Temple University Athletics
Spring Practice #5 Recap
3.26.09 | Football
March 26, 2009
PHILADELPHIA--It's not April yet, but showers have sprinkled Temple football's practice sessions already this spring. The Owls endured light drizzle on Thursday morning during the team's fifth practice session of the spring season at Edberg-Olson Hall.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Al Golden, this season's squad returns 17 starters, including nine on defense.
"Our condition is really good. We're stronger than we ever have been," Golden said. "There's a lot of competition. It's the first time we've had depth at just about every position."
Temple's next practice is Saturday, March 28 at 9 a.m. All practices are open only to Temple football alumni, Xtra Point Club members, and high school coaches, provided the individuals register in Edberg-Olson Hall before visiting the field. Practices are closed to the general public.
Temple opens the 2009 season with cross-town rival Villanova in the inaugural Mayor's Cup on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
Al Golden Quotes
Early impressions:
Our condition is really good. We're stronger than we ever have been, and obviously, we only lost five or six starters off the unit and brought some guys in mid-year. We're in the 90s right now, so we have a full team. Overall, we have 128 guys for 105 spots for training camp. There's a lot of competition. It's the first time we've had depth at just about every position.
Has anyone stood out?
On offense, I think our biggest improvement is in the O-line. Derek Dennis and Devin Tyler have started off really well. Jason Harper is playing well at receiver right now.
On defense, Keith Baker's doing a nice job for us at linebacker. Anthony Ferla's doing well. He looks good. He looks healthy. Amara Kamara's having a great spring.
Do you feel the offensive line is more cohesive now?
I think so. Right now what's hurting us is (Steve) Caputo and (Sean) Boyle sitting out this spring because of health reasons. I think when we get them back and we bring in the four or five guys with this class, there will be some continuity finally, because Devin (Tyler) is the only guy we lose. And that's how long it takes sometimes to settle into a unit, settle into a group.
Right now, Colin Madison is improving. He's as healthy as he's been. Wayne Tribue's playing center for us, so we're building some depth there, because Sean Boyle can also do that. Caputo was our starting right tackle in the fall before he went down. Devin's our starting tackle there now. Derek Dennis is doing well. Pat Boyle's really, really doing a nice job for us.
Talk about mid-year newcomers Evan Rodriguez and Zach Kane.
Evan is kid that we recruited really hard. He went to Coach D'Onofrio's high school. Mark knows his high school coach obviously really well. Mark's mom worked in that school district, and Mark's brother is actually married the to the head coach's daughter. So the ties there are very deep. He made a bad decision in West Virginia. We really spent a lot of time with him, and we're really pleased with how he is doing right now-- not just in terms of our football program but in the community and decisions he's making and the work ethic that he is developing. We're excited about him. We didn't think that was a good fit for him to begin with; obviously we're partial, but we felt this was a good fit for him, being that he grew up literally a mile or two from New York City.
Zach also entered at mid-year. We had a lot of guys enter at mid-year that really have fortified us at some positions. Zach is a guy that, I played college football with his high school coach. He's a guy that we know really well and that we recruited out of our camp. We've watched him develop, and we're excited about having him on campus.
Are you comfortable with your receivers?
I wouldn't say I'm comfortable yet, but (James) Nixon's starting to look like a receiver. I said multiple times in the fall that we had to manufacture his plays, because he hadn't played the position. We're pleased with his talent, but what do you buy into in the process in off-season-- learn the routes and learn the coverages and learn to convert routes and do all those things and catch the ball. That's the thing I really like about him right now. He probably has a 40-inch vertical (leap). And we know how fast he is. Now he's starting to catch the ball in traffic and make plays.
Obviously (Jason) Harper gives us very good speed there in addition to Nixon. There's a good group of guys behind them. Dy'Onne Crudup is steady and gives us good leadership.
Have the quarterbacks separated themselves?
No. They've both been taking shots with the ones (starters). We have a long way to go here in the spring, so our focus for them right now is `books and ball'. That's what I tell the team. I know they probably laugh at me behind my back, but that's what it is right now for these five weeks. We really don't have time for anything else except football and our books and obviously our family.
The Cherry & White Game is scheduled for Edberg-Olson Hall this year. Was that your call?
No, that's not my call. But we're a `Flip the Switch' operation; I don't care where we play. And if they say play here, we'll play here. If they say play in Stone Harbor, we'd play on the beach. Again, I think it will be good. The students can come down; it's a short walk. We're going to have a barbecue. The alumni and fans that always come will be here, so it may end up being real good. I know our kids are excited for it. We do treat it as a scrimmage.
