Troy 31, MTSU 17. Drew’s final thoughts
August 28, 2008
Thanks to those of you who showed up for the late-announced halftime chatter. I will try, internet connections pending, to do that for all of the games.
OFFENSE
****I thought DuJuan Harris was outstanding, save one fumble. I was impressed with how he ran through people and not just around them. Maurice Greer ran it just twice, so I couldn’t get a feel for him.
****Jamie Hampton was OK in his first start, but I guess that’s to be expected. He’s still got potential to be better and never did I feel he’d lose the game for them. He had one interception, but was solid enough on three good drives to lead them to win. It’s 100 times tougher next week. Kennard Burton was pretty good. Hampton made two great passes - one a 30-yard floater to Burton that was right on the money that set up a score, and one a missle to Jernigan between two defenders. I still think he’s a guy that will be much better at the end of the year.
****Didn’t see many breakdowns in the OL. Steven Adams earned the start at RG but offensive coordinator Neal Brown said that situation with him and Wes Potter would be week-to-week and they’ll both play.
****Brown said he did handcuff Hampton a little bit because he knew Troy’s defense would shut down MTSU’s offense, which it did for the most part.
DEFENSE
****Boris Lee and Bear Woods could be the best linebacking duo in the Sun Belt. Boris Lee is probably the best defensive player in the Sun Belt.
****Good to see Steve McClendon have that long fumble return. He’s battled injuries his whole career but is healthy.
****Chris Bowens got picked on a lot at cornerback. I didn’t see the 46-yard touchdown pass as I was walking to the elevator, but the replay looked like he beat Terence Moore. I might be wrong.
****The starters are very good, but there’s no depth in the secondary or at linebacker. The defensive line played well all night and there’s a little depth there. That unit should be fine.
SPECIAL TEAMS
****Michael Taylor was very good on kickoffs. Sam Glusman was very good on XPs and FGs. Will Goggans was OK, had some good kicks, but had a rugby kick that hit a Troy player in the back, giving MTSU about 30 extra yards. I hate the rugby kick. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
****Aside from Taylor and Glusman, there’s no way to sugar coat this, but special teams stunk. Well, the holding of Austin Silvoy looked to be pretty good. Derick Thomas had two bad snaps to Goggans, but was fine in the second half. Must have been nerves, because he’s been solid his career until this point. There’s no punt returner that can cleanly catch a ball, as Jerrel Jernigan fumbled one to MTSU and dropped a kickoff. Jorrick Calvin muffed a punt too, but didn’t give it away. Jernigan looks very smooth as a receiver and offensive player, but not so much as a punt returner.
