The skinny: Practice 6, Friday -- A&M worked out for 90 minutes in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts outside in the afternoon. There wasn't a morning workout, in lieu of Saturday's scrimmage. "This was a little bit watered down," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said.
*
Next up: A&M will scrimmage at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kyle Field. Practice is open to current A&M students, former students (wearing an Aggie ring) and A&M faculty or staff with a current ID. ... The A&M football program will hold its annual Aggie Football Youth Experience for youth ages 8 to 13 afterward.
*
Defense shines: The defense won the day's intrasquad competition, 84-47. The offense had won the last two competitions, capped by performing well in Thursday's red-zone play. "That's the way it should be -- it goes back-and-forth and back-and-forth," Sherman said. "But today was a defensive day, and I thought we made some improvements."
*
Tough day for throwing and catching: The quarterbacks missed too many receivers, who in turn weren't as sure-handed as they'd been. "I think our quarterbacks can play better than what they played today," Sherman said. "I thought they were a little sloppy. [But] their arms are a little tired and a little raggedy right now. So we'll probably have to back off them just a little bit."
Sherman said some of the throws were slightly off, but he expects receivers to catch anything they touch and added, "We had some drops we shouldn't have had."
A&M started to cut back on the work of junior starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson in Thursday's practice and will do the same with redshirt freshman Tommy Dorman, who wasn't sharp on Friday.
"Today was a tough assessment [of Dorman]," Sherman said. "His arm was pretty sore. He couldn't get balls to go with the velocity he wanted them to go. So, he's a guy we really have to back off on."
Sherman added that Dorman is moving ahead, but isn't where either of them want him to be. "But he's a worker, and we'll keep pushing the envelope with him," Sherman said.
*
Tannehill update: Sophomore Ryan Tannehill, who is competing for the starting quarterback job, catches passes during individual workouts but hasn't had scrimmage contract or thrown a pass. Tannehill is recovering from a torn labrum. He does toss the football back after catching it with an underhanded motion. Sherman said they will err on the side of caution before allowing Tannehill to have contact or throw.
*
Coaches love it: Sherman thinks the Aggie Drill, where two players square off, is a great teaching tool, and it also helps set the tone for practice.
"It forces players to put a face on people, and strain their bodies and get their hands right," Sherman said. "If you don't have those three components you are not going to win the drill."
The Aggie Drill, which comes early in practice, leaves no doubt as to the winner, another thing that Sherman likes.
*
Trice needs more consistency: A&M needs another go-to wide receiver if Tannehill ends up staying at quarterback. Sophomore Nick Trice has been getting work with the first team. He had some nice plays Friday, but also has struggled at times.
"He had a chance yesterday, we moved him up with the ones," Sherman said. "But I don't think he responded to the degree I wanted him to respond. But I thought he was better today. He did a really good job of blocking on one particularly play, a bubble screen. Then, he made a couple of catches. It's consistency -- doing it day-in and day-out -- that makes a difference."
*
Good plays: Junior safety Chris Caflisch jumped high for an interception, keeping possession as he fell to the ground. He got up and celebrated with several of his defensive teammates. He later added a fumble recovery. ... Eddie Brown came up with a rare interception thanks to a tip from fellow sophomore defensive lineman Tony Jerrod-Eddie. ... The defense had a few other pass deflections, one by senior lineman Matt Moss, who also had a sack.
*
Et cetera: Great weather brought out the best crowd of the spring along with A&M having another Junior Day this weekend. ... The crowd included former head coach Jackie Sherrill, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and A&M regent Phil Adams. Former players included Chet Brooks (1984-87), Red Burditt (1943-46) and Gary Oliver (1987-90). Among the juniors watching were Arlington High quarterback Matt Joeckel and his twin, Luke, an offensive lineman. ... Also watching was Austin Westlake senior wide receiver Ryan Swope, who has signed with A&M as a wide receiver. ... Sherman missed the first part of the practice while he was with recruits.
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Posted by: miller58 On: 4/5/2009
Comment Title: DO YOU WANT BILL'S CELL PHONE NUMBER?
