On the offensive coordinator position…

December 18, 2007

Drew Champlin

Was sent an e-mail from Troy SID Ricky Hazel, who spoke with head coach Larry Blakeney. Blakeney said he won’t make a decision or announcement on the offensive coordinator until after the New Year.

For those worried about recruiting, don’t be because it’s a dead period. It’s going to be the same offense with one of the four offensive assistants left running the show - possibly a co-coordinator deal.

Tomorrow, I believe, is when the December JUCO recruits can sign. 

Basketball recap

Drew Champlin

Here’s my game story from Troy’s 98-80 win over Jacksonville.

First off, what a remarkable performance from the bench, including Brandon Hazzard (27 points) and Mario Telfair (20). I thought Troy would be worthless in any games that both O’Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus struggled, but it turns out that won’t be the case.

The team is 5-0 since everyone got healthy or eligible, and head coach Don Maestri is playing all 12 players most nights.

The problem is, Troy is also staring at an 0-3 Sun Belt start with South Alabama, Western Kentucky and North Texas - perhaps the league’s 3 best teams - on the schedule to start and with WKU and UNT at home BEFORE students get back.

Make no mistake about it, Jonus and Bassett will still need to be good, but the emergence of Hazzard as an outside threat and Telfair as one who is tough to guard 1-on-1 will open things up for other teammates. Maestri said the toughest thing is figuring out how to get Hazzard more minutes, but he’ll have to because of the way the kid shoots the ball.

Bernard Toombs, a guy who’s bandwagon I’m on, is playing more - likely at the expense of Jarvis Acker down low. Toombs is four inches taller and is all over the place when the ball’s in the air. His offensive game needs a little more work, but he’s a guy that needs to be on the floor.

Speaking of rebounds, Troy’s likely to lose the rebounding battle most games, but these guys box out a lot better than the guys did last year. That counts for a lot.

Tom Jervis is a guy that’s battling through a high ankle sprain. He’s playing in games, but barely practicing. That will change as his abilities as a finesse big man are up there. He’s having trouble banging with the bigger bodies, but he’s very basketball-savvy.

Teamwork play of the game: Alright, Justin Jonus is a guy who likes to shoot. He’s always been a score-first guy, well, because he can score. Well against JU, he was colder than the temperature outside. With about 3-4 minutes to go in the game, he had a chance at a contested 3-pointer from the left wing—one he would likely shoot otherwise, and one you would think a guy who wanted to hit a shot would shoot, but he faked it and found a wide open Bassett in the left corner, and he drained a 3. It just goes a lot to say how this team isn’t concerned with who’s scoring the most points. I heard last year, even after wins, some would mope about how they didn’t score enough points.

Not sure how well Troy will do in Sun Belt play still. I don’t think they’ll finish last but I’m hard-pressed to see them in the upper half of the league. The schedule didn’t do them any favors having to play USA, WKU and UNT twice, as well as MTSU, but chemistry goes a long way, especially at the end of the season. This team has it.

Pre-recruiting/spring look: DEFENSIVE BACKS

Drew Champlin

This is the first look at the 2008 Trojans. It’s never too early to speculate on the next season, especially since Troy’s 2007 season is over. Most of these will not focus on 2008 recruits as no one has signed on the dotted line yet.

Note: Players are listed in class based on what they will be in 2008.

WHAT TROY IS LOSING: Two of the best cornerbacks Troy has ever had, and two of the best and most unheralded in the country, in my opinion. Leodis McKelvin will be a top-40 NFL pick because of his ability as a cover corner and return man. Elbert Mack thrived when opponents threw his way, earning eight interceptions. The biggest question mark on this team next year will be the cornerback spot. Derick Pendergrass saw time as a reserve safety after getting a medical redshirt in 2006.

WHAT TROY IS RETAINING: Actually, three of the best safeties in the league. The top NFL prospect next year? Look no further than Terence Moore, who has the size at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and skill set to make an impact. Look for him to have a Brannon Condren-type year and potentially be a mid-round selection in 2009. Tavares Williams has been solid in his two years as a starting free safety. When Sherrod Martin returned from a broken hand, he gave the Trojan defense a big-time lift and he’ll return for his senior season as the nickelback in the 4-2-5 defense. Williams and Moore will also be seniors. Junior Courtland Fuller is biding his time behind the talented trio at safety but he’s a good special teams player. Sophomore Bryant McKissic is getting his kicks on special teams before he gets a chance to step up at safety in 2009.

