Duke Football: 3 reasons to watch Independence Bowl vs Temple
By Zach Bigalke
2. Temple boasts one of the best pass defenses in the FBS
Duke has dealt with issues in their passing game all season. Starting quarterback Daniel Jones ranked 83rd nationally in passing efficiency. None of the receivers managed to take in even 600 yards through the air over the 2018 regular season, while only Davis Koppenhaver, T.J. Rahming, and Johnathan Lloyd managed to haul in touchdown passes.
Jones and the receiving corps are going to have to come up huge for the Blue Devils to have any chance of winning over Temple. That is because the Owls boast one of the top five secondaries in the entire country.
Temple ranked fifth in pass efficiency defense. The Owls finished the regular season seventh in passing yards allowed, and they also were third nationally in turnovers generated. They will do their best to wreak havoc on the Blue Devils. Duke will quickly become one-dimensional if they cannot crack the code of how to beat the Owls through the air.