JV game

September 30, 2007

Drew Champlin

I wasn’t there, but Troy’s JV squad lost to Georgia Military Sunday afternoon.

It’s a nice recruiting tool, because no doubt the coaches are going after players on the Georgia Military squad. Right tackle Dion Small was there last year. GMC is an outstanding program and produces several D-1 talents every year.

For those thinking “Troy’s future is in doubt,” remember that most of the guys playing will make minimal contributions to the varsity squad, at best. Not all, but most - especially on defense. That’s why GMC rolled up 52 points. Both QBs - Tanner Jones and Jamie Hampton - obviously have chances in the future, so their development in this was needed. Justin Bray is an exception as well. But when you check out the stats, you see a lot of walk-ons in this game.

Troy-ULM REWIND

Drew Champlin

First off, here’s some links. Here’s my game story, plus a defensive sidebar, and some notes with injury updates to Austin Silvoy and Josh Maxwell.

From The Monroe News-Star, ULM couldn’t complete a game.
Troy’s next opponent, Florida International, took a beating at Middle Tennessee, from the Miami Herald.

We’ll go position by position

OFFENSE

Omar Haugabook wasn’t sharp early but he got a lot better as the game went along. After the game, Gary Banks said that the receivers would notice things in ULM’s coverage, tell it to offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, and Franklin would make the adjustments. Worked out pretty well, I would say. Not a perfect game, but probably a game Troy needed. Those 49-44 wins expose weaknesses.

The offensive line was outstanding, again. Omar had all day to throw even when ULM had pretty good coverage.

I would think Austin Silvoy would be back next week after suffering arm burns in a Saturday morning car accident. The Y was taken out for most of the game except for Josh Allen’s outstanding touchdown catch to make it 21-7, when he was flipped over, landed on his shoulder in the back of the end zone, and held on. Kennard Burton and Gary Banks showed up from the outside positions, Gerald Tate had a long TD called back because of offsetting penalties, and Mykeal Terry showed up a little more.

Troy didn’t go to the run much, but DuJuan Harris showed some burst late in the game.

DEFENSE

Calvin Dawson got his yards, but it seemed like a quiet night. He had a 58 yard run and a 29-yard run and had around 150, but as you see two plays led to half of the yards. Obviously he’d be a first-round pick in Sun Belt Fantasy Football, but Troy stopped the run in large part. The key was that fourth and goal stand on ULM’s second possession.

Boris Lee is making me look good with my vote on the Preseason All-Sun Belt team. I still contend he’s a top 3 league linebacker, no matter that he’s just a sophomore.

Dion Gales got the start at DT, his first. He’ll start to show why he was rated as a five-star recruit. All the sudden, Mo Crain’s got the deepest position on the team. Chris Bradwell, Marcus Pittman, Gales, Maurice Coleman and Steve McClendon can all make plays.

Kenny Mainor and Shawn Todd made some plays from defensive end.

How ‘bout Bear Woods coming in untouched on the linebacker blitz for his first career sack? The junior got a scholarship before the year and is proving his worth as a valuable reserve linebacker and special teams player.

Blakeney mentioned redshirt freshman LB John Mark Patrick as a guy who is showing up on special teams. With two starting linebackers graduating, he’ll have a chance for major snaps next year.

Josh Maxwell had a slight seizure on the opening kickoff after making a face-up hit, but went to the hospital and came back to the game in street clothes. Not sure how long/if he’ll be out, but it was good to see him on the sidelines.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Whibbs was pretty good, again. The return game didn’t get a whole lot of action, to no one’s surprise.

That’s all for now. It’s my wife’s birthday and my fantasy NFL team tries to improve from 0-3 to 1-3. Check back tomorrow for some Monday tidbits/news updates from the press conference.

Brandon Lang

September 29, 2007

Drew Champlin

I made it a point to catch up with DE Brandon Lang after the game. He tore his ACL against Oklahoma State and is walking without crutches and with barely a noticable limp.

AFter I ask him how he’s doing and how rehab is, etc., he tells me he’s going to try to make it back by Middle Tennessee (Nov. 20). That’s a heck of an accomplishment for someone who tore his ACL, but he’s rehabbing hard and he’s got the work ethic to do it. He didn’t really blow out his knee like some people have. Usually when that happens, they damage more than just the ACL.

Also, don’t look for him to get this year back because I don’t think he can (well, especially if he returns later this year). He went to prep school for a year, then had a year where he was out of action. I think he enrolled for a spring, had some grade problems and was away for a fall and spring, then came back in the fall of 2006, making him what equates to a redshirt freshman. That’s just my understanding of the rule.

So if he’s unable to come back, there’s a possibility he could apply for a 6th year, but he’s a 21-year-old sophomore on the football field, and he’ll be 22 on June 18, 2008. This kid, if he keeps performing to his ability, has a chance to be a high NFL Draft pick, though it will be in two years. He’s the most explosive defensive end on the roster, according to coaches, and has a chance to be an all-conference player the next two years. He’d be close to turning 24 after his senior year here, and, if you’ve got that kind of ability, it’s time to go on and go to the NFL.

Pull for him. He’s a great kid, very polite and respectful. Trojan fans should be proud that he’s a representative of your university.

I’ll have some more game observations Sunday.

HALFTIME: Troy 7, ULM 0

Drew Champlin

Only score on a 28-yard interception return by Boris Lee. Both defenses have stepped it up a notch.

Josh Maxwell returned to the stadium after being released from the hospital. He’s fine, won’t play obviously, but the nature of his injury was not released.

Props to Troy’s defense for stepping it up. ULM has 161 total yards to Troy’s 104, but 89 yards came on two long runs. Troy has made the plays defensively when it counted, but hasn’t been nearly as sharp on offense.

Go figure, you write about how a game could be a shootout and the teams are shooting blanks.

AFTER ONE: Troy 0, ULM 0

Drew Champlin

Omar Haugabook just threw his second interception into double coverage