JDC - I just listened to Matt Rhule's media session on owlsports and he mentioned depth issues at defensive line (due to injuries - knee swelling for Sharif Finch, Praise still out, Walton practicing for the first time due to back injuries and Freddie Booth Lloyd practicing for the first time today). Are Finch or Praise serious injuries?

Three weeks to go and Owl fans are querying over what Matt Rhule will do with his facial hair. Being superstitious, we are attempting to get a definitive answer before September 5.

http://www.ldnews.com/sports/ci_28643864/l-l-media-day-brings-football-fever

Evan Horn has received offers from Temple to play football and basketball. Anyone know more about him?

Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman are pretty high on Temple.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/notre-dame-fighting-irish-byu-cougars-memphis-tigers-niu-group-5-independents-picks-081415

http://www.coachandplayer.com/temple-owls-season-from-a-slightly-different-perspective/

http://www.coachandplayer.com/nate-d-smith-adjusting-well-to-new-d-line-role-for-the-temple-owls/

Hi do any one know if the scrimmage game is open to public? If so where will the game be held? Thanks GO OWLS!!!

This is what I meant when I said I want the five best OL on the field at the same time. Instead of moving Dawkins inside, they moved Lofton inside. either way, we have more beef inside.

Obviously, I'm thrilled Dawkins stays at LT, and Lofton moves inside. I just want the five best out there. And with all due respect to Shahbaz Ahmed and Brendadn McGowan, both of whom have been fantastic team guys and have done yeoman's work, I think we can get better at OG. If it ends up being Brian Carter and Lofton, or if Ruff gets in there, or if McHale competes at tackle, and we're better, then that's great for the team.

Ahmed and McGowan can still play meaningful snaps, but let's start the best guys.

Competition is the key. Hopefully, Leon Johnson, Semaj Reed, Adrain Sullivan, Derosier, Terry, walk-ons like Apostolu, Gordon Thomas and Woerner, and freshmen Fair and Israel can also compete, although RS the true freshmen would be best.

P.J. Walker looked pretty sharp in the time I was there today. He looks and has the feel of someone who's starting to turn the corner as a junior. We'll see how it translates once the season starts.

Matt Rhule said today that Praise Martin-Oquike has been dinged up. If you listen to his comments, he put some not-so-subtle heat on his defensive end and said that he needs to stay healthy. It kind of came across as a 'you have to be tougher' kind of tone.

The team's first practice in pads will be Monday.

Robby Anderson's interview is worth a listen. His first public comments since coming back. He talked about how he watched film of his 2013 season and looked at things he could have done better. Pointed to specific routes he ran at SMU and against UCF at home.

And as I said on Twitter, I'll be on and off here most of the weekend. Our esteemed assistant editor Kyle Gauss is getting married tomorrow. His rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are at the Elmwood Park Zoo, home of Stella. Kyle has promised some Stella selfies.

With all the talk of Jaelin Robinson, I wonder how Aaron Ruff is progressing. He was a highly-rated OL from Philly who stayed close to home. What position is he playing? Is he bigger/stronger? Will he get playing time?

Interesting article about Martin-Oguike.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-temple-football-praise-martin-oguike-20150814-story.html

JDC-

I did not have a chance to speak with them, but I saw that Booth-Loyd had a boot on and Simpson had a knee/leg brace.

Any info around how severe their injuries are?

Thanks-

Anything big time going on like . . . . . . .

kickoffs pounding back of the end zone.

better range and accuracy on field goals

punts getting hang time and nice distance

My Observations:

Move Depth and Skill at LB, OL, OB, DB, WR, and RB

Standouts:

Anderson, Jennings, Bryant, Yancey, Armstead, Garner, J. Thomas

Quarterbacks:

Walker - 1
Marchi - 2
Nutile - 2
Digorgio - 3
Loughery - 4

Walker and Kicking are the key. We have a shot to win Eastern Div. of the AAC. Go Owls!

Anyone going if so hit me up I'll be there as a first time season ticket holder along with my brother and some friends . Plus as a parent I get the free ones too which is good because I have a big family.

