NT squares off in anticipated battle

MeanGreen61 · October 4, 2005

Mean Green needs big game from defense, quarterback

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

October 04, 2005

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

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David Minton / NT Daily

NT quarterback Daniel Meager has practiced all season for big games like Tuesday’s with Troy.

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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.

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TroyTrojans.com

Troy quarterback Carl Meadows lead the Trojans to victory in its season opener.

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“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.