Troy Football: Can the Trojans win close games in 2021?

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Sep 19, 2020; Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA; Troy Trojans players celebrate with the Battle for the Palladium traveling trophy after winning the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Floyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Plenty of production returns on offense

Everyone on the offensive side of the ball is back. Their four-point loss against Coastal Carolina, who had one of the best defenses in the conference, proved Troy has the firepower to play with any team in the conference.

Unfortunately for Troy, they also had a ten-point clunker against Appalachian State. The Trojans have to get more consistent quarterback play this season. Who starts at quarterback for the Trojans this fall?

Last year’s starter Gunnar Watson threw for over 2,000 yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Watson also missed three games last season because of injury. Watson competes with Missouri transfer Taylor Powell.

The competition will come down to who takes better care of the football and throws the football down the field. The Trojans did not have a receiver with an average of 15 yards per reception. Kaylon Geiger, Troy’s leading receiver, averaged just 11.8 yards per catch.

The Trojans also need to improve the running game this season. Troy averaged just 3.5 yards per carry last season. Though Troy wants to throw the football a lot, the Trojans need a consistent, complementary running game.

Last season’s leading rushing Kimani Vidal had just 101 carries in 11 games. He was one of only two running backs who averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry. More than anything, the offense needs to play better against the better teams in the Sun Belt.

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