Aggie frosh runs wild at scrimmage
Published Friday, August 22, 2008 2:11 AM
Redshirt freshman Bradley Stephens showed the depth Texas A&M has at running back with several dazzling runs during Thursday night's scrimmage.
By ROBERT CESSNAThe 204-pound running back dashed through the first-team defense for 34 yards on his first carry. He accounted for 156 more yards as the Aggies had their final scrimmage of fall camp before the season opener Aug. 30 against Arkansas State.
Stephens capped his night with a 49-yard pass reception. He caught a short pass over the middle from senior quarterback Stephen McGee and weaved his way through the second-team defense. That set up the go-ahead touchdown for the first-team offense in the scrimmage's final segment, a situational setup that forced the first-team offense to rally from a 13-3 deficit.
The first-team offense shook off an interception of McGee by junior linebacker Will Harris to score touchdowns on its final two possessions.
Freshman wide receiver Jeff Fuller hauled in a 43-yard pass from McGee to set up the first touchdown. Fuller was closely covered by freshman defensive back Terrence Frederick, but Fuller used his 6-foot-4 frame to stretch out for the well-thrown ball toward the sideline.
McGee had a hand in both of the touchdowns. He ran in the first one from 2 yards out, then hit backup quarterback Jerrod Johnson for a 1-yard touchdown pass.
The 6-5, 229-pound Johnson had five catches for 47 yards playing tight end in the spread formation. That included a 15-yard touchdown catch during red-zone play that earned applause from the fans.
Third-string quarterback Ryan Tannehill had been the big story this week for his increased playing time at wide receiver. McGee was named the starter last Thursday with Johnson as the backup.
Tannehill didn't see action at quarterback or wide receiver, because of a slight tweak in his quad muscle.
The scrimmage opened with the first-team offense going against the second-team defense and the first-team defense working against the second-team offense.
McGee led the offense to a quick score, needing only seven plays to go 70 yards. Dump passes to junior tailback Mike Goodson and freshman Cyrus Gray accounted for 32 yards. McGee then teamed up with junior tight end Jamie McCoy for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Freshman defensive tackle Eddie Brown was credited with a sack of McGee to end the first-team offense's second drive.
The second-team offense responded with a touchdown.
Stephens caught a screen pass from Johnson on third-and-7, turning it into a 16-yard gain. Junior linebacker Matt Featherston had a clean shot at Stephens in the open field but didn't get a hand on him as the crowd responded to Stephens' moves.
Gray then covered 46 yards in two plays. He got 14 on a screen pass, then ran around left end but cut back against the pursuit for a touchdown.
Freshman quarterback Tommy Dorman had several good plays and led the third-string offense to the opponents' 15. But he and redshirt freshman Nick Trice bumped into each other resulting in a fumble recovered by redshirt freshman Michael Ebbitt.
Senior defensive end Michael Bennett had two sacks and the best hit that didn't count. Johnson faked and end round to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Brown who was leveled by Bennett as Johnson completed a 15-yard touchdown run in red-zone play.
Tidbits: Head coach Mike Sherman said both sides of the football had a more consistent effort Thursday. Last week, the first-team offense scored the first four times it had the ball. "When the defense had to step up, they made some key plays," Sherman said. "I saw good things on both sides."... Sherman said Tannehill could have played, but he hadn't done that much running until this week. ... Sophomore running back Cornell Tarrant didn't take part. Tarrant has some undisclosed personal issues and his status will be determined. "There's a chance he might not be on the team," Sherman said. ... Senior fullback Jorvorskie Lane, junior offensive lineman Vincent Williams, senior fullback Nick LaMantia, junior running back Keondra Smith and senior cornerback Danny Gorrer didn't scrimmage. Freshman fullback Kyle Mangan had his pads off after the first half. He had an 8-yard reception in the first half. Sherman is hopeful that his injured fullbacks will be back Monday.
Next up: A&M will watch film and work out Friday morning before having Saturday off. The team will begin regular game-week preparation Sunday afternoon.
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41 comment(s) found!
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/25/2008
Comment Title: A&M over Arkansas State by 4 tochdowns!
EXpect A&M's Big Champ Squad to play everybody and win by 4 touchdown or more! miller58
Posted by: Sooner or Later On: 8/25/2008
Comment Title: High speed info
Lots of technical stuff here I see. Will have to turn Bob Stoops on to it. Glad I found this site since my email got shut down...
Posted by: manager at wallee world On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: carts
Hey miller58 go get the carts in the parking lot. Then when your done come back and bag some more groceries! Now pimple face
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: The good and bad!
As a chairman/owner you briefly monitor the good and work like heck to identify and solve the bad. You dont hide the bad, you solve it! miller58
Posted by: JBAg82 On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: Negative vs. positive
To all: Miller is one of those kind of guys who likes to dwell on the negative--you know--a "glass half empty" type. While I don't think that our Ags will set the world on fire this year, I do believe that they are showing some signs of improvement. No coach can come in and make a complete turnaround in performance in this short a period of time. However, from what I've seen and read, Coach Sherman is building a good, strong foundation on which to build a nationally competitive team. Please stop carping about "decommitments" from potential players and perceptions of "poor recruiting" and focus on the improvements that Coach Sherman is making. Our Ags will be a better team this year, even if they have the same record as last. Have faith--think "half-full!"
