|
QB
Stephen McGee |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Mike Sherman
1st
year |
2007
Record: 7-6 |
|
MONTANA
STATE |
WON
38-7 |
FRESNO
STATE |
WON
47-45 (3OT) |
UL-MONROE |
WON
54-14 |
at
Miami FL |
LOST
17-34 |
BAYLOR |
WON
34-10 |
OKLAHOMA
STATE |
WON
24-23 |
at
Texas Tech |
LOST
7-35 |
at
Nebraska |
WON
36-14 |
KANSAS |
LOST
11-19 |
at
Oklahoma |
LOST
14-42 |
at
Missouri |
LOST
26-40 |
TEXAS |
WON
38-30 |
ALAMO
BOWL |
Penn
State |
LOST
17-24 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
Texas
A&M has high hopes that
the change in coaching staff
will result in a return to conference
and national contention. Changes
were needed on both sides of
the ball, as certain areas were
in a state of neglect. On the
offense, the running game is
set with a power and speed attack
returning from previous success,
but the passing game is in need
of help. If anyone can turn
that aspect around in a season,
it’s new head coach Mike
Sherman and his staff. It all
relies on the transformation
of Stephen McGee from a running
quarterback into an efficient
and accurate (pass first) quarterback
who will run if needed. The
improvement will also be dependent
on reliable weapons to develop
for McGee to aim at. Recently
strong recruiting classes should
aid in this as WRs abound, but
have no experience. Defensively,
a return to dominance is the
top priority for the ‘12th
Man’, and DC Joe Kines
is just the man for the job.
A passionate leader who will
at times get in the faces of
players, he typically brings
an aggressive and tenacious
defensive scheme to the table.
The secondary will be experienced,
but the front seven, Kines’
specialty, has some holes to
fill. Recruiting has been good
in this area, however, so the
Aggies will have some talent
to work with here. The schedule
is extremely kind to A&M,
who misses playing Big XII north
favorites Missouri and Kansas
this year. They also get many
tough teams at home, like Oklahoma,
Miami, Texas Tech and Colorado.
The biggest road test will be
at the end, when they go to
Texas on Thanksgiving to return
this rivalry to its original
day. Because of the favorable
schedule, and despite the many
hurdles to overcome with Sherman’s
first year as a college head
coach, the Aggies could have
a winning record, finish in
the middle of the conference,
and earn a decent bowl berth.
All together, this would be
a welcome improvement over a
season ago, especially if at
the end of the season the team
is showing potential for the
future. With Sherman’s
recent recruiting success already
to go, the potential should
be there for the Aggies in this
and more years to come.
Projected
2008 record: 6-6
|
|
TEXAS
A&M
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 2.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
TEXAS
A&M
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
13 |
2 |
Passing: |
99 |
12 |
Total
Off: |
58 |
9 |
Sacks
Allow: |
15 |
3 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
65 |
9 |
Passing: |
92 |
6 |
Total
Def: |
83 |
9 |
Sacks: |
104 |
11 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Stephen McGee, 211-364-8, 2311
yds., 12 TD
Rushing: Stephen McGee,
181 att., 899 yds., 5 TD
Receiving: Mike Goodson,
36 rec., 361 yds., 4 TD
Scoring: Jorvorskie Lane,
17 TD, 1 two-pt. conv., 104
pts.
