Trojans try to get handle on protecting the ball

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Tuesday, October 04, 2005

So far, the Troy University Trojans are treating ball security like Social Security.

That is, they are vaguely aware of what it is, but they can't count on it being there when they need it.

Headed into tonight's made-for-ESPN2 Sun Belt Conference opener at North Texas, the Trojans have lost six fumbles and six interceptions and have recovered just one fumble and made one pick.


In the past three games - all losses after opening the season with a win - Troy has created zero turnovers and has coughed up the ball 10 times. To beat the four-time conference champs in the 6:30 p.m. game in Denton, Texas, the Trojans must hang on to the ball.

"We've got to take care of the ball better - a lot better," Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. "Nobody does any of that stuff on purpose, but we can work on the fundamentals of handling the football and we can work on tackling better.

"Turnovers will prohibit you from doing what you want to do offensively. Lack of turnovers defensively will prohibit you from doing what you want to do. We've got a lot of things we've got to mend."

Both teams have had 10 days to prepare for this game, between the league's preseason No.1 (North Texas) and No.2 picks. The Mean Green is 1-2 on the year, with a league victory over Middle Tennessee and big losses to Tulsa (54-2) and Kansas State (54-7).

While North Texas has the nation's 2003 and 2004 rushing champs (Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas, respectively) in the backfield, coach Darrell Dickey's team is last in Division I-A in total offense this season.

Despite North Texas' back-to-back lopsided losses, Blakeney said his Trojans face a difficult task in the game that will also be broadcast in Birmingham on AM-1070.

"They are good enough to beat us," Blakeney said. "I think they are a good football team. They are not a great football team yet, but they've got two big-time guys who can make long runs to make them better."

Troy's defense has been giving up 374.2 yards a game this season while the Trojans are gaining 259.5. Troy's ground game, its strong point last season, is managing just 75.5 yards an outing this season. The young Trojan offensive line has surrendered 17 sacks of new quarterback Carl Meadows and his backups.

"I hope we have a good game for the Sun Belt Conference and we'll be the only show on TV Tuesday night," Blakeney said. "Our people should be excited about it."

 

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NT squares off in anticipated battle
Mean Green needs big game from defense, quarterback


Troy State (1-3,0-0) and NT (1-2,1-0) enter Tuesday night?s game in similar shape.

Both teams found themselves in bowl games at the end of last season, but have struggled thus far this year. Like NT, Troy won its season opener, but has not won a game since.

?They have a good football team,? NT coach Darrell Dickey said. ?They have had some rough outings, but they have played some good teams.?

Troy enters the game averaging over 250 total yards on offense, netting the Trojans just under 19 points per game.

?They are expanding what they do offensively to develop a little more sophisticated passing game,? Dickey said. ?They are working with that right now and it gives them some added things for our defense.?

Trojans quarterback Carl Meadows has completed 47 percent of his pass attempts for 675 yards and three touchdowns. While Meadows has struggled against tough Big 12 and SEC teams, Dickey is impressed with the junior.


?Their quarterback is a good player, he is a junior, has been around a while and he knows what he is doing,? Dickey said.

The Mean Green will need a big game from its secondary and pass rush if it expects to stop the Trojans pass attack.

?Looking at them on film, they were a smash mouth, hard nosed football team and they still are,? Dickey said. ?But what they have added to their offense is the ability when they pick and choose to spread you out and throw the ball and they do.?

With a thin secondary going up against the Trojans passing game that has featured seven different receivers in every game this season, it is important for the Mean Green offensive line to establish the run early against a Trojans defense that has struggled.

Troy is giving up an average of 163.5 yard per game on the ground so far this year. In addition, the Trojans are allowing a completion percentage of over 68 for opposing quarterbacks this year, for 210.8 yards per game and six touchdowns.

While the Trojans have allowed some big numbers so far this year, the Mean Green offense is not nearly as productive as Troy?s opponents.

?Defensively, they have been strong in the past when we have played them and they are very, very strong this year,? Dickey said.

 

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Troy (1-3, 0-0) at North Texas (1-2, 1-0)


WHAT'S ON THE LINE

UNT ?A win would extend the Mean Green's Sun Belt Conference winning streak to 27 games and give UNT a boost in pursuit of a fifth straight league title.

Troy ?The Trojans would become the favorite to win the Sun Belt title.

WHO'S HOT

UNT ?Sophomore safety Aaron Weathers ranks 27th nationally with an average of 10.3 tackles a game.

Troy ?Sophomore Leodis McKelvin won the Sun Belt Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week honor for the third time this season after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina last week.

WHO'S NOT

UNT ?UNT's receivers dropped five passes last week in a loss to Kansas State in which UNTfinished with 74 passing yards.

Troy ?Senior running back Joel Whinghter rushed for a career high 102 yards, but lost a pair of key fumbles last week in a loss to South Carolina.

STAT THAT TELLS THE STORY

UNT has had 17 possessions in its last two games that have lasted three plays or less. The Mean Green's average drive in its last two games has lasted 3.8 plays covering 8.9 yards.

KEY MATCHUP: UNT'S offensive line vs. Troy's defensive front. UNT's offensive line has struggled to create any running room for running backs Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas this season. Cobbs has two 100-yard games, but the Mean Green is averaging just 103 yards rushing per outing.

UNT WINS IF: Cobbs and Thomas can get UNT's running game rolling to take pressure off redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager and the Mean Green's defense.

TROY WINS IF: They can overcome turnover problems. Troy has turned the ball over 10 times in its last three games while not forcing a turnover.