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: AggieBill
My personal opinions: Your right! It is unfair to compare Sherman to Saban or even Weis because those coaches exhibit all good coaching and recruiting traits! miller58.
Posted by: IllinoisAg On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: Here we go again
Once again I come searching for intelligent football banter, and again I find a board undermined by a couple of unwelcome, malicious worms. What miserable lives those people must live who find satisfaction turning every conversation into a forum of useless negativity. I'm glad my existence is more meaningful than yours. Anybody want to talk football, or is the Playstation Generation too ignorant?
Posted by: wow On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title:
miller is a butt sniffer!!!! he has never been on a football field except in his highschool band outfit
Posted by: Miller II On: 8/24/2008
Comment Title: Miller...Rude!
and yes, I am gay.... So what?
Posted by: Miller II On: 8/23/2008
Comment Title: Miller...Dude!
Can't you Aggies see this Miller fellow is a Texas grad or Red Raider pulling your strings? Fans of superior programs often make fun of lower level football fans and coaches just to watch all the fun. Saying the Aggies have the talent to win any title is such bait. Quit eating it. A&M is not a national program, it is a softball school. get over it.
Posted by: JimBob78 On: 8/23/2008
Comment Title: Projected Starting Lineups
Robert, Can you give us some info on the OL and DL? The Ags were lean on both. Are any freshman going to get playing at DT? What about on the OL it seemed we were light at OT? What are your assessments of these units and the impact they will have on this season's success?
Posted by: Toombs for President On: 8/23/2008
Comment Title: Miller time
Hate is a strong word sir. IT is america and you can spew your uneducated trash all you want. But do not start crying when you get trash back in your face. I am sick of all the kool-aid drinkers (positive or negative). IT is still too early either way. Just sit back and let's see how this regime goes. But judging based on paper is outright stupid. I bet Boise State's recruits suck too! IT's all about development and who can get the most out of these kids. Grow up and quit crying. Also, it still amazes me how adult men spend every waking hour focussed on a game and take so serious the commitment of an 18 year old kid. Get a job, life or a real woman. In fact, what am I doing reading this crap at 8 AM on a saturday? I guess I have to wait until she wakes up. WHoop! See you at kyle.
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/23/2008
Comment Title: Sad
I don't know why everybody hates me. I only speak the truth. Sherman is already failing this program. Aggie football is in a sad sad state. Believe it. Recruiting is life in football! miller58
Posted by: D On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Dumb
frosh is such a stupid word. why did you have to use that god-awful word?
Posted by: Mowdy Ag On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: ...let's try this again...
If you've followed Miller's posting career at all, you're quite aware that he has zero credibility. Good luck the Coach Sherman and crew. Next problem... MA
Posted by: Mowdy Ag On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title:
Posted by: miller56 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: John
My personal opinions: John we have 12 talented OL backed by 6 talented fish. We have 8 talented DL backed by 4 talented fish. I expect A&M to win the Big 12 going away this year. The 15 decommits will hurt next year, especially 4 DB's running in the 4.4's and 3 LB's running 4.5's and 4 DL.miller58
Posted by: Ben On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Offensive Line Recruiting
Stealing Ivory Wade from us was a big win for Baylor in the recruiting front (even though Wade had been leaning that way for months now), but an even bigger win for their recruiting was when Guy Morriss led the Baylor Bears over Fran's Aggs a few years ago. One player does not make or break a recruiting class and while it looks better with Wade, we have a great group of Offensive lineman committed.
Posted by: John Hicklin '66 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Line Depth + 4 greats
How are we at Depth on the OL and DL? That is my biggest concern. I also think it is fantastic to have McGee, Johnson, lane and Goodson in a game at the SAME time! What a potentional for creative play calling with them all on the field! Gig 'em!
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Four Star Ivory Wade
Did you'll know it was Baylor that Wade decommitted to from A&M? miller58
Posted by: MOAggie On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Miller85 wants the Yankees
Well Miller85, I had fortune of witnessing the entire futillity of Frans tenure at A&M. You should have seen me in the stands at the Mizzou Game last year sitting with all the tiger fans cheering against my Ags. I informed that if we lost that this would be the last year I would have to tolerate Frans incompetence and at least we could move on. I was even more impressed by Mizzou tearing all Frans 4 and 5 star recruits butts up all over that field with their mediocar 3 and a few 4 star recruits. Oh yeah, they played for the national title in the Big Twelve Championship game and kicked the crap out of Arkansas in their Bowl game. Lets see all our 4 and 5 star recruits lost to a weaker sorry butt Miami squad went 7-6 and looked like children playing proffesionals at our bowl game (two years in a row). Shut your face, when you can think higher than a 8th grade level let us all know. I rather have the 3 and 4 star recruits playing for chance at the national championship than all the five star recruits and a idiot for a coach.
