Monday notebook: Is an improved pass rush around the corner?

If it were not for Ajani Sheppard’s 34-yard touchdown run and two defensive stops inside the game’s last five minutes, Temple would be staring at a 1-4 record and a narrowing path to bowl eligibility. Instead, the Owls conducted an upbeat practice Monday morning at Chodoff Field less than 48 hours after posting a 17-13 win over previously unbeaten USF down in Tampa that, for now, has turned around their season. A week away from the midway point of the season, Temple is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in American Conference play, a half-game out of first place with six league games to go. The Owls won Saturday night knowing they had utilized some of the depth they wanted on the offensive line, rotating seven players in to keep the group fresh at a time when they needed it on the 96-yard drive that won the game. In his most extended action of the season as he works his way through a foot injury, Eric King played 25 snaps at left guard, which allowed Grayson Mains to bump back inside to center to give John Stone a breather on 14 reps. And Kevin Terry took snaps at both tackle spots to give left tackle John Watkins and right tackle Zach Aamland a bit of a breather. “So I do think when we got into the fourth quarter, our offensive line was fresher,” head coach K.C. Keeler said during his weekly Monday press conference, “and I think that helped a bunch.” Despite being without running back Sam Brown, Temple still managed to run for 182 yards, thanks in part to Hunter Smith picking up 69 yards on 11 carries. Brown, who racked up 205 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries across two games against Toledo and Army, missed Saturday’s game with what a team source is simply calling a “lower-body” injury. Brown was back on the field Monday at practice, although Keeler noted that “we didn’t have him do a whole lot today.” Keeler also said Monday that he never has to worry about his team’s energy level or the players not showing up on game days, but there was still a noticeable uptick in terms of good vibes at the team’s Edberg-Olson Hall facility Monday. Even Keeler’s dog, Maddie Mae, was at practice greeting visitors. Having said that, there’s still a lot of work to be done for a 2-3 football team that’s hosting a UConn team Saturday (3:45 p.m., ESPNU) that put up 41 points and 499 total yards in an overtime loss to Syracuse Saturday. Quarterback Kalieb Osborne, one of 21 players who followed head coach Jason Candle from Toledo to UConn as transfers, completed 19 of his 39 attempts for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Syracuse’s defense sacked him three times. That’s just one less sack than the four Temple has amassed all season through five games, and Keeler doesn’t believe his defense can get away with letting Osborne having time to throw Saturday. “If we let the quarterback sit in the pocket, it’s going to be a long day for us,” Keeler said. “I mean, he is super talented, so we’ve got to rely on that front four getting a pass rush.” The Huskies have allowed 13 sacks this season, so maybe this will finally be the week when Temple’s front four gets home on a few occasions to create some negative plays in the backfield. The way nose tackle Joseph Auzenne saw things Monday, the Owls could be close. PFF credited Temple with 16 total pressures at USF Saturday, with Kevin Hornbeak leading the way with five. “Watching the tape, there are a bunch of pressures,” Auzenne said. “Being fully honest, a lot of teams we’ve played, they pass the ball really quick, so that can obviously affect that. But pressure is consistent on the tape, whether it’s the nose pushing the pocket or Kevin Hornbeak being Kevin Hornbeak, or Russell Sykes. We’re still pressuring. “But that’s all a stat game. We’re just bringing about pressure and helping the team.” Listen to Keeler’s weekly Monday interview here.