Breaking down the Trojans of Troy
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
THE OFFENSE
Base formation: Spread
2006 per-game averages:
Points: 25.0
Total yards: 335.7
Rushing yards: 121.0
Passing yards: 214.7
Turnovers lost: 2.7
Time of possession: 29:24
THE DEFENSE
Base formation: 4-3
2006 per-game averages:
Points: 14.0
Total yards: 338.3
Rushing yards: 143.3
Passing yards: 195.0
Turnovers gained: 2.3
THE COACH
Larry Blakeney
Years at Troy: 16
Record: 121-61-1
Worth noting: Blakeney has seen Troy through its transition from NCAA Division II to I-AA (in 1993; he then led the Trojans to seven I-AA playoff appearances in eight seasons) and finally to I-A in 2001 (Troy went 7-4 that season). Troy is in danger of suffering a three-game losing streak for only the fifth time in his tenure.
THE GAMERS
Omar Haugabook
Position: QB Year: Jr.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 201
Worth noting: Junior college All-American was intrigued by a promise he’d have the opportunity to throw for 4,000 yards in Troy’s new offense. He’s far off that pace, but is completing 60.9 percent of his passes. Six interceptions are a concern.
Gary Banks
Position: WR Year: Jr.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 196
Worth noting: Leads the Trojans with 23 catches, 246 yards and four touchdowns. Huskers should beware of his arm, too, as he came to Troy as a quarterback after playing three seasons of minor-league ball in the Chicago Cubs’ organization. Was a fifth-round draft pick.
Brannon Condren
Position: SS Year: Sr.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Worth noting: The most-seasoned secondary player, he’s played in 37 of 38 games during his career. Twenty-one of his team-high 23 tackles are solos. He also has two tackles for losses, a forced fumble, a recovery and an interception.
QUARTERBACKS
Omar Haugabook, a teammate of NU defensive tackle Barry Cryer at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, set a school Division I record by throwing for four touchdowns in Troy’s opener against Alabama State. He had to leave that game early because of dehydration. Against Florida State, Haugabook set two more school Division I records for passing attempts (46) and completions (29). In each of the last two games, Haugabook has led Troy to an 80-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession of the second half.
RUNNING BACKS
In Troy’s new one-back offense, the fullback also splits wide on some plays. Starter Josh Allen — a former receiver and transfer from Division II Mars Hill (N.C.) College, has the same number of receptions (10) as he does rushes. Even stranger, he wears No. 80. His top backup, Anthony Jones, had 88 yards against Alabama State, while Kenny Cattouse, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season as a freshman, has a team-best 49.5-yard-per game average. In short-yardage situations, the Trojans might have former offensive lineman Josh Henderson (down from 286 pounds to around 240) in the backfield.
RECEIVERS
You’ll seldom see fewer than four receivers on the field at the same time, which explains why the Trojans don’t throw deep a lot. Gary Banks (eight catches against Georgia Tech) and Toris Rutledge (eight against Florida State) each have produced 100-yard efforts this season. Banks attempted an option pass against Tech, but overthrew Andre Davis on a play that should have resulted in a touchdown. He also completed the Trojans’ first pass against Florida State for 42 yards. Wideout Smokey Hampton sprained an ankle last week, but is listed as probable for Saturday. A featured passing game is a new idea for Troy. After the three previously mentioned players, former tight end Rob Austin, now a left tackle, had the next-highest number of career receptions (10) entering this season.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Trojans rely on leaner, speedier players in this style of attack, but Troy had trouble handling Florida State’s front (which has paved the way to the nation’s top run defense), gaining just 24 yards on the ground. Four of the five starters — right tackle Kirbie Bodiford, right guard James Gardner, center Zach Yenser and left tackle Rob Austin — are seniors. Gardner sprained a knee against Florida State, but played last week against Georgia Tech before being replaced by Kenny Griffin. Depth here is a concern, as just one of the backups — Griffin — entered the season with much playing experience.
DEFENSIVE LINE
This was probably the biggest area of concern entering the season, as just one starter from 2005 returned. Nose tackle Franklin Lloyd is the most experienced player, although he’d never started before this year. Tech dominated the trenches last week while rushing for 320 yards. That’s the highest total given up by the Trojans since Nebraska had 330 in 2001. The Yellow Jackets’ total came one week after Troy held Florida State to 45 yards. Troy definitely misses Chris Bradwell and Maurice Coleman, suspended early in fall camp after an off-campus incident. Nikko Dyle, the projected starter at middle linebacker, also was involved and suspended.
LINEBACKERS
Troy already was replacing three-year starters Leverne Johnson and Bernard Davis. Now, the Trojans will be without Marcus Richardson, who broke his collarbone at Georgia Tech. His replacement is Martin Teal, is a former receiver. Two freshmen — Randy Underwood and Boris Lee — also play a lot. Weak-side starter Ryan Babb moved from running back during spring practice. He had eight tackles, including 1½ sacks and a forced fumble, against Florida State and was named Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the week. He has forced a team-high three fumbles.
SECONDARY
The Trojans have been making do without safety Sherrod Martin, who would have been the top tackler back from 2005 but is redshirting because of offseason shoulder surgery. Strong safety Brannon Condren’s 13 tackles (12 solo) against Georgia Tech were the most by a Trojan this season. Elbert Mack has taken over for Henry Chubb at right cornerback the past two weeks. You’ll see a lot of backup strong safety Terence Moore in the nickel package. This unit isn’t afraid to blitz. Troy has 23 hurries and eight sacks this season.
SPECIALISTS
Gregg Whibbs, a Lou Groza Award candidate, is 2-for-3 on field goals but had one blocked against Florida State. He’s had five blocked during his two-plus seasons. Whibbs also handles kickoffs and has had six touchbacks out of 15 kicks. Troy’s kickoff coverage has been leaky, as its opponents’ average starting position is the 28-yard line. First-year punter Jason Wright put three of five attempts inside the Florida State 20, then averaged 42.4 yards against Georgia Tech. Leodis McKelvin, an all-Sun Belt Conference kickoff returner in 2005, is averaging 11.4 yards per punt return.
SCOUTING REPORT
From Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, whose team rallied from a 14-0 deficit and scored three straight fourth-quarter touchdowns to break a 14-14 tie en route to beating the Trojans 35-20 last week. Gailey got his start in coaching at Troy (then Troy State), as he was the secondary coach from 1976-78. He returned in 1983 for a two-year stint as head coach and in 1984 led the Trojans to a 12-1 record and the NCAA Division II national championship.
"We've not played anybody who does what they do to the extent they do it. And I'm talking about empty backfield and throwing it every snap. They do create problems by spreading you out, but (you can) create problems by bringing more than they can block. They try to create mismatches with numbers outside, where lots of teams try to create numbers inside.
"(Omar Haugabook has) made some big plays running the football. When you take some sacks, your rushing statistics look bad. They did such a great job of throwing underneath, and the corners got sucked up a couple of times and allowed a deep pass behind them. But there were times that he was back there and had to hold the ball, and had nowhere to go, and we got some sacks. I thought our rush was good.
“What jumps out at you is their speed. On both sides of the ball, and the kicking game, they have great speed. They're not the biggest team out there. But they can all run, they hit you on defense, they swarm to the ball. They make big hits and knock balls loose. I thought we did a great job of keeping them off-balance with reverses and things like that ... taking advantage of their pursuit.
“I was impressed with what they were trying to do. I'm glad they are not on the schedule for a few years."
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