BREAKDOWN: LSU-Troy ~ The Matchups

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Looking inside the head to head unit comparisons in Saturday’s LSU-Troy game

by Matt Reynolds
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

(At left) Charles Scott is the third leading rusher in the SEC (17th nationally) averaging 109 yards per game; needs 19 yards to eclipse 1,000-yard mark (Photo by Beth Bonner Deville)

LSU and Troy will finally meet on the football field as the Tigers and Trojans will square off at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

The contest will serve as LSU’s annual Homecoming game as a week-long list of activities are scheduled on campus leading up to the game on Saturday night. LSU and Troy were originally scheduled to play on Sept. 6, however, Hurricane Gustav forced the postponement of the contest until Nov. 15, which was a common open date for the two schools.

LSU goes into the Troy game with a 6-3 overall mark following last week’s 27-21 overtime loss to top-ranked Alabama. Troy, who is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, has won four of its last five games and stands at 6-3.

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LSU rushing offensive vs. Troy rushing defense
This is a no brainer. LSU has been able to roll up over 160 yards on the ground in all but one game this season. Twice when facing the No. 1 rush defense in the SEC, the Tigers have steam-rolled their opponents on the ground. 188 against Georgia who was giving up an average of 60 yards on the ground, and 201 against Alabama last week, who was giving up an average of 64. Troy simply can’t stop the run. The Trojans are giving up 135 yards a game on the ground and are currently 55th in the nation in that category. In week four, Oklahoma State rushed for 358 yards on Troy. With only 19 yards left for LSU running back Charles Scott to reach the 1,000 yard mark, expect Scott and company to blow up the Trojans defensive front on Saturday.
Advantage: LSU

LSU passing offense vs. Troy passing defense
With the struggles of redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee, LSU’s passing game has been grounded more the majority of the season. Defending the pass is a strong point for the Troy defense which has 16 interceptions on the season. Lee, who has now thrown six interceptions that have been returned for touchdowns on the season, will have to face an aggressive defensive secondary that will aim to capitalize on bad reads and wayward throws. Troy ranks in the top 30 in the nation in pass defense and is led by senior defensive back Sherrod Martin who leads the Sun Belt Conference with four picks on the season. There is always a chance that the LSU rushing attack could force Troy to stack the box, which could lead to Lee having some success through the air. But statistically, Troy is one of the better defensive backfields LSU has faced.
Advantage: Troy

Troy rushing offense vs. LSU rushing defense
While running the illusive spread offense, Troy has been able to run as well as pass the ball on their opponents this season. Rushing the football isn’t exactly the Trojans’ forte, but LSU has had trouble stopping the rush when faced with a spread offense. On average, Troy is picking up 166 yards per game, but don’t expect that to happen when the Trojans take the field this weekend. LSU held the top ranked rushing attack in the SEC, Alabama, to well under their 205 yard average last week and stopping the run is the strong point of the LSU defense this season. Troy has a handful of backs that they will shuffle in and out of the game, but they are led by Dujaun Harris. Harris has 654 yards on 131 carries this season.
Advantage: LSU

Troy passing offense vs. LSU passing defense
One of the stigma’s that has plagued the LSU defense this year is the inability to stop the passing attack. It seemed like the Tigers were able to correct some of their past transgressions and play up their capabilities last week against Alabama. Unlike the other two losses, LSU didn’t give up the huge play to the Crimson Tide. Troy is led by quarterback Levi Brown, who took over for Jamie Hampton after a season-ending knee injury at the mid-way point in the season. Brown has shown much more accuracy and wiser decision making since he has taken the reigns. In just four games, Brown has thrown for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing only two interceptions.
LSU safety Curtis Taylor is expected to return this week after a shoulder injury has kept him less than 100 percent for the past three games. Patrick Peterson continues to improve and nabbed his first career interception last week against Alabama.
Advantage: LSU

LSU special teams vs. Troy special teams
LSU’s Colt David is one of all-time elite scorers in the history of the SEC, and like most weeks, LSU clearly has the advantage in the kicker category. David is 8-of-11 on the season on field goal attempts. Sam Glusman of Troy is 15-of-22 on the season. Troy does hold the advantage in the kickoff return category as Jorrick Calvin is one of the best return men in the country. He leads the Sun Belt conference with 507 return yards on 18 tries with one brought back for a touchdown. Both teams have mediocre punters as Brady Dalfrey and Will Goggans rank around the middle of the pack in the country at the position. LSU forced a fumble on kickoff coverage against Alabama last week, so that Tiger unit is playing with confidence. Trindon Holliday hasn’t had much of an impact in the past few weeks, so look for him to be the X factor as far as special teams are concerned.
Advantage: LSU

Coaching
It’s a safe bet to say that LSU has Troy beat as far as coaching prestige and positional coaching. No other coach has ever had such an impressive record than Les Miles has in his time coaching in the SEC and the offensive wizardry of Gary Crowton puts LSU heads above a Sun Belt Conference School. With that said, you have to give Larry Blakeney credit for all the progress he has made in his 17 years as head coach at Troy. Blakeney has guided the Trojans from 1-AAA to 1-AA and into 1-A college football during his tenure. Since Blakeney became head coach at Troy in 1991, the Trojans are the state of Alabama’s third winningest program, having posted a .661 winning percentage with 128 wins.
Advantage: LSU

Intangibles
LSU always seems to be a better team when they take the field at night in Tiger Stadium. With that said, the Tigers did turn out a memorable afternoon performance against Alabama last week only to lose in overtime. Also to the contrary, LSU’s last night game, against Tulane, was anything but the Tigers best effort. With only three games left in the season and with three loses on the record for LSU this season, expect the Tigers to try and make a statement against an inferior team on Homecoming night on Saturday.
Advantage: LSU