bradley's name keeps coming up. As only a sophomore, he'll compete with Folks for the starting middle linebacker gig. Bradley also switched to No. 23 from 18 in order to play running back with Frank Nutile, who also wears 18.
