DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Raymond Monica will be looking to fill some holes after a productive 2001 season that saw the Owls finish 19th nationally in total defense, allowing just 312.64 yards per contest. Temple also ranked among the country's best in turnovers gained (T15th, 29) and fumbles recovered (T16th, 14). At the conclusion of the season, this defensive production was recognized when head coach Bobby Wallace and Monica were selected to coach the Blue (North) defense in the annual Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic. Two key players that the Owls will have to replace in 2002, defensive end Raheem Brock and cornerback Chonn Lacey, played in the game.
The Temple defense will operate out of a 4-2-5 formation in 2002. The Owls will also have a new coach in defensive line coach Toby Neinas, who arrived in early March from Alabama-Birmingham.
"We're running a 4-2-5 instead of an eight man front, with four down linemen, two inside linebackers and five defensive backs," said Wallace. "It puts more speed on the field and is conducive to the personnel we have."
The first player to merit attention when focusing on the Temple defense is senior Dan Klecko, the only returning unanimous All-Big East Conference defensive player in the league. He is one of three unanimous all-league selections returning overall, joined by Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey and kicker Todd Sievers. The Colts Neck, N.J. native made 19.5 tackles for loss and an impressive 27 quarterback hurries from an interior position last season.
At the conclusion of spring drills, Klecko was moved from the interior to rush end, a move that Wallace anticipated at the onset of spring practice.
"We are going to start our best players and entering the preseason our best defensive front includes Klecko, Rob Sack and Taso Apostolidis," said Wallace. "Klecko is versatile enough to play both end and tackle. He is not going to play every snap at defensive end, he will also see time inside. I think he will have an opportunity to make more plays at defensive end, but, then again, they can always run away from him there. At the same, it is harder to double-team him at end. Klecko is a great player, no question. His challenge this year is to be a dominant player and it is our challenge is to get him in position to do that."
Sack's and Apostolidis' play on the inside during spring practice made Wallace's decision to move Klecko all that much easier. The two were among 10 players that donned black jerseys in the spring as proven defensive winners, as selected by the coaching staff. Sack has made 14 career starts at defensive tackle.
Senior David Terry, juniors Luis Lumpris and Dominique Veney, sophomore Ismael Seals and redshirt freshman Adam Fichter will provide depth and compete for playing time in the interior.
Junior J.D. Stanley, who has contributed primarily on special teams in his two seasons, exited spring drills atop the depth chart at defensive end opposite Klecko. Stanley received heated pressure at the position, however, from redshirt freshman Rodney Wormley, who had an impressive spring game. Wormley has room to grow, given his 6-4, 217-pound frame.
Also in the mix at defensive end are senior Tyrone Ditzel, junior Arlan Johnson, sophomore Marques Coleman and redshirt freshman Jason Johnson.
At the onset of spring practice, Wallace challenged several players to step up their play at inside linebacker and earn a job. Senior J.D. Nichols and junior Troy Bennett accepted the challenge and did just that, topping the post-spring two-deep at sam and will linebacker, respectively. Nichols made six starts as a junior college transfer and Bennett received the starting call twice as a first-year sophomore in 2001.
"These are two guys that stepped on a Division I-A practice field for the first time last August," said Wallace. "People forget about that because of their class standings. After being around for a year, they should have improved, and they have."
Seniors Terrence Belvin and Leon Gray, sophomore Anthony DeGannes and redshirt freshmen Manuel Tapia and Rian "Goo" Wallace will pressure Nichols and Bennett for playing time at inside linebacker.
As evidenced by their performance in spring drills, the owl safety and strong safety positions, under the direction of outside linebackers coach Spencer Prescott, look to be strong with senior starters Jairo Almonte and Lafton Thomson returning. The owl safety covers the open end and the strong safety covers the tight end side in the 4-2-5 formation.
Almonte was the Owls most valuable newcomer as a junior college transfer in 2001. After beginning the season at cornerback, he flourished at owl safety when moved in week four. Almonte led the team and was tied for fourth in the Big East with three forced fumbles, in addition to making 13.5 tackles for loss.
Thompson, a local product out of Norristown (Pa.) High School, has completed the necessary coursework to earn an additional season of eligibilty in 2002. He has proven to be a more than reliable strong safety, playing in 33 games and making 22 consecutive starts.
Senior Gerard Bishop has played in 27 career games and provides quality depth at either the strong or owl safety spot. Sophomore Joel Gray will also contribute to the safety corps.
The secondary, made up of the free safety and cornerback positions, returns two starters in 2002.
All-conference candidate Jamal Wallace, a Port Norris, N.J. native, has completed the necessary coursework to earn an additional season of eligibility in 2002. The senior, who did not participate in spring practice, is the team's top returning tackler with 77 stops (54 solo) in 2001. Wallace has started 22 straight games at free safety.
Senior Terrance Leftwich returns at left cornerback after starting all 11 games last season, when he made three interceptions and six pass break-ups. Leftwich has seven aerial thefts in two seasons at cornerback to rank tied for ninth all-time at Temple. He is joined on the left side by redshirt freshman Delonne Wilbourne.
Junior Yazid Jackson will man the right cornerback spot, in addition to providing depth at free safety. He played in all 11 games, making one start last season. Jackson is supported on the right side by David Reese, a 2002 signee that joined the Owls for spring drills.
Providing the necessary depth in the secondary are sophomores Alex McClean and Milton Sears.
SPECIAL TEAMS
With kickers Cap Poklemba and Jared Davis and punters Garvin Ringwelski and Jace Amore back in the fold, the kicking game looks to be in good shape. Poklemba has connected on 22 of 35 career field goal attempts and converted 60 of 61 career PATs. Amore struggled at times as a true freshman in 2001 but performed well enough to be named to The Sporting News Big East All Freshman Team.
Ringwelski, a junior who handled the Owls' punting duties in 2000, surpassed Amore on the depth chart during spring drills and was voted the team's most improved specialist by the coaching staff. He has pnted in 18 career games and has a 37.0 average.
Poklemba has competition in fellow senior Davis, whi is believed to be the lightest player in Division I-A football at 5-6, 139 pounds. He performed in eight games in 2001, often as a kickoff specialist.
Redshirt freshman punter Shane Van Sciver, as well as redshirt freshmen kickers Roger Price and Stephen Josephson are also in the kicking game mix.
Redshirt freshman punter Mike McLaughlin is the heir apparent to Mac DeVito as the holder. Wideout Ikey Chuku has also practiced at the position.
The Owls were without the services of an experienced long snapper in the spring. Senior Brandon George will be back in uniform for preseason practice. Tight End Eric Carpenter gained experience during George's absence.
Return teams look to be an area of strength. Makonnen Fenton and Lawrence Wade, who was redshirted last season, have experience. Fenton led the Big East and placed 21st nationally with a 26.1 yards per return average last year. Wade averaged 20.4 yards per return in 2000. Tanardo Sharps, whose five returns didn't qualify for the league's final stats, averaged 26.2 yards per return in 2001 and is also a possibility.
Sean Dillard and Zamir Cobb can pose big problems for opposing coverage units on punts. Dillard placed fourth in the Big East with a 9.0-yards per return average on 26 returns last season. Cobb was averaging 12.4 yards per return before being sidelined with a hernia. In the season opener versus Navy, he returned a punt 47 yards for a score to become the first Owl to return a punt for a touchdown since 1994.