I will be at a get together with a bunch of friends some Temple but most PSU fans and there will be a lot of friendly trash talk going on with me taking on all bets with the points of course ( having my cake and eating it too ) damn I can't wait it is getting really close !!!!!!


15-0

Temple is in his final 6 with Providence, ODU, Murray State, James Madison, and Towson. I know we have a bunch of scholarships, but I don't really see how we take him.

We still need a PG (Moore, Q Jackson, Maliek White)
Unless they've told the coaches they're no longer considering Temple, we're still trying for Hunter and Stevens
Thompson and Keita have seemingly always been the priority at PF/C.

Maybe the coaches envision Rose mostly playing the 1 and we're done there.

Often at the beginning of these camps, the offense lags behind the defense. Last year the offense didn't just lag behind the defense, it got straight beat by the defense.

Listening to camp reports, we were all concerned because we heard all camp long that the defense was better than the offense. Many expected the opposite to be the case. So starting the season, people didn't know what exactly to expect. Was the defense worlds better than the year before? Was the offense just plain bad making the defense look better?

It was a couple of games for us to figure out the defense was in fact solid, and the offense was as bad as the defense was the year before.

This new year yields an interesting change. No longer am I hearing about how much further the defense is ahead of the offense. I find this interesting.

Obviously there are multiple possibilities just like last year from progression of the offense to regression of the defense. The most likely situation regarding the defense is that it is improved from last year. We have almost the entire two deep roster back at defense and we have had multiple red shirt players coming on along with maturation of many younger players. To think that the defense regressed would border on lunacy. Not to say that couldn't be the case, but most likely situation when thinking of the defense is that it has improved from last year. Not like the giant step forward it took the year before, but I would say it almost certainly is faster, stronger, and bigger than last year. And last years defense was at times dominating.

So that is why I find myself giggling like a little child when thinking about the offense. The offense is not behind the defense this year. Think about that. The offense is not behind what is a better defense than last year. So what could that mean? That really could mean a special thing for this team.

Many here no doubt are familiar with the John Lennon song Imagine. Well imagine that song but about the owls. It really is easy if you try. A defense improved from last year and an offense improved the level of the defense the year before.

I'm not going to lie. I have some of last years games recorded and I go back and watch a couple of them and heck I just fast forward past the offense. But imagine if you will a temple team where you want to watch the offense and the defense. The offensive line opening up a hole big enough for a speedy Armstead or Simmons to take it to the house. Wide Outs on either side fast enough to stretch the field. A tight end mismatched across the middle. All sorts of things actually opening up. And after we score, the defense comes out and destroys the other teams offense.

OK, that isn't going to happen every week, but the thought that it could happen some weeks has to be exciting.

I know we all hope that PSU will be overlooking Temple when we meet that first weekend. I just don't see how that is going to happen. Lets face it, PSU would be foolish to do so. Their coach will not allow that. They know what happened to vandy last year. Whatever happens, it is going to be a war. I just think our guys are going to want it just a little bit more that PSU will. We wanted it more in 2011, but a stale offense and defensive exhaustion eventually lost the game for us. I don't see that being the case this year.

Not that this is likely to happen, but lets continue along with our imagine theme. How many wins opening up will it take the city to embrace this team like this team has embraced this city? Work with me here. I am usually the slow and steady wins the race. I normally say don't set unrealistic sights. But this team is different. Hell, last years team was different as well. So lets do some imagining here. We have that expression philly proud temple tuff. We have embraced the city. Normally I say it will take years to grab the cities attention. But imagine if we start off going 2-0. Hell, the ultimate would be imagine if we go undefeated till meeting the irish.

I wouldn't normally allow myself to imagine that, but what the hell, these are potentially really special times to be an owls fan. Imagine we go and open the season by beating PSU. Sure many denizens of the city will simply chalk it up to luck. How about following it up with a victory over Cincy the next week? Well, people will start to notice. Imagine if the Irish and the Owls meet both undefeated. You talk about temple generating buzz? That would be such a buzz you would not only be buzzed, you would be falling down drunk. That likely would be
the
biggest
college
game
ever
played
in
Philly.

