Stat Notebook: Jykell and Hyde Take Down the Warhawks

Troy escaped Monroe with conference victory number one on Saturday after following up a stellar second quarter with a less than so second half. Some season trends are starting to take shape and personnel groupings continue to fluctuate.

Neal Brown’s weekly gameplan continues to evolve as the offense begins to open up. As we’ve seen in past years, Brown’s offense tends to be highly conservative in the early season. This is due to just how much the coaching staff values the Sun Belt games.

This past week we saw a brand new wrinkle to the offense, one that many saw coming but not in the way that it did. Brown unveiled a new triple option set with two running backs and a receiver that motions in.

This four-man backfield looks odd, but gave Kaleb Barker a lead blocker, a hand-off option and a pitch option. Barker ran it smoothly, especially in the second quarter.

Now that we’ve covered that, lets jump into some numbers.

If you can play, you’ll play

This mantra has been true from day one of the Brown era. It doesn’t matter who’s in front of you on the depth chart, either. This year’s version of that proof is Terrance Dunlap and Dylan Bradshaw.

At corner and center, both are in the same position as an All-Sun Belt veteran. For Dunlap, he’s started over Blace Brown in every game so far. This isn’t a huge deal as the two are on the field about the same amount of time.

For Bradshaw, he’s been the only backup offensive lineman to receive consistent playing time despite being behind Deontae Crumitie. Against Nebraska, Bradshaw registered 36 snaps and graded out at 89 while Crumitie played 30 snaps with a 90 grade. Against the Warhawks, Crumitie played 47 snaps to Bradshaw’s 31.

 

On pace for greatness

Kaleb Barker has started only four games but has put up some impressive numbers already. Through four starts and some spot time behind Brandon Silvers, Barker has completed 69.4 percent of his career throws. Among players with at least 100 attempts, that’s first in school history.

Barker also has 14 total touchdowns to his name thus far. He’ll only have this and next year to start, but its not unlikely that he’ll end up in the top 10 in school history in that category. Tenth place belongs to Willie Tullis with 40 total touchdowns.

With 10 touchdowns through four games this year, Barker is pace for 30 in just the regular season. It’s even possible Barker hits 60 when its all said and done, which would put him in the top five.

 

Spear production

Despite losing Tyquae Russell, it seems the spear position is playing a larger role in Troy’s defensive success this season. Tyler Murray has been the primary starter at the position and has registered 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

That’s a full stat line. Will Sunderland and Shon Spralling, Murray’s backups, have eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception between the two. This group has done its part to maintain the Trojan status quo.

 

Martial law

If you haven’t noticed him, that’s understandable. The 5’11 inside linebacker has quietly made some noise from the mike linebacker spot he shares with Justin Whisenhunt. The Pocket Rocket has 19 tackles through four games, four of those coming behind the line of scrimmage.

Thanks to instant production from young linebackers, the unit’s two-deep has 20 tackles for loss thus far.