2007 Statistics

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.

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.