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If Troy's Corey Robinson can't play, backup QB ready to rollTROY, Oct 16, 2012 (Dothan Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- With Troy quarterback Corey Robinson sidelined "day-to-day" with a concussion, backup Deon Anthony is ready whenever his number is called. "My mindset totally changes knowing that I'll probably play the whole game," Anthony said Monday. "Usually, I'm just focused on the specific packages that coach has for me in certain situations. "Going this week throughout practice, I'm going to have time to get the rhythm with certain receivers and stuff like that. I'm real comfortable in the receivers and the whole offense. They're behind me 100 percent." Troy (3-3 overall, 2-2 Sun Belt) hosts Florida International (1-6, 0-3) at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday at noon. Robinson, the record-setting junior quarterback for the Trojans, went down in the final minute of the first half against Western Kentucky last Thursday after being hit hard on a sack. He spent Thursday night in the hospital in Troy before being released on Friday. Troy head athletic trainer Chuck Ash confirmed on Monday that Robinson did suffer a concussion and must pass a series of tests before he can return to the field. "Just like all the other concussions that we deal with, we have a protocol that we follow," Ash said. "That includes monitoring his symptoms daily. Once the symptoms clear, there's a set of computerized tests that measure short-term memory, long-term memory, reaction time. "We also do computerized balance testing, and when he clears those, and the doctor is satisfied that his clinical symptoms are clear, we'll release him to play. "You don't practice until everything has cleared." Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield has confidence Anthony, a junior college transfer, can handle the role as the starting quarterback if Robinson is unable to play. "He's really progressed throughout his time," Edenfield said. "He's ready to run the offense. "If he's the guy that has to go the whole time, we'll get an opportunity to see what he can do." In the second half of the 31-26 loss to Western Kentucky on Thursday, Anthony was 9-of-16 passing for 147 yards. He also had 26 yards rushing in the game. "I thought there were a couple plays where he could have really pulled the ball down and took off. But he had his eyes downfield and made some good throws. "When they tried to pressure him and played zero coverage, he was able to attack that. I was really pleased with him." Trojan center Kyle Wilborn doesn't believe the offense will look much different if Anthony is called on to lead the way. "What's helped us the most is what we've done with Corey and Deon all season," Wilborn said. "It's not like having a new quarterback come in there all together. "We've been playing with Deon from camp and all the way through the season. I feel like our offensive line has a good feel for how Deon plays the game. "Also, he can throw the ball really well. You can see that with the deep passes he's made. I don't think there will be too much of a transition while Corey is out. "Deon has shown the ability to lead this offense and lead this team." Coaches faked out too: Special teams/outside wide receivers coach Shayne Wasden couldn't take the credit for a fake field goal call that worked in the favor of Troy last Thursday against Western Kentucky. The credit goes to holder Jaquon Robinson, who took the snap at the 8 at the right hash mark and ran toward the right pylon as if on an option with kicker Will Scott as his pitch man. But Robinson stopped before having to pitch and threw a shuffle pass to D.J. Taylor, who went in for a score to put Troy up 17-7. After the game, head coach Larry Blakeney credited Wasden with the call. It was the first fake field goal call for a Blakeney-coached team at Troy since his fourth game as coach in 1991 against Alabama State. Wasden set the record straight on Monday. "No genius here, buddy. Not me," Wasden said. "The truth of the matter is, good players make good coaches. Jaquon saw that they overloaded our wing side, and he actually made the call. "They only had two defenders over there to the side that we run that fake to. He saw it and made the call. I'm just glad it worked. "I was speechless. I just cheered when he scored like everybody else." Wasden said it's a play the team works on every week in practice, and Robinson has the leeway to make the call if he sees a defense in the alignment such as the one WKU was lined in. Taylor called it the "perfect call and at the right time." "I just heard the call and was like, 'So, we're really about to run this play ' Taylor said. "We really don't practice it that much, maybe twice a week. We played it like we've practiced it all year. That's good." Injury update: Besides Robinson's status being listed as day-to-day, the same holds true for offensive lineman Jimmie Arnold (ankle) and defensive tackle Shermane TeArt (shoulder stinger). Both sat out against WKU due to the injuries which occurred in the previous game against South Alabama. ___ (c)2012 the Dothan Eagle (Dothan, Ala.) Visit the Dothan Eagle (Dothan, Ala.) at www.dothaneagle.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |