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by
Joel Welser
#22 Texas
A&M Aggies
Big 12
2006 Record: (9-4, 5-3)
Coach: Dennis Franchione (25-23 at Texas A&M,
180-96-2 overall)
Starters Returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense,
1 specialist)
Offensive Starters Lost: WR Chad Schroeder,
OL Grant Dickey
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Stephen
McGee, RB Jorvorskie Lane, FB Chris Alexander, WR Earvin Taylor, TE Martellus
Bennett, OL Corey Clark, OL Kirk Elder, OL Travis Schneider, OL Cody Wallace
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Bryce Reed, DE
Jason Jack, LB Justin Warren, S Melvin Bullitt, S Brock Newton
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Red Bryant,
DE Chris Harrington, LB Misi Tupe, CB Danny Gorrer, CB Jordan Peterson, S Devin
Gregg
Starting Specialists Lost: K Layne Neumann
Starting Specialists Returning: P Justin
Brantly
The Texas A&M defense drastically improved between
2005 and 2006. In the second year under coordinator Gary Darnell, the Aggies
hope the defense will continue to be better. If the unit can continue to improve
with a year of experience in the 4-2-5 scheme, the defense will turn from a
question mark into the strong point of the A&M team.
Offense:
Quarterback Stephen McGee developed into a great
team leader and it is not just his heart and hustle that inspire his teammates.
McGee completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 12 touchdowns and just two
interceptions. The junior is also a solid runner and will take off if his
receiving targets are not open. Yet, due to a quality group of receivers and a
stellar offensive line, McGee will not be forced to scramble often. Senior
receiver Chad Schroeder returns after leading the squad with 612 receiving yards
and tight ends Martellus Bennett and Joey Thomas are one of the best tandems in
the conference.
The line returns four starters, including first-team
All-Big 12 selections Cody Wallace and Kirk Elder. While that experience will
make McGee more comfortable in the pocket, A&M is still all about the running
game. Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane are a dynamic duo that will lead the
offense in productivity. Goodson, who earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors
in 2006, rushed for 847 yards and four touchdowns. Lane is a big, bruising back
and found the end zone 19 times.
Defense:
The front four has a bevy of talent and depth. End
Chris Harrington is the defensive leader and will once again wreak havoc on the
opposing backfield. Tackles Red Bryant and Kellen Heard combine to weigh 654
pounds and should improve on the Aggies 55th nationally ranked
rushing defense of a year ago. Linebackers Misi Tupe and Mark Dodge will help
keep the opposing running even more worried. Tupe, a junior college transfer,
earned Defensive Newcomer of the Year accolades in the conference and is
suddenly an experienced leader. Dodge recorded 51 tackles as a junior and is
ready to step into a full-time starting position. Sophomore’s Matt Featherston
and Anthony Lewis have plenty of potential and, at the least, will add some
quality depth to the linebacker corps.
The secondary showed the most improvement with the
addition of Darnell’s defensive scheme and with some talent returning, Aggie
fans hope it will be even better this year. The five man unit is young, but
Danny Gorrer and Devin Gregg are proven performers. Jordan Pugh, who had a solid
spring, Jordan Peterson and Alton Dixon will have to play up to their potential
if the unit wants to take another big step.
The Bottom Line:
Texas A&M lost three games at home, by a combined
total of six points last year. They were amazingly close to playing for a lot
more than the Holiday Bowl. And with 17 starters returning, the ball might
bounce the right way this year. Winning at Texas was huge, but much of that
momentum was lost with a slaughtering at the hands of California in the bowl
game. |
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