Think about that. I think the city would embrace the owls prior to that. Many here cry about the lack of publicity the owls get. How many articles, how many snippets on the news, how many bloggers all over the webs would be writing about the owls? If we don't have every newspaper clamoring for stories THEN I might finally say the papers really don't want to report on the owls.

So, this is all in the hands of the team and the coaching staff. This is not pie in the sky stuff this year. This is possible. Likely? No. Possible? Heck yes. And that is saying a lot.

So just allow yourself a few minutes to imagine the week leading up to a game between undefeated owls and irish. I won't allow myself to imagine anything beyond that. But think of the publicity. Think of the coverage. Think of the excitement.

Philly proud, Temple tuff!
LEAVE NO DOUBT

For those like me who hadn't been in to see our new indoor football practice facility, wow was I impressed.

. . . . and situated on the plush, football lined artificial velvet green grass surface, what a fine venue for this annual get together. Nope! we weren't at all shoe horned in. Plenty of room. I didn't do an exact count, but there it was, row after row of 4 large round tables with seats for all who attended. Both side lines set up with buffet tables, each accommodating 2 rows of those in line to partake. Plenty of cans of Pepsi products with cups and ice. A variety of cookies for desert. For sure, best I could see, the food didn't run out and no one who dug in left unfulfilled.

The season ticket pick-up area was well staffed, set up on the end facing Broad St, and so well organized.

We had the opportunity to say hello and ask any Owl Club and Athletic Department questions to the likes of James Batley, Rob Fisher, and Mandy Brindle.

At some point, most of us settled down, munching on the variety of sandwiches on buns, some way better than average chicken items with a variety of sauces, some veggies with dip along with the fresh melon and pineapple slices that were out there for us.

So there we were, talking with some of our fellow season ticket holders, enjoying this special opportunity, when in marches the entire football team, along with Matt Rhule, some of his staff, and formerly deputy AD turned AD Pat Craft. Both took the mike and spoke with us, pumped and stirring waves of excitement.

These folks stayed around and were very accessible. I was most impressed at how the players spread out and approached us all to create dialogue, all wearing Temple numbered football jerseys with their names on the back. They all looked like they were in fabulous shape and ready to go right now, though for tonight, that took a back seat to being extremely sociable, giving out autographs and other wise having some quality time chilling out with their growing fan base..

It would be hard to walk out of there not excited for the season, and not feeling proud about how our football program is evolving..

Nice work by TU Associate AD of Marketing and Sales, Scott Walcoff and his staff, for putting it all together, and for promoting it multiple times in advance of the event.

For those who didn't attend, yeah, your tickets are coming, but hey, reach out and see about getting scheduled in to see the Pavilion, situated just north of Lot 1, which is just north of McGonagle Hall.

It's just a great addition to the fine practice facility and football infrastructure we already have in place.

Go Owls!

http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...ls-tony-brown-jalen-hurd-norton-freaks-081215

Just a subjective list from Fox Sports, but still pretty cool to see him at #16

What might be the best matchup of the PSU game, we will once again see Kyle Friend flex his muscle against a highly touted DT. After Kyle manhandled the ND lineman 2 years their draft stock seemed decline.

Anthony Zettle is ranked as one of the top 5 NFL DT prospects and is #29 on the list

Unfortunately Kyle didn't make this list, however Tyler Matakevich did at #121.

Look who made the list right under Tyler. Ugh. I still hate him for spurning us 24 hours before he was set to enroll. Imagine him and Alex wells as our starting safeties


http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/CollegePlayerRankings

..dumped by PSU signed with UMass...werent we recruiting him in HS? Any reason he didnt come to us?

The 6-4, 260-pound DE from West Catholic, who Temple offered, made a verbal commitment to Rutgers.

Through some pictures on twitter, I thought I noticed a slightly shinier version of the helmets coming from the Matte finish they've had the past few years. Not sure if it was just the angle or glare though. Can anyone confirm or deny this?