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| Media with LB after practice / Adam Prendergast photo |
I have a story for the print edition tomorrow on some different stuff, but here's a report.
TROY - Troy returned to the practice field, fresh off a spring and summer where leaders emerged and the team morale improved from a 3-9 season a year ago.
"We’re trying to work toward trying to get back to where we think Troy belongs and that’s championship-caliber and being in a bowl," Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. "That’s the driving force. I think we have evolved as a team of leaders. We have more trying to assert themselves as leaders.
"Only time will tell where we really are. I think the overall attitude of our staff and our team has been totally upgraded over the last six months. I think that will give us a chance if we continue to grow in that regard."
It was definitely a spirited practice. Near the end, on a run play, 310-pound defensive tackle Xavier Melton gave running back Khary Franklin a bit too hard of a love tap, sending him to the ground. Troy wasn't practicing in full gear, so remember that. Quickly, some offensive linemen got in Melton's face and let him know that's not how things were done around here. Cooler heads eventually prevailed.
"This is a controlled fight every day, but you can’t get to the point where it’s something that disrupts practice or somebody gets hurt in something that shouldn’t happen," Blakeney said. "I think we’re in good shape."
Melton took ownership of his role in the scuffle. It certainly was kept between the lines. Speaking of Melton, he's primed to be a force at defensive tackle this year. He's the biggest one I can remember coming through here since 2005. He wasn't as tall as Dion Gales (2007-08), but he's thicker.
"It was instinct," Melton said. "When I see a guy in the backfield, my instinct is to bring him back. It wasn’t meant to impose my will on him."
Receiver Chip Reeves was back and looked good catching some deep balls. He missed last year due to academics, but had a goal of scoring at least one touchdown in every game.
"Being sent home taught me not to take anything for granted," Reeves said. "I almost blew it. That’s what I focused on every day when I woke up."
Blakeney on Reeves, who did participate during spring ball: "He looked like he never missed a day to me. He’s worked hard. He has done well in school and he’s ready to go. I’ve already started talking to him about goals for his senior year and where I want him to be at the end of the season. He’s on board. A happy Chip Reeves is very good for this team."
Linebacker Kanorris Davis was pleased with leadership abilities shown so far.
"We’ve got more people trying to lead and a better attitude," Davis said. "3-9 was a slap in the face. We’re not used to it and the public’s not used to it. When people ask you if you play football and ask what kind of season you’re having, you don’t want to say it. You want to have pride in what you’re doing."
Wide receiver Sam Haskins was practicing. He had been held out due to a minor heart issue, Blakeney said earlier this week.
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