My personal opinions:_____?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/5/2009
Comment Title:
The people that matter don't use these sites. They Bill Byrne's cell phone when they are unhappy and it started, according to Byrne, 30 seconds after last years ark state game.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: RE: miller stop
My personal opinions:_____I honestly present a lot of facts, all backed by sources, in mycomments, because I want Ags to make their own decisions based on the true facts!_____I also identify, and state my own opinions!_____There are a large number of Ag blogs, and With a little searching, you might find one or more that delete or ban true facts and personal opinions that don't agree with their own agenda.____I once sampled a page on an Ag Blog, and found over 80% of the posts were either very positive lies, or very ill informed falsely positive posters; and this might be just the place for anyone who prefers mostly positive lies to true honest facts supported by sources?_____Our recruiting, coaching, national press, and team in last place, is not up to my standards_____I will not be happy until we are competing for the Big 12, and the mnc every year._____ It takes 66 to 80 four and five star difference makers on our squad, plus a good coach that can replace them at a rate of 13 to 17 each year, to compete at this level every year.____Unfortunately there is not much to be honestly positive about when my team is in last place, my coach is recruiting a current class with only one difference maker out of 12 commits, and can't instill coaching discipline or evaluate player personnel, nor can he win most times, even when he has a huge talent advantage, either last season, or projected this comming fall season?____A&M enjoys a difference maker talent advantage over 10 of the teams on our schedule this fall!_____We should win all 10?_____I will continue to make my opinions known; and provide facts as honestly and as in context as possible for Ags to make their own decision, on this forum in my comments.____-I hope you will make your own intelligent evaluation, and help us to get to the point of competing for the Big 12 and mnc every year, asap!_____Thanks for your comments_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: Texas Aggie Recruits
To all Aggie Football Recruits, Miller58 is a tu. heckler. He completly full of garage. Nothings he says is true. This how Longhorns act when they become scared. We are picking up some great recruits and are restacking the cupboards. After we beat TU this season at Kyle Field it will be 3 wins in 4 years. Cry on you little scared horn. To your credit 58 you are annoying.
Posted by: Dr. Lector On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: The real world
Yo miller58. Yeah I'm talking to you. Rather than sitting around the house all day worrying about the football team, do something constructive with your life. Like volunteer work. You obviously have too much time on your hands. Not only will volunteer work make you feel good about yourself, it'll take your mind off what is a very unhealthy fixation with the football program at Texas A&M. It's evident from your post that you are upset and angry about the situation in College Station. But you can't do anything about it. So why even worry about it. It's going to eat you up and leave you physically sick. You know miller58, if you open your eyes and take a look at what's going on around the world, it might finally dawn on you that the troubles with the Texas A&M football program are trivial by comparison. If this post sound ridiculous too you, you should make an appointment with a mental health professional. I'm not kidding. This thing you have with Aggie football is as strange and it is unhealthy.
Posted by: Busted in Austin On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: Even Sherrill started out slow
Come on miller58. Give it a rest. Jackie Sherrill went 5-6 his first year in Aggieland against an easier schedule than Sherm faced last year. And he was only 5-5-1 his second year. Rebuilding a program takes time. But those tough times laid the groundwork for 15 years of success. A&M hasn't really competed for a Big 12 title in a decade so it's not realistic to expect two dozen 4*/5* dudes to be lining up to play for the Ags.
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: Miller STOP!!!
Miller I know I want the aggies to be the best not only in the big 12 but the nation. However they way your going on I don't believe you are even an aggie. You constant pessimism about our team is outrages. Where are you getting the stats from? tu alrady having 17 differences makers? that is wrong!!! not to mention Rankings of players by rivals is somewhat inflated. I know a lot of aggies don't like sherman, but the way your killing him is not acceptable by A&M standards! You can disagree, but not to a point where you annoy fellow ags so much they stop listening to you. Anyway I think you have good ideas, and your intentions are in the right place, but try not to be so offensive. Thanks and Gig'em.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: SHERMAN DOWN TO ONLY " 9% " OF CLASS RANKED AS 4 STARS, 0% RANKED AS 5 STARS?
My personal opinions:_____Just look where Sherman is taking us?_____In November'07 Sherman inherited 32 difference makers, "38%" of the 85 man A&M squad!_____Sherman signed 28 players in Feb'08 with 7 difference makers, only "25%"._____Then Sherman signed 28 players in Feb'09 with 5 difference makers, only "18%",_____Now Sherman's third signing class in progress has committed 11 players with only one 4 star and no 5 stars, that's just "9%"._____Folks do you realise how just absolutely terrible our football team will be in 2009,'10,'11,'12,'13, and 2014 with this recruiting?_____My tee times on fall Saturday afternoons are confirmed thru at least 2015!_____"9%", not on your life?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: Miller58. U are a Joke
Miller58. Go finish your classes on heckeling. You are the biggest joke I've seen. Quit hiding behind your badmatten days you bum. This will be the last time I call you on your BS. Go log onto a teasip site with your sissy tu. buddies.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: RE: WAKE UP 12TH MAN
My personal opinions:_____When are you going to wake up?_____We have the team that was ranked 99th at season end by Sagarin, before it lost it's juniors and seniors. It's adding a slow, small, less athletic terrible incommimg recruiting class only ranked tied between 37 and 30 for difference makers._____Our coaching staff national articles I have read, are about being dead last, top 100 ncaa coaches(A&M isn't on the list), A&M makes the bottom top 10 list, etc._____Our current recruiting class we have 1 four star commit while tu has 17 of them?_____We are in last place in the Big 12 south!_____We still have more player talent than 10 teams we play this season, but most blogs say 3 to 7 wins max?____Why would you go watch my 99th ranked offense, against my 109th ranked defense coached by my 120th ranked coaching staff at any time?_____mller58
Posted by: AD 64 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title:
And Rome burns while Nero fiddles.
