Troy University Athletics
Trojans Focused on ?Much Improved? FIU
10/13/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The message from members of the Troy University football team ? players and coaches alike ? on Monday was unified and emphatic.
The Panthers of FIU, who visit Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium this Saturday for a Sun Belt Conference game, are, without a doubt, the most improved team in the league. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised by ESPN Regional Television. Check local listings for availability.
Some Trojans, including linebacker Bear Woods, went so far as to suggest that the Panthers (3-3, 2-0), who come into the game riding a three-game win streak, may be the best team in the league.
For a Troy team getting set to play on its home field for the first time in 35 days, the challenge of another huge game on the road to an SBC title is clear.
“All you have to do is look at the film and you can see the difference,” Woods said. “They are playing with more swagger, more confidence. They are going to present a very big challenge for us.”
Troy offensive coordinator Neal Brown said the change in the Panthers goes back to the coaching staff.
“It's a different ball club than what we've played in the two previous years,” Brown said. “I think a lot of credit needs to go to their coaching staff. They've always had a bunch of good players on defense but, for some reason, they didn't gel. The new head coach (Mario Cristobal) and coaching staff have done a great job. If you look at where they came from, they've all won, and winning breeds more winning.
“On defense they're really sound. What sticks out to me the most when I watch them on film is how hard they play. It'll be a good challenge. If you look at the standings, we're tied for first with FIU and a couple of other teams, and this is a championship game this week.”
Trojans defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said the improvement in the Panthers is evident on the offensive side of the ball as well.
“They're probably the most improved team in the league,” Rowell said. ?Last year they really didn't have an identity and it seems as if they've found an identity now. The quarterback is very smart and they have a couple of good running backs. The wide outs are very crafty and make plays. They're very good up front, their pass protection is very good. They have very minimal turnovers and negative plays, so they're not putting themselves in bad situations.”
Troy (3-2, 2-0) must prepare for the challenge presented by FIU while, at the same time, selecting a new starting quarterback. Sophomore starter Jamie Hampton was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a severe knee injury late in the third quarter of last Tuesday's 30-17 victory over Florida Atlantic.
With Hampton out, Brown said both backups ? junior Levi Brown and sophomore Tanner Jones ? will have an equal opportunity to take over as the starter.
“I've spoken with both guys and told them that the job is wide open,” Brown said. “They shared snaps equally in practice yesterday and will again today. Hopefully, one of them will step up and take the job quickly.”
Both quarterbacks were in the hunt for the job back in the spring, but were edged out by Hampton. They shared reps with the first team offense then, and early in fall camp, so neither is a stranger to running the offense.
“I just want somebody that will manage the game and make the throws,” Brown said. “We're not going to change what we do on offense. Both of them are capable and both of them were in the competition to win the starting job.
“I said (in the spring) that we've got three guys that could win in this league, and now we're down to two guys that can win in this league. They got a lot of reps in the spring and in camp, but when the season starts you get down into the game plan and they don't get as many reps. It's going to be field deal, it's going to be a production deal. I feel good about both of them.”
That does not mean the two will split time, unless the race remains too close to call.
“It's my hope that one of them jumps ahead and grabs it,” Brown said. “Everybody has seen that the two QB system is not always the best. We would like to pick one and I'd like them to make the decision. I'd like one of them to jump up and take a hold of the spot and make it an easy choice. If it's not, and they are both even, we might have to play them both and go with the hot hand.”
Head coach Larry Blakeney said he is not partial to one guy over the other.
“I like them both,” Blakeney said. “They both worked well last night and threw the ball well. They've been guys that have been able to find the receivers and handle blitz and all the things you have to do as a quarterback. So, I'm concerned, certainly, because we're not with our starter, but we've got to call on everybody at every position on the field to do their job better and make these guys better and hopefully good enough.”
In addition to Brown and Jones, the Trojans will also likely increase the work-load for sophomore receiver Jerrel Jernigan, who has taken direct snaps in the shotgun in each of the last two games.
“Tanner Jones and Levi Brown are the people and one of them will start and one of them will be the backup,” Blakeney said. “Of course, Jerrel Jernigan, our wide receiver, athlete-type player, will get some snaps at quarterback also. So we'll try to patchwork that to a situation best we can and hope everybody does their job and does their part.”
As far as the two players are concerned, they are both interested in showing their best on the practice field to earn the job, and both are confident in their ability to lead the team.