Punting: Justin Brantly,
56 punts, 44.2 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Jordan Pugh,
90 tot., 25 solo
Sacks: Cyril Obiozor,
3.5 sacks
Interceptions: Devin
Gregg, 1 for 0 yds.; Jordan
Peterson, 1 for 54 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Pierre
Brown, 16 ret., 21.5 avg., 0
TD
Punt Returns: Jordan
Peterson, 14 ret., 7.7 avg.,
0 TD
|
|
|
P
Justin Brantly |
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Chris Alexander-FB, Earvin Taylor-WR,
Kerry Franks-WR, Joey Thomas-TE,
Yemi Babalola-OT, Kirk Elder-OG,
Cody Wallace-C, Chris Yoder-OG,
Corey Clark-OT, Martellus Bennett-TE
(NFL), Matt Szymanski-K (transferred) |
DEFENSE:
Chris
Harrington-DE, Red Bryant-DT,
Henry Smith-NG, Mark Dodge-SLB,
Misi Tupe-MLB, Marquis Carpenter-CB |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
written
by Jeff Davis
If
there is one area that Mike Sherman
and his new coaching staff can make
an immediate impact on in their first
year, it would be providing balance
to the offense. Texas A&M had
the 13th-ranked rushing attack, and
now the Aggies have their three top
rushers returning. So the area that
Sherman can best facilitate improvement
within is the passing game, which
was ranked 99th nationally. Quarterback
Stephen McGee, the team’s leading
rusher, returns for his senior season,
but McGee will not be expected to
contribute as much to the running
game in the new offense. That is what
the talented running duo of Mike Goodson
and Jorvorskie Lane are for. The coaches
will look to McGee, once a prolific
passer in high school, to lead what
will need to be a much-improved passing
game. Gone will be the days of relying
mostly on the option attack, led by
the quarterback, for production. Expect
the Aggies to run a pro style offense
now. Focusing on the passing game
is a proven key to success. McGee
had 362 passing yards and three TDs,
by far the highest production of his
career, in A&M’s second
straight win over Texas. He also had
three interceptions that game, meaning
that accuracy will still need to be
found. McGee’s growth, and the
fact that he will have less returning
weapons to work with now, are the
biggest needs for an improved passing
attack. Departed is their leading
receiver at tight end, an NFL draftee,
along with two starting wide receivers.
McGee’s one returning target
is senior Pierre Brown, who will need
to step up his game dramatically if
this new offensive plan is to succeed.
Someone(s) will have to emerge from
a group of junior wide receivers,
E.J. Shankle and Cody Beyer, along
with new TE Jamie McCoy, to provide
further support. Look for highly touted
true freshman Jeffrey Fuller to step
on the field and make a sizable impact
immediately, given the current lack
of depth, talent and experience at
receiver. The proven power and speed
package of Lane and Goodson will still
be heavily utilized, with Lane as
more of a fullback now, but they will
work behind an offensive line that
only has one key returning starter,
the giant left tackle Travis Schneider,
at 6’8” and 303 lbs. Experienced
juniors make up the remainder of a
large sized quality line, and the
O-line is Sherman’s expertise.
The impact of those departed should
not be nearly as big as it would be
otherwise.
|
|
RB
Jorvorskie Lane
|
|
|
TEXAS
A&M 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Stephen
McGee-Sr (6-3, 207) |
Jerrod
Johnson-So (6-5, 229) |
FB |
Jorvorskie
Lane-Sr (6-0, 285) |
Nick
LaMantia-Sr (6-1, 232) |
TB |
Mike
Goodson-Jr (6-0, 196) |
Bradley
Stephens-Fr (5-10, 204) |
WR |
Pierre
Brown-Sr (6-2, 197) |
Roger
Holland-So (5-10, 169) |
WR |
Terrence
McCoy-So (6-4, 198) |
E.J.
Shankle-Jr (5-11, 174) |
TE |
Jamie
McCoy-Jr (6-3, 224) |
Frank
Avery-Fr (6-4, 207) |
OT |
Michael
Shumard-Jr (6-5, 301) |
Robbie
Frost-Jr (6-6, 300) |
OG |
Lee
Grimes-Jr (6-6, 339) |
Evan
Eike-Fr (6-4, 303) |
C |
Kevin
Matthews-Jr (6-4, 297) |
Danny
Baker-Fr (6-5, 296) |
OG |
Vincent
Williams-Jr (6-4, 314) |
Josh
Russell-Jr (6-4, 325) |
OT |
Travis
Schneider-Sr (6-8, 290) |
Craig
Raschke-So (6-5, 266) |
K |
Richie
Bean-Sr (5-11, 172) |
.. |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
It’s
ironic that the very area of defense
that has struggled for A&M in
recent years, the secondary, will
have to be the group that steps up
most and leads this side of the ball
now. A defense coached by Joe Kines
is a tough, aggressive, and passionate
one. These will be welcome attributes
to a marginal unit that ranked 9th
in the conference in total defense,
and 83rd in the nation. Tested under
fire as underclassmen, the experienced
defensive backfield will surprise
with its three returning starters.
