Troy picks up pair of commitments

Troy added to its commitment list this week adding Ariton High School defensive end Seth Roberts and Madison County High School running back Jordan Chunn. I will contact the players later in the day when they get home from school. I will also get a static list of commitments posted on the blog ASAP.

Ariton head coach Julius Head confirmed Roberts’ commitment and said the Trojans were getting not only a top-notch player, but a quality person.

“He goes above and beyond. He is a good defensive player and goes 110 percent every play,” Head said. “What makes him special is that he works hard in the weight room and does the extra things to make him better.”

Roberts (6-4, 225) is Troy’s second defensive player to commit and second defensive end as St. Paul’s Bryan Slater pledged to the Trojans earlier this year. Roberts also received interest from West Alabama, South Alabama and Jacksonville State.

A Madison County High School representative confirmed running back Jordan Chunn committed with the Trojans.

Chunn’s (6-0, 211) other offers came from Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee and UAB.

VIDEO: Eric Thomas highlights

Troy junior wide receiver Eric Thomas has made some amazing catches in his time with the Trojans. Here are three of his best:

We’ve talked to Thomas on a couple of occasions about his highlight reel grabs. He told us after the Western Kentucky catch in October that he practices one-handed catches when coaches aren’t looking. If you’ve never seen Thomas in person his hands are huge, so it isn’t a surprise that he can pick a football out of midair.

“I think I can’t get two hands up, so I just throw one up and it sticks to my glove, and I just catch it. Sometimes, I feel better catching with one. I don’t know why,” he said. “I’ve got some big hands. Just spread them out as wide as I can and hold on to it as tight as I can.”

On Monday, Thomas talked particularly about last week’s catch at Tennessee.

“It’s not really hard. Corey just threw it. The ball was coming pretty fast, too. I thought I wasn’t going to get to it. I just stuck my hand up, and I just caught it.”

Thomas has 44 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Robinson fulfills childhood dream

Troy quarterback Corey Robinson pregame before facing Tennessee.

Growing up, Troy quarterback Corey Robinson was a diehard Tennessee fan. He always dreamed of playing in Neyland Stadium. On Saturday, he got his chance.

Read my previous story on Robinson and Tennessee HERE.

Robinson received plenty high-fives and handshakes from Tennessee players and eventually fans as he reached the tunnel leading off the field after the 55-48 Volunteers victory. The junior threw for 393 yards and a touchdown as he led the Trojans to 721 total offensive yards, the most surrendered by a UT defense in the 121-year history of the program.

“This was the place the I always wanted to come; the place I loved growing up in Lexington, Tenn.,” Robinson said. “This is the first time getting to play on the field against UT. It felt good.”

While Robinson walked away on the short end of a record-setting decision, he and his team left a mark that will go down in both the Tennessee and Troy annals. The combined 103 points scored by the teams was the most in Neyland Stadium since the Vols defeated American University 104-0 in 1905.

Robinson and Deon Anthony combined to throw for 496 yards against Tennessee.

“It was a long, grueling week of film with our quarterbacks coach (Sean Reagan). He found some tendencies on (Tennessee) that really turned out to help me an Deon both out,” Robinson said. “Our receivers and running backs, just everyone made great plays.”

Blakeney: ‘I have no answers’

Game story

While Troy obviously has no answers on the field for the team’s defensive issues, head coach Larry Blakeney doesn’t have any answers off the field either. It appears the only thing that can make this group better is a new group altogether.

“We’ve certainly got to address some of our woes over there (on defense). Probably, we’ll have to address them in recruiting. We have to continue to recruit people that can play over there.”

“We won’t be able to close the deal on a quality offense until we get better on defense. I’ve got no answers. I’m just hoping that we’ll rectify some of those issues in the near future.”

Amidst the uproar after last week’s loss to Florida Atlantic, in which the defense allowed 421 yards to the Sun Belt’s most anemic offense, Blakeney defended his coaches, but also accepted responsibility.

“Everybody is going to say ‘fire my coaches’. We’re 4-5 now after this loss, everybody wants me to fire the coaches. Hey, I’ve been in the room with the coaches, I know what they do. I don’t think we’re dumb on defense. Them getting the signals, getting lined up and taking care of their responsibility. We’ve got to take a little bit of that blame. I don’t think we’re quite to the talent level we’ve been on defense.”

Troy allowed 718 total yards to Tennessee, the most the Trojans have ever allowed in a football game. The most prior to Saturday’s game was when Tim Tebow led the Florida Gators to 663 yards in 2009.

VIDEO: Troy-Tennessee pregame

Troy at Tennessee

Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)

GameDay: Troy-Tennessee

Neyland Stadium

Troy (4-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) at Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 SEC)

Neyland Stadium   11 a.m.   ESPN 3

TWITTER UPDATES: @messenger_wes

Troy:

The Trojans enter the game looking to rebound after a disappointing loss to Florida Atlantic on the road. Troy needs two victories to become bowl eligible, but it will likely take seven wins to get them in a bowl.