“I feel like I've been around long enough and know how to lead and know what to do when the time comes to lead,” Levi Brown, who started games while playing at Richmond, said. “It's hard to do that from a backup position, but if I'm starting I'll be comfortable leading.”
Jones said both quarterbacks have a simple job in the Troy offense.
“Me and Levi are more pocket passers and don't run as much as Jamie,” Jones said. “Our main thing is to get DuJuan (Harris), Jerrel, (Austin) Silvoy, and all of them the ball and let them do what they do. The faster we get it out of our hands the better we'll be.”
Complicating matters for the Troy offense is the fact that junior center Danny Franks, also injured in the FAU game, is questionable for the game this weekend against FIU. In Troy's offense, it is the center that both sets the protections and calls the snap count to initiate the offense.
After Franks suffered an ankle sprain last Tuesday, junior guard Steven Adams slid over to center, with senior Wes Potter stepping in at guard, where he started all 12 games last year. If Franks is not able to play, then Troy's other starting guard, sophomore Tyler Clark, would serve as the backup center.
With a full slate of events on campus this weekend, there is no reason not to expect a packed house at Movie Gallery Stadium for the game with FIU. The weekend starts on Thursday night with the opening of the Trojan Stampede Rodeo, which runs through Saturday night at the Pike County Cattleman's Association Complex.
The Trojan volleyball team will host FAU on Friday night at 7 p.m. and FIU Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Trojan Arena. The Coach “O” Cross Country Invitational will be held on the Trojan Oaks Golf Course Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Friday also marks the start of preseason practice for the Troy basketball teams. Coach Don Maestri's men will open practice Friday at 5 p.m. at the recreation gym at the Troy Sports Complex. They will also practice there on Saturday at 8 a.m. before returning to campus for a Sunday practice at 1 p.m. at Trojan Arena.
Coach Michael Murphy's women's team will open practice Saturday at noon at the Troy Sports Complex.
Not to be outdone, Coach Bobby Pierce's Trojan baseball squad will be in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field in an exhibition double header against the Ontario Blue Jays.
The only Troy squad in action on the road this weekend is Coach Chris Bentley's soccer team, which will travel to south Florida for games against FAU (Friday at 6 p.m.) and FIU (Sunday at 11 a.m.).
Fans are encouraged to wear cardinal to all Troy Athletics events. Tickets for Saturday's football game are available through the Troy Athletics Ticket Office by calling 877-878-9467.
The Panthers of FIU, who visit Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium this Saturday for a Sun Belt Conference game, are, without a doubt, the most improved team in the league. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised by ESPN Regional Television. Check local listings for availability.
Some Trojans, including linebacker Bear Woods, went so far as to suggest that the Panthers (3-3, 2-0), who come into the game riding a three-game win streak, may be the best team in the league.
For a Troy team getting set to play on its home field for the first time in 35 days, the challenge of another huge game on the road to an SBC title is clear.
“All you have to do is look at the film and you can see the difference,” Woods said. “They are playing with more swagger, more confidence. They are going to present a very big challenge for us.”
Troy offensive coordinator Neal Brown said the change in the Panthers goes back to the coaching staff.
“It's a different ball club than what we've played in the two previous years,” Brown said. “I think a lot of credit needs to go to their coaching staff. They've always had a bunch of good players on defense but, for some reason, they didn't gel. The new head coach (Mario Cristobal) and coaching staff have done a great job. If you look at where they came from, they've all won, and winning breeds more winning.
“On defense they're really sound. What sticks out to me the most when I watch them on film is how hard they play. It'll be a good challenge. If you look at the standings, we're tied for first with FIU and a couple of other teams, and this is a championship game this week.”
Trojans defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said the improvement in the Panthers is evident on the offensive side of the ball as well.
“They're probably the most improved team in the league,” Rowell said. ?Last year they really didn't have an identity and it seems as if they've found an identity now. The quarterback is very smart and they have a couple of good running backs. The wide outs are very crafty and make plays. They're very good up front, their pass protection is very good. They have very minimal turnovers and negative plays, so they're not putting themselves in bad situations.”
Troy (3-2, 2-0) must prepare for the challenge presented by FIU while, at the same time, selecting a new starting quarterback. Sophomore starter Jamie Hampton was lost for the rest of the season after suffering a severe knee injury late in the third quarter of last Tuesday's 30-17 victory over Florida Atlantic.
With Hampton out, Brown said both backups ? junior Levi Brown and sophomore Tanner Jones ? will have an equal opportunity to take over as the starter.