Cornerback will be the biggest question mark, as neither Trevor Ford, a senior, or Chris Bowens, a junior, did anything to ease the minds of fans going into 2008 - most of that is because they were injured for at least 1/3 of the season. Senior Darryl Watts earned a scholarship before last year but his biggest contribution is on special teams, where he is very good there.

Troy signed two defensive backs in 2007 - Stacey Williams and KeJuan Phillips, but both are grayshirts and should enroll in Jan. 2008.

DREW’S PREDICTION: Like I said, Troy has three of the best safeties in the league in Moore, Martin and Williams. The problem comes at cornerback, where Ford and Bowens have ability, but have yet to show it. However, that’s not all their fault as even when they were healthy, it was hard to get McKelvin and Mack off the field.

Look for Troy to sign 3-4 players here, with some impact cornerbacks ala Elbert Mack in 2006. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or both starting cornerbacks come from the upcoming signing class.

Troy vs. Jacksonville hoops

December 17, 2007

Drew Champlin

With 22 minutes before tipoff, I counted 37 people in the stands. That’s including two Troy University employees sitting down on the front row before they begin their night of hard work, and about three more playing with a video camera up top. It’s not including people walking around the lobby or the pep band.

On the bright side, all 12 Troy basketball players are accounted for.

Looks like the game clock is five minutes ahead of real time, so if you get here at 7 p.m. and we’re already in the first media timeout, you’ll know why. Now there’s more than 37 people in the crowd. That Dec. 29 game vs. Western Kentucky is going to hurt without the students there.

HALFTIME: No starter has scored since Jerome Odem hit a 3 at the 14:26 mark to cut the JU lead to 10-8. O’Darien Bassett has 0 points. Justin Jonus has 0 points.

Yet, Troy leads 56-35 at the half. Remember Brandon Hazzard, the star of Saturday’s game? He’s got his career high THIS HALF with 22 points on 6-of-8 from 3pt land. Mario Telfair has 15 points and Tom Jervis has 8 points. Take out Jonus and Bassett’s 0-for-7 start and the team is shooting 70 percent (I overheard that from SID Ricky Hazel. You’ll hear that on the radio soon)

11:26 left in the game - It says a lot when the refs have called 15 total fouls in just over 8 minutes in a 20-point game. Actually, it makes the game go much slower. Swallow the whistle already!

Pre-recruiting/spring look: LINEBACKER

Drew Champlin

This is the first look at the 2008 Trojans. It’s never too early to speculate on the next season, especially since Troy’s 2007 season is over. Most of these will not focus on 2008 recruits as no one has signed on the dotted line yet.

Note: Players are listed in class based on what they will be in 2008.

WHAT TROY IS LOSING: Marcus Richardson, a three-year starter and the heart and soul of the Troy defense, will be one of the biggest losses. Romanique Lewis was his backup but battled injuries all through his Trojan career. Josh Maxwell started opposite Richardson but his LB spot went off the field when the fifth defensive back came on.

WHAT TROY IS RETAINING: Boris Lee became one of the Sun Belt’s best linebackers this year as a sophomore, earning All-Sun Belt honors from the middle linebacker spot. Lee was Troy’s leading tackler and had a knack for interceptions as well. He’s a guy that could play any one of the linebacker spots and be successful. Senior David McDowell started some games after Maxwell was hurt in the middle of the year. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder is bigger than a lot of defensive ends but runs pretty well for his size. He’d be first in line to start at one spot. Junior Bear Woods backed up Lee and he’ll find his way onto the field more. Three guys redshirted as freshmen this year - Donnell Golden, Lennie Richardson and Xavier Lamb. I’m not sure which of the three plays what linebacker position, but all three have bright futures and one could start in 2008. Sophomore RJ Roberts walked on and played mostly special teams as a true freshman.

Troy signed Jeffrey Daniels also in 2007, but he didn’t qualify.

DREW’S PREDICTION: Lee is one of the league’s best, but the other two spots might be cause for concern early. Troy shifted to that 4-2-5 defense where Sherrod Martin becomes an extra defensive back, making the LB spot that Maxwell and McDowell played leave the field.

I look for Troy to sign 2-3 more linebackers, including one that will challenge for a starting spot immediately from the JUCO ranks.