Rhule coaching his own way as team nears season opener

Since stepping on campus, the first thing demanded of Matt Rhule wasn’t to coach a football team but face the past head on, media scrutiny and all. He’s done a remarkable job moving the narrative from a program with an institutional problem to one that’s not only self-aware but also proactive.

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He also implemented his new schemes with the team on the side. With a strong showing at the Big 12 Media Days, now the attention is placed on the team’s issues on the field and how to work around them. With a memory of a phone call from an all-time coaching great, Rhule isn’t letting anyone but him and his staff steer the ship.

“My first year at Temple, we were 0-5 and I was afraid to answer my phone ‘cause I thought I was going to get fired every day. And the phone rang in my office and they said, ‘Hey, Dick Vermeil’s on the phone for you.’” Rhule recalled after the first summer practice. “Coach Vermeil said, ‘Man, I’m just going to give you one piece of advice. Don’t listen to anybody -- listen to your coaches. Trust yourself, do this your way. Do what you think is right. Don’t give into the media and all that.'”

As Rhule recalls it, Temple lost the following week to top 10 Louisville but notched his first win as a head coach the following week over Army. The more important note is the process the team stuck to worked in 2014 going 6-6 with a defense ranked fourth in points allowed.

That turnaround not only had recruits’ attention but there were offers across the nation for defensive coordinator Phil Snow to leave Rhule.

“I just listened to [Vermeil], just did what we thought was right and the next year we were in the top 25 [in defense]. Everyone in the country tried to hire away Phil away from me and I said that was a great lesson for me,” Rhule said. “Just to be consistent, not to panic. Do what you need to do, just to follow a process…If we do it over and over again, eventually we’ll be successful.”

Rhule’s closing line comes a bit self-aware as there are some roster adjustments that veer from the mainstream as he and his staff put together a cobblestone depth chart. Pieces like Mo Porter, Sam Tecklenburg, and freshman Rob Saulin suddenly have taken on more meaning than anyone would have imagined before.

Without any starting experience behind him, Porter was called an NFL-caliber left tackle by Rhule. That’s put a spark in Porter entering camp.

“Having someone that’s telling that you’re an NFL-caliber guy, someone that has your back means a lot to you. That makes you want to go out there and play harder,” Porter said to the press Thursday.

Porter also revealed that Saulin will now back himself up at the blindside.

A freshman defensive lineman out of New Jersey, Saulin originally committed to Temple but followed Rhule to Waco with hopes of working with Snow and defensive line coach Elijah Robinson. But he was also recruited knowing his ability on offense. As a junior in high school, Saulin caught 20 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver/tight end.

Saulin isn’t the only lineman with experience as a downfield weapon, either. Coming to Baylorlast year as a blocking-first tight end, Tecklenburg has moved to center full-time following Tanner Thrift’s surprise retirement. It’s a move Rhule has seemed anything but concerned about, helped by his recruitment of Baylor basketball’s Ish Wainwright playing tight end.

Not only did Rhule say Tecklenburg is one of the best players on the team, but like Porter, is a player worth an NFL investment despite the position change. Rhule shared a similar sentiment about wide receiver Chris Platt splitting time at cornerback this season.

You could say Rhule’s going his own way this season.

*fade-out Fleetwood Mac*