GAMEDAY: Troy at UL-Lafayette

September 22, 2007

Drew Champlin

Troy (1-2) @ UL-Lafayette (0-3)Time: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN Plus
RADIO: 94.7 FM WTBF out of Pike County
for more audio/video information, visit http://www.troytrojans.com
Last week: Troy 41, Oklahoma State 23; McNeese State 38, ULL 17
Last year: Troy got a career-high 172 yards on the ground and won a shootout, 42-28, over ULL in Troy
Last time in Lafayette: Troy came back from 20-7 down, when Carl Meadows hit Smokey Hampton with a 12-yard touchdown pass with under 20 seconds left to force overtime. ULL kicked a field goal, but Troy coaches called for safe plays after a first-down long pass (that fell incomplete) to set up for a tying FG, but Greg Whibbs’ 37-yarder was wide left.

Key matchups: ULL’s running backs (whomever they may be) vs. Troy’s run defense. The Cajuns may be without starter Tyrell Fenroy, one of the league’s top backs, and top backup Deon Wallace, though Wallace is more likely to play. Troy’s run defense is last in the country and ULL likes to operate out of the spread offense with quarterback Michael Desormeaux, but it’s a run-oriented scheme. Desormeaux looks at his one read, and if he doesn’t like it, takes off. He’s hard to tackle, too.

Big question: How much will it rain? That could dampen Troy’s passing game, and make ULL’s runners harder to tackle. With Troy yet to establish an effective run game, and with Kenny Cattouse questionable, this game could get closer than people think.

Prediction: Troy 27, ULL 20. Omar Haugabook has over 100 yards on the ground for this one and a good enough day passing.

Sun Belt predictions

September 21, 2007

Drew Champlin

Week 1: 7-0
Week 2: 6-1 (missed ULL)
Week 3: 5-2 (missed FAU’s win, ULL’s loss)

man, I’m getting worse and worse. I need to give myself a LOSS for Thursday night because I admit, I would have picked Middle Tennessee to beat Western Kentucky Thursday. WKU pulled the 20-17 win. It does look like my pick of Middle to finish 6th overall is looking better and better. I like Rick Stockstill, talked to him a few times, but this just isn’t the Big Blue’s year. Next year might not either, but once his recruits become juniors and seniors, they’ll be contenders.

For tomorrow

Troy over ULL (pick will be in gameday blog preview)
Tennessee 34, Arkansas State 17
Kansas 38, Florida International 7
Florida Atlantic 45, North Texas 28
ULM is off

Friday links

Drew Champlin

I’m off to Lafayette in a bit so you won’t hear from me today, but here are some links of interest

I wrote a feature on Troy’s Wes Potter.

From the Daily Advertister, there’s grumblings about ULL head coach Rickey Bustle.

Thursday links

September 20, 2007

Drew Champlin

For a minute, if you check out our Troy sports page, you’ll see a long list of recent articles, plus a SLIDESHOW of pictures, and the VIDEO of the Fearless Forecasters college edition and a Troy report. Of note, I didn’t participate in the Troy report this week because I’m haven’t been physically in Dothan. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s sure to be good.

From me, you’ve got Mainor back, Lang out.

From the Daily Advertiser, Fenroy is still questionable, Larry Blakeney says Troy’s win over Oklahoma State won’t help Troy win the Sun Belt, a short practice notebook and a notebook about Troy players.

From the other side, Part 4

Drew Champlin

I’ll be making the 400-mile drive from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Dothan in a couple of hours, and tomorrow going 450 miles from Dothan to Lafayette. Not sure how much I’ll be able to post between now and tomorrow night.

From the other side, Part 4
A big thanks to Dan McDonald of the Daily Advertiser in Lafayette for his cooperation. He’s the Ragin’ Cajuns beat writer.

1. What did the Cajun players and coaches say about Troy’s win over Oklahoma State?
I really don’t think UL’s coaches were very surprised that Troy beat OSU. I know they were impressed with the manner in which they controlled the game, pretty much in all phases of the game, but I don’t think they were shocked with the victory.

2. What is the Cajuns’ biggest weak link right now?
It would be easy to blame defensive problems on the secondary since opponents are completing over 64 percent of their throws for over 217 yards a game. But they’re also not generating much of a pass rush, and in the second half in all three games so far their opponents have been able to move the ball pretty much at will. Offensively, it’s hard to put a finger on. Their numbers are good, but it seems like in every drive they have one hugely negative play and the offense hasn’t been good at bouncing back on second and third-and-long situations.

3. Where could the Cajuns give the Trojans the most problems?
The Cajuns have their most mobile quarterback since the Brian Mitchell days. Michael Desormeaux can create a lot of problems for defenses. He’s a lot like Florida’s Tebow…albeit without that level of a supporting cast.

4. How much would it hurt if Tyrell Fenroy is out?
A lot. Fenroy is the type of back that wears on defenses. If UL’s not too far behind, they like nothing better than to run the read option and Fenroy’s the biggest key to that. It’s looking more and more doubtful that he’ll play as the week goes along, but he hasn’t been fully ruled out.

5. What’s the general consensus around there about Mike Desormeaux’s abilities as a quarterback now, since he played a big role in the win over Troy two years ago

Desormeaux has always had the reputation as an athlete playing quarterback, and he is among the league’s best overall athletes. But he’s also been pretty consistent with his throws – 56.3 percent, mostly short-range – and didn’t have a turnover until last week’s four-interception, five-turnover debacle against McNeese.

6. What’s your prediction for the game Saturday?
I’ve seen UL struggle in three straight second halves. I’m sticking with my pick that ran in our Wednesday paper – Troy 31-21.