From the other side, Part 11
November 18, 2007
Thanks to Adam Sparks of the Daily News Journal for his help
1. What happened in the ULL game?
MTSU was tired and hurt, and it ran into a team that relies on physical play. Louisiana-Lafayette hasn’t done a lot well — hence the 2-8 record — but the Cajuns can run the ball. MTSU would’ve had a better chance of beating a finesse team in its current state of health. A few key players were out with injuries, but it was the players with nagging injuries that crippled the team in that loss. About one-third of MTSU’s roster had some ailment that game. Nevertheless, I think ULL played with more passion, especially in the second half. I also thought MTSU lost some of its juice when freshman quarterback Dwight Dasher showed he couldn’t run well (due to knee and ankle injuries). It was a game MTSU should’ve won but didn’t, and it took most of the meaning out of this game against Troy.
2. Which QB do you expect to see vs. Troy, and what are the similarities and differences between Joe Craddock and Dwight Dasher?
I think both quarterbacks will play. Both are dual threat QBs in every sense of the term. Dasher is the better runner, but he’s got a cannon for an arm and his passing skills are underrated by most who haven’t seen him play in person. Dasher isn’t a typical speedy breakaway runner like ULM’s Kinsmon Lancaster, but more like ULL’s Michael Desormeaux. He’s strong and physical — built like a fullback — but also has the wheels to break one a long one like he did against Memphis.
Craddock is a more polished passer and understands the offense more, but he can also run. He won’t break off a 50-yard run, but he’s shifty enough to pick up 10 yards and buy himself some time in the pocket.
Both QBs can (and have) put up 400-plus yards of total offense in a game. Troy has perhaps the fastest defense in the Sun Belt, so both QBs will need their wheels Tuesday night.
3. How much sting is there still from last year’s last-minute loss to Troy?
I think it still stings the older players, especially those returning starters on defense who allowed the two late TDs. I think a lot of Blue Raiders thought a trip to New Orleans was in hand until that late flurry. Going to the Motor City Bowl helped ease that pain a bit, but the frustration is still there. Usually these kind of things are overblown, but I think in this situation most players are still recalling the effects of that loss. I don’t think it will affect this game much, though. Any emotion will be spent in the first five minutes of the game. From there, it’s just another football game.
4. What areas of MTSU can Troy exploit?
Two things. Although Troy is not a run first team, MTSU has shown lately that it has a weakness to power running attacks. That may come in handy in short-yardage situations or around the goal line. Troy’s underneath passing attack should also be effective. MTSU’s secondary has an extreme focus on limiting big plays, and so underneath routes are sometimes open. With Troy’s athletic wideouts, YAC (yards after catch) could pile up.
5. What areas of Troy can MTSU exploit?
While Troy is fast defensively, MTSU has a knack of using that strength against some teams through over-pursuit and misdirection. MTSU’s best weapon may be the screen pass. DeMarco McNair and Desmond Gee have both broken screen passes for the team’s longest gains of the year.
6. Make a prediction
MTSU holds its own. The Blue Raiders have been a great road team under second-year coach Rick Stockstill, but Troy is still a better team. Troy 31, MTSU 23
