Troy-ULM REWIND
September 30, 2007
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.
