NOTEBOOK - Trojans Working Towards Scrimmage No. 2

2014 Schedule | First Scrimmage Video Report

The Troy football team returns to the turf in Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday as the Trojans put on the final touches before their second scrimmage of the spring on Saturday. The Trojans will run approximately 80 plays during Saturday's scrimmage in anticipation on T-Day next Saturday.

No Spring Break Lull for Trojans
Head coach Larry Blakeney took a new approach to spring practice this season with two weeks of practice, a week off for spring break and then two more weeks to close out the spring.

The early start gives the Trojan coaches a couple of weeks to prepare for the spring recruiting season without having to worry about spring practice. The big question was how the players would respond to the off time.

"They were not quite as sharp that first day back, but we were much better on Wednesday," Blakeney said.

Secondary Turning Heads
One of the biggest question marks – other than who will start at quarterback – for the Trojans heading into the season might be the defensive secondary. Troy has to replace senior starters at safety in Camren Hudson and Chris Pickett, and a coaching shake up has Dustin Landry working with the safeties and new assistant Al Pogue coaching the corners.

"The biggest improvement I've seen is we are making some plays in the secondary," defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt said. "We are running to the ball and getting some turnovers. Both Montres Kitchens and JaQuadrian Lewis are doing some good things back there. There is no question we are ahead compared to this point last spring."

"I think we are getting better on defense and we are doing some things to help our guys play the ball better in the air," Blakeney said. "We've already seen a difference with more turnovers created by the secondary and getting more hands on the ball down field."

Injuries Providing Depth on Offense
A number of Troy regulars on offense have been watching spring practice from the sidelines due to various aliments. Offensive linemen Dalton Bennett, Antonio Garcia, Tommy Stephens and Terrence Jones along with running back Jordan Chunn are on the sidelines with minor injuries, while running back Brandon Burks misses Troy's Wednesday practices due to class.

While this would present a significant problem in the fall, offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield sees it as an opportunity to teach and strength the depth the Trojans already have on offense in the spring.

"Of course you'd like to have everyone out there. If we had our whole depth chart on the field it would certainly help our quarterbacks a little bit, but it's providing some depth for us," Edenfield said. "We are as deep on the offensive line as we've been since I've been here and with those four guys out it's forcing some younger guys to come on, which is going to help us in the long run."

Bennett, Garcia and Jones were all starters for the Trojans last season while Burks and Chunn accounted for 262 of 303 carries by Troy running backs in 2013.

Troy University Athletics

NOTEBOOK - Trojans Working Towards Scrimmage No. 2

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