Temple Owls Football: 5 Key Strategies for a Winning Season in 2024

You know, I was watching Temple's final game last season against Navy, and something about Coach Stan Drayton's post-game press conference really stuck with me. He said something like, "Of course we saw positive signs even though we didn't make it, and we'll build on those. But there's also a lot to work on, and hopefully we can work them out in the off-season." That moment felt different from previous years - there was this raw honesty about where the program stands, but also this quiet determination that makes me believe 2024 could be special. I've followed Temple football for over a decade now, and I'm telling you, this feels like one of those pivotal moments where a program either takes the leap or stays stuck in mediocrity.

Looking at how last season unfolded, I think there are five key areas that will determine whether the Owls can turn those "positive signs" into actual wins. First and foremost, we need to talk about quarterback development. E.J. Warner showed flashes of brilliance last season - remember that incredible 402-yard performance against USF? But consistency was the issue. He completed just 58% of his passes and threw 12 interceptions against 18 touchdowns. Those numbers need to flip. What I'd love to see is the coaching staff building an offense that plays to his strengths - more quick-release plays, fewer of those risky deep balls that seemed to get picked off at the worst possible moments. I've always believed a quarterback either makes or breaks a season, and Warner has the pedigree and raw talent to be the difference-maker we need.

The second strategy has to revolve around fixing that run game, because let's be honest - it was painful to watch at times. We averaged just 98 rushing yards per game, which put us near the bottom of the AAC. I was at the Memphis game where we managed only 47 rushing yards the entire game, and you could see how it completely limited our offensive options. Coach Drayton knows this better than anyone - he built his reputation on developing running backs. What I'm hoping for is that they identify one or two primary backs early in camp and commit to establishing the ground game. Football hasn't changed that much - you still need to be able to run the ball effectively to control the clock and keep defenses honest.

Now, here's something I feel strongly about - defensive discipline. We gave up way too many big plays last season, particularly in crucial moments. I counted at least six games where a single defensive breakdown in the fourth quarter cost us the win. The numbers back this up - opponents converted 45% of their third downs against us, which is simply unacceptable at this level. What I'd like to see is more aggressive play-calling on early downs and better communication in the secondary. I remember watching practice last spring and noticing how much time the defensive backs spent working on their coverage communication - that attention to detail needs to translate to game days.

The fourth area might not be as glamorous, but special teams cost us at least two wins last season. Our kicker missed five field goals inside 40 yards, and our punt return unit averaged just 6.8 yards per return while fumbling three times. These are the hidden yardage battles that separate good teams from great ones. I've always believed that special teams excellence comes down to coaching and repetition, and this is where I think Coach Drayton can really make his mark during the off-season. They need to identify reliable specialists and build units that understand their roles perfectly.

Finally, and this might be the most important - building mental toughness. Too many times last season, when things started going wrong, the team seemed to unravel. That 28-point collapse against Tulsa still haunts me. But here's the encouraging part - in those final games, I started seeing glimpses of resilience. The way they fought back against East Carolina after being down 14 points showed character. That's what Coach Drayton meant about "positive signs" - the foundation is there. What they need now is to develop that killer instinct, that belief that they can win close games rather than just hoping not to lose them.

What excites me most about this off-season is that for the first time in a while, there seems to be a clear recognition of both the strengths and weaknesses. They're not sugarcoating the issues, but they're also not discounting the progress. I genuinely believe if they can nail these five areas - quarterback consistency, establishing the run, defensive discipline, special teams reliability, and mental toughness - we could be looking at a 7-8 win season rather than another 3-9 campaign. The pieces are there, the coaching staff seems aligned, and the players have bought in. Now it's about turning those "things to work on" into strengths and those "positive signs" into consistent performance. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see how this team responds come September.