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| Bandit linebacker Jacoby Thomas rushes in the T-Day scrimmage (Danny Tindell photo) |
***Troy's vertical passing attack was in midseason form, to me. These wide receivers are really good and pretty dang fast. If they weren't getting wide open, they were making catches with cornerbacks all over them. It's going to be tough to cover these guys man on man. Even with the backups, Bryan Holmes looks like a younger version of Chip Reeves with his ability to run the deep ball. He caught a bomb from Deon Anthony for a score. You'll see this fall that last year was the exception, not the norm, with this Troy offense and you'll see plenty of performances like the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. The big difference is that all of the key players going into this fall are experienced, and that wasn't the case last year. Troy can win the shootouts again.
***Having said that, Reeves told me that they know what the defense is going to do having practiced against them, so give the offense an advantage. The defense should be better - deeper, at least - and other teams aren't going to know right away what they're getting. The corners aren't playing 10 yards off the ball any more on what seemed like every play the last few years.
This story appears in Wednesday's print edition of the Dothan Eagle. It can be found on dothaneagle.com
BY DREW CHAMPLIN | DOTHAN EAGLE
TROY – Through four years, several position changes and even some all-star type performances, Troy linebacker Jacoby Thomas finally has found a position where he can thrive.
Thomas, a 5-foot-11, 248-pound senior, is listed as the Bandit end in Troy’s new variation of a 4-3 scheme. He’ll line up as a defensive end, but can drop back into coverage as a linebacker.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Thomas said. “They’ve tried me out at so many positions. They knew I was good at blitzing. They knew I can tackle. They decided, why not put me on one side of the field and have me go every play.”
Thomas was a three-star recruit out of Murphy High School of Mobile in 2008. He redshirted that fall and played sparingly in 2009. He got a taste of big-time action in 2010, getting two sacks and an interception in a nationally televised 42-13 win at Middle Tennessee, and had seven tackles at Florida Atlantic.
But he was still a backup last year. In reserve duty, he was fourth on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said that changing positions so much, rotating from inside linebacker to outside and as a blitzer in a dime formation, has made it harder to master one thing.
“He’s still got a ways to go, but he’s played that position before,” Blakeney said earlier this spring. “He understands his role and what he’s got to do. I would say knowledge and experience (has kept Thomas from playing more). He’s gone out there in some real simple situations and done well. We need to keep it simple for him and keep it simple for everyone else.”
Despite not being a full-time starter until this spring and fall, Thomas has remained one of the Trojans’ vocal leaders. When the defense comes up from the practice fields at the bottom of the hill by the fieldhouse to the main stadium to get ready for full contact drills, it’s Thomas’ voice that echoes through the air to let the offense know that some hard hits are coming.
“I’ve always been like that – loud, with intensity, and trying to get everybody up and going,” Thomas said.
He figured he’d get a shot at one outside linebacker spot this year and that fellow senior Brannon Bryan would get moved to middle linebacker, which is what happened. Now Thomas, Bryan and Kanorris Davis – all fifth-year seniors – are projected to lead a defense from the linebacker position.
“(We’ve got) a sense of urgency and a sense of leadership and making plays,” Thomas said. “We didn’t have a whole lot of that last year, but we’re definitely going to have that this year. Now we’re putting players where they’re supposed to be and that’s going to make a big difference.”
Thomas is one of those players in a new spot, and Blakeney is excited about seeing the results this fall.
“He’s improved a lot,” Blakeney said. “He’s really a good team guy and he loves everybody. He’s got vocal skills with the guys. I like Jacoby. I hope he continues to grow in the position.”
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