TROY FOOTBALL: Trojans hope for better kickoff coverage as ULM comes to town

By: Drew Champlin Media General News Service | Opelika Auburn News
Published: October 31, 2009

TROY — Troy’s offense has been clicking at a high level over the past five games, but with scores come kickoffs.

That’s where the Trojans have struggled lately. Troy is eighth in the Sun Belt in kickoff coverage, allowing opponents 24.5 yards per return. Coaches say the Trojans were looking to rectify that for today’s game against UL-Monroe.

The Trojans are 5-2, 4-0 in league play. ULM (4-3, 3-0) is the only other unbeaten team. A win in today’s 6 p.m. game will go a long way for both teams in a quest toward the Sun Belt’s only guaranteed bowl berth — the Dec. 20 New Orleans Bowl.

“I would say part of it was personnel and getting people in the right place,” special teams coach Shayne Wasden said. “I’ve got to do a better job of coaching it. We’re going to do that and see if we can get it right this week.”

The Trojans gave up a season-high 32 yards per return in last week’s 50-26 win over North Texas. Freshman Kanorris Davis, the team’s top kick cover man, was out with a concussion and should play today.

Wasden said senior David McDowell, a linebacker along with Davis, is another player who excels in kick coverage. Beyond that, the Trojans are still searching.

“You have to cover with speed early, but once you get to within 10 yards of the ball, you have to be able to fit up on a defender and be able to play two gaps,” Wasden said. “It’s like being a linebacker. You’re either born a linebacker or you’re not. It’s a lot like covering kickoffs. You can do it or you can’t.

“We’re trying to find 10 guys who understand how to go cover a kickoff right now.”

Sophomore kicker Michael Taylor leads the league in touchbacks with five. He’ll likely handle extra points and field goals for the fourth straight game as starter Sam Glusman has been slow to recover from an upper thigh injury.

Last year, Glusman’s 56-yard field goal hit the cross bar as time expired in a 31-30 ULM win in Monroe. That pushes the limit for any kicker, and while coaches say but Taylor and Glusman have the leg to get it that far, they aren’t practicing those.

“We try not to practice that far out,” Wasden said. “You practice many like that and you get bad habits. We try not to kick a whole lot of field goals outside of 40 yards because they overswing.”