LB Carlton Martial has been named a 2nd-Team All American by Pro Football Focus. He's Troy's first player to be named to an FBS All-American on the defensive side of the ball.

Finished with:
126 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 INT's, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 pick-six.

His coverage grade was 90.5, which ranks 2nd in the nation among LB's.

In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  LB Carlton Martial has been named a 2nd-Team All American by Pro Football Focus. He's Troy's first player to be named to an FBS All-American on the defensive side of the ball.

Finished with:
126 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 INT's, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 pick-six.

His coverage grade was 90.5, which ranks 2nd in the nation among LB's.

In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

Certainly didn't help your last two games.

I question both Lindsey and Elliot now for trotting out guys on broken bones and torn ligaments. I get that they are both Seniors but you owe it to everyone else on your team to field the best possible team that you can.

(12-03-2019 01:29 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  I question both Lindsey and Elliot now for trotting out guys on broken bones and torn ligaments. I get that they are both Seniors but you owe it to everyone else on your team to field the best possible team that you can.

The seniors probably wanted to play their last games, and not watch from the bench, which I certainly understand.

It's also possible Barker was still a better option to win than any of the backup QB's.

(12-03-2019 02:04 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 01:29 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  I question both Lindsey and Elliot now for trotting out guys on broken bones and torn ligaments. I get that they are both Seniors but you owe it to everyone else on your team to field the best possible team that you can.

The seniors probably wanted to play their last games, and not watch from the bench, which I certainly understand.

It's also possible Barker was still a better option to win than any of the backup QB's.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. It's a tough situation all the way around. I watched some of the field level highlights of the Troy - ULL game and noticed Barker just missed on a few throws he wouldn't usually miss on. Louisiana didn't do anything spectacular on defense that was never seen before. They just played zone coverage and the way Barker was throwing the ball seemed to be similar to the way Cam Newton was throwing in the first two weeks of playing with a Lisfranc Injury this season.

I agree, Barker didn't look quite right against Louisiana or App State. Not to say we would've won though.

Time to look toward next season though. Barker said he believes Gunnar Watson will likely be the next guy up, but with the #1 JUCO QB coming in, he may give Watson a run for his money.

(12-03-2019 02:41 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I agree, Barker didn't look quite right against Louisiana or App State. Not to say we would've won though.

Time to look toward next season though. Barker said he believes Gunnar Watson will likely be the next guy up, but with the #1 JUCO QB coming in, he may give Watson a run for his money.

You all have a running back transfer coming in as well, right? I assume some depth on the defensive side will return? Troy's defense the last two weeks was hardly Top 50 in FCS quality.

Here is a list of PFF All-Americans from the Sun Belt:

WR: Omar Bayless - Arkansas State (Honorable Mention)
TE: Josh Pederson - ULM (Honorable Mention)
OL: Kevin Dotson - Louisiana (1st Team)
LB: Carlton Martial - Troy (2nd Team)
CB: Shaun Jolly - App State (2nd Team)
CB: Corey Straughter - ULM (3rd Team)

(12-03-2019 02:48 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  Here is a list of PFF All-Americans from the Sun Belt:

WR: Omar Bayless - Arkansas State (Honorable Mention)
TE: Josh Pederson - ULM (Honorable Mention)
OL: Kevin Dotson - Louisiana (1st Team)
LB: Carlton Martial - Troy (2nd Team)
CB: Shaun Jolly - App State (2nd Team)
CB: Corey Straughter - ULM (3rd Team)

Oh wow, didn't realize the Sun Belt had so many players recognized as All-Americans.

What's even better is only two players on this list are seniors. Looks like the Sun Belt returns a lot of talent next season.

(12-03-2019 03:00 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 02:48 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  Here is a list of PFF All-Americans from the Sun Belt:

WR: Omar Bayless - Arkansas State (Honorable Mention)
TE: Josh Pederson - ULM (Honorable Mention)
OL: Kevin Dotson - Louisiana (1st Team)
LB: Carlton Martial - Troy (2nd Team)
CB: Shaun Jolly - App State (2nd Team)
CB: Corey Straughter - ULM (3rd Team)

Oh wow, didn't realize the Sun Belt had so many players recognized as All-Americans.

What's even better is only two players on this list are seniors. Looks like the Sun Belt returns a lot of talent next season.

Should be interesting, for sure. Pederson looks like someone who could be a starter in the NFL. Straughter likely gets a shot as well with his frame.

(12-03-2019 02:44 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 02:41 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I agree, Barker didn't look quite right against Louisiana or App State. Not to say we would've won though.

Time to look toward next season though. Barker said he believes Gunnar Watson will likely be the next guy up, but with the #1 JUCO QB coming in, he may give Watson a run for his money.

You all have a running back transfer coming in as well, right? I assume some depth on the defensive side will return? Troy's defense the last two weeks was hardly Top 50 in FCS quality.

We have a RB transfer from Texas A&M (Charles Strong), a LB transfer from Iowa (Jayden McDonald), and a DE transfer from Auburn (Richard Jibunor) that will all be eligible next year.

Hopefully they pan out like we all hope transfers will, and be impact players.

I have heard Pederson is likely to transfer for his senior season. Penn State is a possibility since his dad coaches the Eagles.

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

(12-04-2019 03:13 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

Put Lindsey and Elliot in a room while they discuss starting QB's with broken feet and torn limbs.

(12-04-2019 03:13 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

Like I said... a hurt Barker may have still been better than both of those guys.

Barker was probably willing to play through it. He already missed most of last season with the ACL tear. If you were him, would you not want to play the last 4 games of your senior season despite your foot injury?

(12-04-2019 04:12 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 03:13 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

Like I said... a hurt Barker may have still been better than both of those guys.

Barker was probably willing to play through it. He already missed most of last season with the ACL tear. If you were him, would you not want to play the last 4 games of your senior season despite your foot injury?

Letting Watson or Free start in these final games and getting some real experience would have been better for the future of the program. Chip Lindsey is probably not convinced that Watson (or Free) will start next year. Watch out for that JC transfer or maybe a graduate transfer to take over next season.

(12-04-2019 04:12 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(12-04-2019 03:13 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

Like I said... a hurt Barker may have still been better than both of those guys.

Barker was probably willing to play through it. He already missed most of last season with the ACL tear. If you were him, would you not want to play the last 4 games of your senior season despite your foot injury?

That should never be a player's decision. That's a trainer and coach's decision.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

(12-04-2019 03:13 PM)T2003 Wrote:  

(12-03-2019 11:57 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  In other news, Chip Lindsey mentioned in a presser that Kaleb Barker had been playing with a broken foot the last 4 or 5 games of the season, and hadn't been practicing very much. Kind of surprising and makes me wonder how much that impacted our offense.

This is just unbelievable. I don’t understand why didn’t give Free or Watson the job then, probably means that there is not much confidence in the back ups.

My biggest complaint with Chip has been with the qb all year and this makes it even worse. Cost us a winning season.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Our D will be much improved next year. Secondary was pretty young this year (starting with 3 FRs at times) and we return a ton anyways. Plus adding two 4star transfers from Iowa and Auburn (the AU transfer was a second stringer / part time starter last year) we should have a good and talented D in theory (this could be the best Front7 in years). Barring any transfers and injuries our coaching staff won’t be able to make any excuses here.
I am more worried about the offense actually. Even though we return all of our WRs, and some RBs including our star player BJ Smith who was injured this year - breaking in a new QB behind a relatively new OL will be tough.

This could be another tough year for us but 2021 could be our big comeback year...

2021
09/04 - Southern
09/11 - Liberty
09/18 - at Southern Miss
10/02 - at South Carolina