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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Larry Blakeney (4th season 1-A, 17-19) 2005 record: 4-7 Sun Belt finish: 3-4 (t-4th) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 90th (118.2 ypg) Passing: 102nd (166.9 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 50th (143.5 ypg) Passing: 18th (183.8 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Alabama State Sept. 9 at Florida State Sept. 16 at Georgia Tech Sept. 23 at Nebraska Sept. 30 at UAB Oct. 14 UL Monroe Oct. 28 North Texas Nov. 4 UL Lafayette Nov. 11 at Florida Atlantic Nov. 18 Arkansas State Nov. 25 at Middle Tennessee Dec. 2 at FIU Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 5 Smokey Hampton Sr. 4 Toris Rutledge Sr. WR 2 Martin Teal Sr. 19 Darius Williams So. WR 17 Gary Banks Jr. 80 Josh Allen Jr. LT 79 Rob Austin Sr. 53 Kenny Griffin Sr. LG 65 Chris Jamison So. 66 Nic Riley Fr. C 63 Zach Yenser Sr. 72 James Gardner Sr. RG 71 Kirbie Bodiford Sr. 75 Danny Franks Fr. RT 68 Will Chambliss So. 70 Seth Sutton Fr. QB 16 Omar Haugabook Jr. 9 Larry Dockery Jr. FB 33 Sean Dawkins Sr. 36 Anthony Jones So. HB 22 Kenny Cattouse Jr. 42 Xavier Walker Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 11 Boo Smith Sr. 51 Kenny Mainor So. DT 92 Steve McLendon Jr. 67 Junior Tagovailoa Jr. NT 74 Franklin Lloyd Sr. 95 Maurice Coleman So. DE 93 Baron Lemar Jr. 58 Shawn Todd Jr. SLB 26 Marcus Richardson Jr. 35 Ryan Babb Sr. MLB 7 Andre Morgan Sr. 56 Joe Baker Fr. WLB 41 Romanique Lewis Jr. 39 Josh Maxwell Jr. CB 34 Leodis McKelvin Jr. 18 Courtland Fuller Fr. CB 32 Henry Chubb So. 8 Elbert Mack Jr. SS 28 Brannon Condren Sr. 31 Terence Moore So. FS 6 Sherrod Martin Jr. 15 Tavares Williams So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 40 Greg Whibbs Jr. KR 34 Leodis McKelvin Jr. P 49 Jason Wright Sr. PR 34 Leodis McKelvin Jr.

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Longtime Troy University fans couldn't recognize their team during spring drills, but they're welcoming the change. If things work out as he hopes, so will veteran Trojan head coach Larry Blakeney.

The Trojans, who have ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in total offense each of the past four seasons, revamped their coaching staff and their attack following last year's 4-7 finish. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin will now operate a wide-open, quick-strike offense, and Franklin was evaluating eight quarterbacks in the spring to run the normal four-receiver set.

"We have a lot to learn," Blakeney says. "I still have a lot of learning to do. But we also have a lot of work to do on the defensive side."

A defense that ranked 24th nationally has some giant holes to fill, and two of the key returnees -- end Boo Smith and free safety Sherrod Martin -- missed spring drills due to injuries.

OFFENSE

To say that Troy's offensive unit will be under pressure this year would be an understatement. The Trojans averaged well under 300 yards per game and scored only 18 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2005, prompting a complete overhaul of the offensive coaching staff and offensive philosophy. The new spread offense could be a blessing if it fits junior college signee Omar Haugabook as expected. Haugabook jumped in front of three quarterback returnees before spring drills even began. Returnees Carl Meadows and Julian Foster divided last year's starts, but neither was consistent.

Troy's running attack was at times abysmal last season, and even occasional sparks from Kenny Cattouse couldn't help a ground attack that went over 155 yards only twice. The hope is that Cattouse can thrive in the new setup, but he'll get pressure from highly touted freshman Xavier Walker.

The Trojans have something to brag about with their top four receivers returning, and it's a good bet that their output will increase within the new offense. That's great news for seniors Smokey Hampton and Toris Rutledge and juniors Gary Banks and Josh Allen, who combined for 95 catches last season and now dream of four-wide alignments.

Three returning starters, all seniors, should make the front wall solid. Tackle Rob Austin played mostly tight end last year but has experience working with the offensive linemen. Center Zach Yenser and right guard Kirbie Bodiford started every game last year and provide side-by-side stability.

DEFENSE

The departure of all-conference nose tackle Torre Lankford is one of several holes the Trojans must fill up front, and it didn't help that Smith was a no-contact performer in the spring. End Kenny Mainor started 10 games and showed signs of fulfilling expectations.

Aside from strong-side veteran Marcus Richardson, linebacker may be Troy's biggest question mark. Richardson had 59 tackles and seven stops for a loss last year, but the rest of the corps is awash in inexperience. Senior Andre Morgan and junior Romanique Lewis have to step up in a hurry.

Martin and strong safety Brannon Condren make the Trojan secondary easily the strongest part of the defense. The group was solid against the run, but Troy had only five interceptions as a team last year. That group gets help from the athletic Leodis McKelvin at one cornerback slot.

Specialists

Greg Whibbs was inconsistent last year in placements, with seven of his nine misses coming inside 43 yards and three from 32 yards in. But the punting is in worse shape with four-year standout Thomas Olmsted gone. The return game could be the strongest part of the entire team, though, with the electrifying McKelvin back after leading the Sun Belt in both punt and kick returns.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Troy fans will have to adjust to a wide-open spread offense, and so will Blakeny. But the Trojans had to do something after struggling so much for the past four seasons. Troy's defense, stalwart over the past four years, has some giant holes to fill -- and it could be a form of poetic justice that the new-look Trojan offense may be called upon to cover up defensive shortcomings.