College Football News Preview 2020: Troy Trojans Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Troy Trojans Offense
Make the ground game work. It’ll be tempting again to keep throwing it all over the yard – a lot of the stats last year came in shootouts – but when Troy runs the ball well, it wins.
BJ Smith is back and DK Billingsley is in place after his terrific season, and the offense has to use them early and often to take control of games. Last year, Troy ran for over 200 yards four times – it won all four.
The program is 25-1 since 2014 when running for 150 yards or more, and it has the pieces to do that.
Biggest Key To The Troy Trojans Defense
Make up for the problems with the pass defense with more big plays. The secondary has experience and enough depth and talent to be better, but it has to do a better job of getting off the field, and it has to be better at coming up with picks.
It’ll still get hit for big plays from time to time, and it’ll still give up 200 yards on a regular basis, but it if can hold serve once in a while, the team should be okay.
The Trojans picked off 11 passes on the season but eight came in three games, two of them wins. Third down stops matter, too – Troy was 0-6 when allowing teams to convert 40% or more of their tries.
Key Troy Trojans Player To A Successful Season
DE John Hines, Sr.
Getting the quarterback situation right is a must, but the Trojans have to come up with more of a pass rush and they need to get more out of the ends with Marcus Webb gone. There’s some help coming in from transfers, but Hines – a former JUCO transfer who came up with just 1.5 sacks – or someone one the outside must emerge as a disruptive force.
Key Game To The Troy Trojans Season
Georgia State, Oct. 24
It’s not a bad Sun Belt slate to start out the season – and the Trojans have to take advantage of it. With four of the last five games on the road, taking advantage of every home game is a must to get into the hunt for a bowl game.
Last year, the D was rocked in a 52-33 loss to Georgia State. With at South Alabama, Texas State and ULM to start – all winnable – there’s a chance to get knee-deep in the Sun Belt title chase with a win.
– Troy Trojans Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Troy Fun Stats
– Troy scored over 100 points in every quarter but the third, scoring 67
– Punt Return Average: Opponents 5.88 yards – Troy 1.78 yards
– Penalties: Opponents 90 for 813 yards – 64 for 597 yards