Warner/Simon: How A is Unlike B

Evan Simon has come a long way since being sacked by Layton Jordan here.

Just like election polls, nothing is decided yet but the early trends are pointing in one direction:

Evan Simon might just be an upgrade at quarterback over E.J. Warner.

Like that other thing, nobody saw this coming back in June when the only evidence we had was that one was a record-setting passer at Temple and the other was a guy who had seven interceptions against only four touchdowns on the FBS level.

While the other election night is more than a month away, the election night between Warner and Simon is in four nights (ESPN, 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field). Simon’s popularity is soaring with Temple fans after throwing five touchdowns and running for another in a 45-29 win over Utah State on Saturday.

That popularity will be under a microscope on Thursday night, as several thousand more Prodigal Son Temple fans return to Lincoln Financial Field buoyed by that win.

Evan Simon threw five TD passes and ran for another. (Photo courtesy Zamani Feelings)

We have a real A and B comparison and if I’m reading the returns right, about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday we will find out who the better quarterback for Temple is.

That’s because we can compare what Warner did against Army vs. what Simon will do against Army.

The No. 1 benchmark is the win.

If Simon gets Temple a win against the unbeaten Cadets, it’s a landslide. That’s the No. 1 job of a quarterback. If you put up gaudy stats and lose, it doesn’t prove much.

Still, even without a win these are the numbers Simon needs to surpass to get the vote of the swing fans: 28 for 43 completions, 235 yards, two interceptions, two touchdown passes. That’s what Warner had against Army in a 37-14 loss.

Same defense, two different quarterbacks.

A Temple win and good TV ratings wouldn’t hurt the Owls’ national perception on Thursday night.

It’s an apples-to-apples comparison the likes we have not seen so far.

Our feelings about Warner were always this. He was the perfect guy for Danny Langsdorf’s system of short drops, quick releases, short passes. But he had this annoying habit of throwing Pick 6s in close games that cost Temple wins. Had Warner not thrown a Pick 6 against Rutgers in 2022, Temple wins that game, 14-9. Had Warner not thrown a Pick 6 against South Florida last year, Temple wins that game, 22-20. That was the same South Florida team that beat Syracuse, 55-0, in a bowl game a few weeks later.

Warner’s size contributed to both those disasters as his vision was obstructed in both cases.

Simon doesn’t have the same problem.

All he has to do Thursday night to win this election is go 29-for-42 with 236 yards, 1 INT and 3TD passes. One more yard, one less pick, one more TD pass.

Or complete one or two passes for a couple of yards and get Temple a win.

Polls close on or about 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.

Wednesday: Temple-Army Preview

Friday: Temple-Army Analysis

7 thoughts on “Warner/Simon: How A is Unlike B

  1. Using up clock, managing the game, getting first downs (in other words keeping Army’s offense off the field) and of course scoring are all very important. But maybe more important is whether Withers and Drayton can come up with a D to manage Army’s offense – “bending but not breaking” philosophy ain’t gonna work against them. Go owls.

    • It’s all about your run defense when playing the service academies. Can you stop the triple option run game?

      Will the third time seeing this kind of offense this season be the charm?

      Dunno why Coastal abandoned the run against the Owls. But you can bet Army will not. Good news, the Temple corners can play man allowing the Owls to stuff the box with eight.

      It will be wet, so let’s hope the Temple D can force a fumble or two.

      This game is not about Simon. It’s all about stuffing the run. Stop the run and Temple wins.

      • The tackling against Navy was abysmal but then again Memphis’ tackling against Navy was worse than Memphis held Florida State to 13 points. Withers is going to have to go back to the drawing board and have the linebackers (particularly D.J. Woodbury) taking over sideline to sideline responsibilities. Temple will have to show toughness in tackling at the point of attack that wasn’t on display against Navy.

  2. The front seven on the Temple D can’t be passive, they must attack. Trying to sit and read the option will lead to fast failure.

    Get across the line of scrimmage, penetrate, run blitz. Anything else will give the game away. Army will run downhill all night if Temple doesn’t attack the line of scrimmage.

    Temple made the Navy and Coastal QBs look like Heisman Trophy winners. Game over if the Army QB runs for over 100 yards. Hit that kid on every play!

  3. Nice to read optimistic content here for a change.

  4. after the Army debacle I’m going to say we are no better and no worse off with Simon over Warner. Until that o-line is fixed no QB except maybe a running QB

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