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PHILADELPHIA – Under different circumstances, Coach K.C. Keeler would have focused on Temple's "really good" scrimmage this past weekend when he spoke to reporters after practice on Tuesday afternoon at 10th and Diamond.  A poor effort from the entire team on Tuesday made that impossible. "I thought the first nine practices and the scrimmage on Saturday was really good," Keeler said.  "I'm disappointed today.  This was the first practice, the first winter workout, the first weightlifting, the first practice I was really displeased with.  I think we kind of went through the motions.  And that's not who we can be. "So I had a very poignant talk with the fellas after practice.  Because like I said, since winter workouts through lifting through spring practice, the first nine practices, we're pretty happy.  This building is pretty pleased with where we are.  I thought we took a step back today.  I saw it in warmups." It was both sides that weren't paying close enough attention to the details on Tuesday, Keeler explained.  As for the scrimmage, he described some real give and take between the offense and defense. "It was a very physical scrimmage," Keeler said.  "We went after each other pretty good." Temple football players stretch before practice at Chodoff Field on March 28, 2026. (Photo: Shawn Pastor)   While Jaxon Smolik produced better passing numbers than Ajani Sheppard on Saturday, Keeler didn't declare a leader but also didn't adjust the timeline he described last week that could see a starting quarterback named at the end of spring practice or at some point in August. "I think we're just going to keep on monitoring," Keeler said.  "Both guys made plays in the scrimmage.  There were a couple times Ajani pulled that ball down, he was out the gate, really impressive ... And I thought Jaxon did a really good job, very accurate." Defensively, the new additions to the roster have announced their arrival with four of them – defensive tackle Kevin Hornbeak, edge rusher Jaylon Joseph, and safeties Kolin Dinkins and Saboor Karriem – lining up with the first team either during the scrimmage or at practice on Tuesday.  That doesn't mean anyone has locked up any jobs, though. "Our talent level is beyond what I thought it was going to be," Keeler summarized.  "Because I thought we lost a lot of guys." One of the newcomers, safety Jaeden Gould, intercepted a Smolik pass attempt on Tuesday.  Sheppard, meanwhile, threw a pair of touchdown passes to Rameir Hardy during 11-on-11 drills. "It's definitely an instinct type of thing," Gould said of his pick.  "Just seeing the route coming across, was able to get a good break on it and a good read on the quarterback.  Going against those two guys, they bring different things to the table." The Owls will practice next on Thursday with their second spring scrimmage set for Saturday morning.