Senior strong safety Alton Dixon leads
the secondary, and is a disruptive
force against the run as he finds
his way into opponent’s backfield(s).
Free safety Devin Gregg and cornerback
Arkeith Brown are talented seniors
who can stick with receivers and track
down the ball in the air. Coming nicely
into their own as juniors will be
Jordan Pugh and Jordan Peterson. Senior
Danny Gorrer should return to compete
for the other cornerback position,
and provide quality depth. Much like
traditional Wrecking Crew defenses,
these linebackers will be more of
a premium in Kines’ defensive
scheme than they’ve been in
previous years. Unfortunately, no
starters return, and there are no
seniors to speak of, either. The group
will be lead by juniors Anthony Lewis,
who was all over the field dominating
this spring, and Matt Featherstone.
Recent years of success in recruiting
at LB mean much-anticipated sophomores
Derrick Stephens, Von Miller, and
Billy Chavis can make immediate impacts
at the other starting positions. The
defensive line only returns one starter,
quick and elusive team sack maven
senior Cyril Obiozor. Kellen Heard
has the size and skill to plug the
middle effectively. Chris Smith, a
senior, and junior transfer David
Tufuga also have experience to contribute
at tackle. Anticipated junior college
transfer Matt Moss will compete for
a starting role at end with Michael
Bennett; both had strong performances
this spring. Amos Gumblee and Lucas
Patterson provide depth and opportunities
to keep the line fresh. Kines is also
not opposed to giving immediate playing
time to freshman, and highly recruited
tackle Rod Smith, as well as ends
Tony Jerod and Andrew Wolridge, could
certainly be the beneficiaries of
that philosophy.
|
|
CB
Jordan Pugh
|
|
|
TEXAS
A&M 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Cyril
Obiozor-Sr (6-4, 264) |
Matt
Moss-Jr (6-3, 253) |
DT |
Lucas
Patterson-So (6-4, 297) |
Chris
Smith-Sr (6-4, 269) |
DT |
Kellen
Heard-Jr (6-6, 345) |
David
Tufuga-Jr (6-0, 292) |
DE |
Michael
Bennett-Sr (6-4, 261) |
Amos
Gbunblee-Sr (6-5, 250) |
SLB |
Garrick
Williams-Fr (6-2, 217) |
Will
Harris-Jr (6-1, 216) |
MLB |
Matt
Featherston-Jr (6-2, 235) |
Anthony
Lewis-Jr (6-2, 254) |
WLB |
Von
Miller-So (6-3, 214) |
Johnathan
Haynes-Sr (6-2, 204) |
CB |
Jordan
Pugh-Jr (5-11, 191) |
Marcus
Gold-Jr (5-7, 184) |
CB |
Arkeith
Brown-Sr (6-0, 174) |
Danny
Gorrer-Sr (6-0, 173) |
SS |
Devin
Gregg-Sr (6-0, 190) |
Alton
Dixon-Sr (5-11, 197) |
FS |
Jordan
Peterson-Jr (5-10, 184) |
Kenny
Brown-So (6-3, 207) |
P |
Justin
Brantly-Sr (6-1, 241) |
.. |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Senior
punter Justin Brantley looks to continue
his national success as one of the best
(ranked 12th with his 44-yard average).
Matt Szymanski has decided to leave the
program which now makes the kicking duties
wide open. Richie Bean is the likely candidate
to fill the opening. He was the Aggies’
main kickoff specialist with 19 touchbacks
and he averaged 43.4 yards per punt in high
school where he earned Louisiana All-State
honors. So the leg strength is there. Kick
return duties will likely fall into the
proven hands of Bradley Stephens and Pierre
Brown. They’ll experiment a bit at
punt returner, but receiver Roger Holland
and Jordan Peterson should likely continue
those duties.
|
|