“I've spoken with both guys and told them that the job is wide open,” Brown said. “They shared snaps equally in practice yesterday and will again today. Hopefully, one of them will step up and take the job quickly.”
Both quarterbacks were in the hunt for the job back in the spring, but were edged out by Hampton. They shared reps with the first team offense then, and early in fall camp, so neither is a stranger to running the offense.
“I just want somebody that will manage the game and make the throws,” Brown said. “We're not going to change what we do on offense. Both of them are capable and both of them were in the competition to win the starting job.
“I said (in the spring) that we've got three guys that could win in this league, and now we're down to two guys that can win in this league. They got a lot of reps in the spring and in camp, but when the season starts you get down into the game plan and they don't get as many reps. It's going to be field deal, it's going to be a production deal. I feel good about both of them.”
That does not mean the two will split time, unless the race remains too close to call.
“It's my hope that one of them jumps ahead and grabs it,” Brown said. “Everybody has seen that the two QB system is not always the best. We would like to pick one and I'd like them to make the decision. I'd like one of them to jump up and take a hold of the spot and make it an easy choice. If it's not, and they are both even, we might have to play them both and go with the hot hand.”
Head coach Larry Blakeney said he is not partial to one guy over the other.
“I like them both,” Blakeney said. “They both worked well last night and threw the ball well. They've been guys that have been able to find the receivers and handle blitz and all the things you have to do as a quarterback. So, I'm concerned, certainly, because we're not with our starter, but we've got to call on everybody at every position on the field to do their job better and make these guys better and hopefully good enough.”
In addition to Brown and Jones, the Trojans will also likely increase the work-load for sophomore receiver Jerrel Jernigan, who has taken direct snaps in the shotgun in each of the last two games.
“Tanner Jones and Levi Brown are the people and one of them will start and one of them will be the backup,” Blakeney said. “Of course, Jerrel Jernigan, our wide receiver, athlete-type player, will get some snaps at quarterback also. So we'll try to patchwork that to a situation best we can and hope everybody does their job and does their part.”
As far as the two players are concerned, they are both interested in showing their best on the practice field to earn the job, and both are confident in their ability to lead the team.
“I feel like I've been around long enough and know how to lead and know what to do when the time comes to lead,” Levi Brown, who started games while playing at Richmond, said. “It's hard to do that from a backup position, but if I'm starting I'll be comfortable leading.”
Jones said both quarterbacks have a simple job in the Troy offense.
“Me and Levi are more pocket passers and don't run as much as Jamie,” Jones said. “Our main thing is to get DuJuan (Harris), Jerrel, (Austin) Silvoy, and all of them the ball and let them do what they do. The faster we get it out of our hands the better we'll be.”
Complicating matters for the Troy offense is the fact that junior center Danny Franks, also injured in the FAU game, is questionable for the game this weekend against FIU. In Troy's offense, it is the center that both sets the protections and calls the snap count to initiate the offense.
After Franks suffered an ankle sprain last Tuesday, junior guard Steven Adams slid over to center, with senior Wes Potter stepping in at guard, where he started all 12 games last year. If Franks is not able to play, then Troy's other starting guard, sophomore Tyler Clark, would serve as the backup center.
With a full slate of events on campus this weekend, there is no reason not to expect a packed house at Movie Gallery Stadium for the game with FIU. The weekend starts on Thursday night with the opening of the Trojan Stampede Rodeo, which runs through Saturday night at the Pike County Cattleman's Association Complex.
The Trojan volleyball team will host FAU on Friday night at 7 p.m. and FIU Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Trojan Arena. The Coach “O” Cross Country Invitational will be held on the Trojan Oaks Golf Course Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Friday also marks the start of preseason practice for the Troy basketball teams. Coach Don Maestri's men will open practice Friday at 5 p.m. at the recreation gym at the Troy Sports Complex. They will also practice there on Saturday at 8 a.m. before returning to campus for a Sunday practice at 1 p.m. at Trojan Arena.
Coach Michael Murphy's women's team will open practice Saturday at noon at the Troy Sports Complex.
Not to be outdone, Coach Bobby Pierce's Trojan baseball squad will be in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field in an exhibition double header against the Ontario Blue Jays.
The only Troy squad in action on the road this weekend is Coach Chris Bentley's soccer team, which will travel to south Florida for games against FAU (Friday at 6 p.m.) and FIU (Sunday at 11 a.m.).
Fans are encouraged to wear cardinal to all Troy Athletics events. Tickets for Saturday's football game are available through the Troy Athletics Ticket Office by calling 877-878-9467.
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