Troy’s passing attack led by quarterback Corey Robinson ranks 22nd in the country (292.4 ypg). The Trojans are scoring 27.9 points per games, good enough for 65th.

Troy’s defense is allowing 26.9 points per game which ranks 63rd nationally. Linebacker Kanorris Davis said earlier in the week that it is unlikely that he will play vs. UT. If he can’t go, look for De’Von Terry to take his spot.

Games remaining: vs. Navy, vs. Arkansas State, at Middle Tennessee

Note: DB Shaq Beverly made the trip with the team so it appears his suspension has been lifted. The freshman had been suspended since Oct. 18.

Tennessee:

The Volunteers have lost four consecutive game, all to ranked teams. In fact, all five of Tennessee’s losses have been at the hands of teams inside the top 19.

The Vols offense has been one of the most potent in the country, posting 34.5 points per game while racking up 297 passing yards per contest. Junior quarterback Tyler Bray leads the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns.

Like Troy, the Tennessee defense has found it difficult to slow opposing offenses allowing 33.9 points per game, which stands 104th in the NCAA.

Games remaining: vs. Missouri, at Vanderbilt, vs. Kentucky

Note: Tennessee’s leading rusher Rajion Neal has missed the past two games (ankle), but resumed practice this week. He will be a game time decision.

From the Other Side – Tennessee w/ Wes Rucker

Wes Rucker, Senior Writer for GoVols247.com, was our guest this week as Troy readies to take on Tennessee.

Kickoff from Neyland Stadium is set for 11 a.m.

Follow Wes Rucker on Twitter: @wesrucker247

Read Wes Rucker at GoVols247.com or listen to his radio show, Swain and Rucker, on Tennessee Sports Radio.

Problems viewing player? Click HERE to view audio library.

Monday press conference notes/quotes

Troy coaches called off practice on Sunday, but said the team watched film. Head coach Larry Blakeney said he was trying something a little different this week. At this point in the season, coaches will tell you if the players don’t know the basic offense and defense by now, they’ll never know it. Troy will begin putting in its game plan tomorrow.

Monday links

There is a lot of chatter on the message boards after Troy’s 34-27 loss to Florida Atlantic (2-6, 1-5). HERE is postgame, video and audio from the FAU side. HERE is the Troy side. BOXSCORE

While the defense is catching most of the grief after allowing 34 points to the league’s worst offense, the Trojan offense struggled as well. All four of Troy’s first drives ended in punts, three of the three-and-out variety the fifth drive started and ended with a Corey Robinson interception. Robinson, coming off a concussion that forced him to miss the Florida International game. finished 15 of 32 for 211 yards. Back Deon Anthony, who accounted for all of Troy’s five touchdowns last week, threw the ball just three times against Florida Atlantic. Things didn’t get much better in the second half as Troy again punted on all four its first four drives, and again three being three-and-outs.

The loss put Troy’s bowl hopes in jeopardy. The Trojans (4-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) will likely need to win three of their next four to get to seven wins and get a bid. Troy faces Tennessee, Navy, Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee to round out the regular season. Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 SEC) is up next and the Vols played well in last week’s loss to South Carolina. HERE is the ESPN recap from that game.

UT will come into the game averaging 297 yards passing, which is 21st in the nation. Troy will have to find some way to slow down quarterback Tyler Bray, who threw for 368 yards against South Carolina, or it could be a long afternoon for Troy. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CST.

Troy cancelled Sunday night’s practice. The weekly press conference is at noon, so we’ll get more about the state of the team then.

Troy surrenders 34 points to league’s worst offense

Coming into Saturday’s game against Troy, Florida Atlantic’s offense had been abysmal. Take a look at Saturday’s numbers…

Scoring: 16.1 ppg (10th Sun belt) – 34 vs. Troy

Total Offense: 312.9 (10th) – 421 vs. Troy

Rushing Offense: 120.6 ypg (10th) – 160 vs. Troy

Passing Offense: 192.3 ypg (9th) – 261 vs. Troy

And the biggest stat of the night, Troy led 27-26 with 1:49 left in the game and FAU, 1-6 FAU, shredded the Trojans defense like a wet paper bag in a blender. The Owls and their potent 111th nationaly ranked offense rammed the ball 74 yards without any resistance from the opposing team. Touchdown, FAU wins, Troy bowl hopes vaporized?

There are two things that looked certain. Corey Robinson did not look good (Deon Anthony threw the ball just three times) and the defense doesn’t appear to have a clue.

Troy can only hope to pull out wins over two of the final four quality teams they play (Tennessee, Navy, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee). A win, that could have put the Trojans in great position for a bowl game, was snatched by a far inferior team with a great game plan.