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: WAKE UP 12th MAN
I attended my first Aggie Practice of the Season on Friday. What I saw was definitely a easy going practice. I sure would of liked to see a little more heart, but im going to reserve my rights to say anymore about that intill a later date. It sure looked like they were saving something for the scrimage today. I HOPE SO. I'll stop. #35 Ricky Cavanaugh looked realy good. He looked like he may be the real deal. He whooped his opponent over and over in the one on one drills. All you players need to take look at #35 and follow his lead. Intensity is contagious! Here was another standout for me, #47 Caleb Russel. He played with that 35 intensity as well. Keep it up! If I didn't know a thing about the Aggie football team and showed up yesterday, I would of guessed those 2 were the leaders of the team. What else can I tell the Aggie fan in Washington D.C.? Jeff Fuller is a football player, like no one know that. He is big, strong and slender. #1 J. Johnson is Tall, looking at him from field level really lets you know how big he really is. D.C. lay off my boy Cessna, he was only challenging fans to attend the practice is my guess. And thats what Im about to due as well. WAKE UP 12th MAN the team needs you guys out there at every practice. Thats your team, get out there and let them know you support them. If I had to guess the amount of students in attendence. The answer would honestly would be maybe 7, maybe. WAKE THE ____ UP!!! A free practice where you guys can hold your team accountable! WAKE UP 12th MAN!! This is a honor. WAKE UP!! You Seniors. WAKE UP!! The season has begun and the 12th MAN is sitting down. WAKE UP 12th MAN and get to practice!!! There should be 350 students at the next practice at least. BRING IT!!! I challenge you!!! Here's one for you guys. How about students two deep all the way around the practice field. Like I said Intensity is coutagious! Im fired up about Aggie Football. What about you 12th Man?? And to the guy in D.C., your expected to be a practice as well. The season has begun!!!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: PEOPLE, GET IT TOGETHER!
My personal opinions: _____My vision for A&M remains to play for the Big 12 Championship and compete for the mnc every year!_____We know to do this, we need 66 to 80 four and five star difference makers on our squad, and a good coach that can replace them at a rate of 13 to 17 evey year!_____One good four star tackle is great: but we are still 45 to 59 difference makers, and a good coach, away from competing for the Big 12 every year and the mnc?____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title:
Ark and osu were their choices but neither of those wanted to burn 2 scholarships to get a 4 star lineman ranked at 147 on the 250 list. It had to be a package deal including his not so sought after quarterback brother.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: RE: FOUR STAR LINEMAN OK WITH YOU?
My personal opinions:____Yes, great!_____That really changes things:_____Difference maker commits for this class are:__(1) tu-17 (2) ou-4 (3)okie lite-1 (4) tech-1 (5) A&M-1 (6) baylor-0 !_____With A&M needing 13 to 17 difference maker commits this year, we only have 12 to 16 more to go!_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: Miller 4 star lineman ok with you?
Looks like we just picked up both of the Joeckel twins, Matt and Luke. And Luke is a 4 star OT prospect. This weekend is starting off great. If Jake Matthews decides to commit this weekend (crossing my fingers!!!) then we have the core of a extremely good O-line for the next four year. Sherman's staff has done an excelent job at getting top flight lineman this year so far. Keep it up ags!!!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: SHERMAN HAS THE CUPBOARD OVER FILLED! SHOULD GUARANTEE 11 WINS?
My personal opinions:_____No more excuses!_____Sherman inherited 32 four and five star difference makers in November'07._____ Evaluated players offers and withdrew Janisch and Brown's scholarships?_____Signed 28 players in Nov'08, total 60!_____Signed another 28, total 88!_____85 fills the squad allowed by the ncaa!_____will sign another 28 in the current class, total 116!_____We still have more difference maker talent than 10 of the teams we play this fall!_____Sherman can watch film of Coach Fran beating tu twice just prior to Sherman' arrival; and that should be 11 guaranteed wins?_____miller58
Posted by: Ken '94 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: IQ58
Yeah, yeah, yeah, 4 & 5 stars, we get the picture. Do you have anything positive or original to add? Go Ags!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/4/2009
Comment Title: ANOTHER BIG A&M RECRUITING WEEKEND IN PROGRESS?
My personal opinions:_____?_____I'll just anxiously wait to see how many of those faster, bigger and more athletic four and five star recruits we commit?_____miller58
CU fans not excited about A&M; Remember that bad CU team in 2000? McFerrin thoughts