Posted by: AGGIE11 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Aggie11
I OWN TEXAGS STAFF
Posted by: Ben On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Anti-Miller
I could go on and on and on listing examples of bone-headed Fran moves (one quick example is running your starting QB 35 times 10 in the fourth in an a blowout win when he has a torn muscle in his throwing arm and your backup QB is young, talented, but lacks experience). But I won't because there is no question he need to go. Fran tried to outsmart coaches by doing the illogical and when it backfired he never owned up to any of his moves. As for recruiting, Fran inherited his 5 star. Just like Sherman inherited most of his first "disgraced class" from Fran (other than 4 stars Fuller and Gray). A lot of Fran's 4 stars where either JUCO prospects who never made it in, or questionable high school players who didn't qualify. Because of Fran's recruiting genius and a little bit of bad luck (you can't blame Fran for Yemi) we are left with only 7 (maybe even 6) scholarship players who are sophomores or older on our offensive line ... and very very little depth at LB. Next year will not be great, but Sherman will get the most out of his talent and give us a fighting chance... we may be a few years away, but if we gave Fran a few more years Baylor would be knocking on our door (Fran allowed Tech to pass us up and lost to Baylor once). As for our 5 decommits, player's commit and decommit all the time. Just like Fuller was committed to OU and Sherman convinced him to switch to A&M. Our decommit list is up to 5 now and will probably increase to at least 7 or 8 before February. That is just how recruiting goes... it happened to Fran too.
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Sunk
Now Sherman is running off great players....read up. Cornell Tarrant is leaving. This ship is sinking and in a hurry.
Posted by: On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Charlie Weiss? Really??
That's your example Miller58? Obviously, your name means you drank 58 Millers before starting to post!! Weiss may very well be ran out of town this year (partially because Notre Dame has created a coaching carousel where no one can succeed). And how about his wonderful (on paper) recruits? Last time I looked (which I just did), A&M with less talent on paper was waist, head, and shoulders above Notre Dame last year. Go find a corner and pass out and quit wasting the time of people who actually understand sports.
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Aggies Sherman scores 5th decommit out of 09 recruiting class!
My personal opinions: Ivory Wade! miller58
Posted by: Toombs for President On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: miller needs a helmet, not a football helmet
miller, get off the short bus and stop crying. It is too early to tell anything. I am sick of mediocrity too, but give the guy a chance. I bet sherman's teams do not quit on him like the last idiot. Was Wes Welker a 5 star, how about brett favre, what about terrell owens (ittawamba jc), yes we need tallent and it will come. But dude, pull your head out from.......I guess Kansas fans should be crying because their class 3 years ago sucked on paper. Do you realize you are whining about a ranking on paper and not performance on the field? Would you rather have 5 star cry babies like tu that back down from Florida Atlantic when they get hit in the mouth? Go get an IQ before you run your mouth.
Posted by: Raptor99 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: beat the hell outta miller58...whoop!
miller58, Whoever you are you are certainly no fan of Aggie football. Your comments and assumptions are completely off base and as anti A&M as I've seen. You go well out of your way to bash Texas A&M football and the coaching staff on any and every forum available. I've seen more objectivity and less hatred of Aggie football from TX tech fans than you! It's obvious that you do not know what you're talking about. Try to enjoy the upcoming season and the seasons to follow. A&M football has better days ahead of them. That certainly wouldn't be true if fran were still around.
Posted by: lizzard On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Big Mac, Large Fries
Hey miller58, you forgot to put the fries in my bag
Posted by: notmiller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Just ignore miller58
He is a well know malcontent on all things A&M. There was plenty to be happy about in the scrimmage and this team looks like it will exceed most expectations.
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title:
Almost anyone can win a national championship with this talent. If Sherman doesn't at least have us in the Big XII championship game he should be let go before we get too deep. Recruiting! It's the truth....take it or leave it.
Posted by: aggie92 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Didn't answer the question!
Come on miller58, you didn't answer the question. I asked who you thought was going to be "HIRED" to come to A&M & recruit to your standards. You fired back with Nick Saban & Charlie Weis (who I think is already on the "warm seat" w/ND), both of which where not available for A&M & Byrne to hire. So I'll put it to you again, in your perfect world who was supposed to be hired in your opinion to recruit to your standards??? Aggie92
Posted by: baylor bear On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Is miller58 Terrance Harris?
Their logic (or lack there of) is almost identical and I can't stand reading the trash either of them produces. Maybe it's just a coincidence.
Posted by: jamodi83 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Sherman has been nothing but succesful to this point
Sherman has made this team realize that they are a part of this university and returned the team to the university through all his actions (student coaches at spring game, Sherman meeting with students at the MSC, players at silver taps, open practices, etc). This has created excitement for both the fans and the team which is a dramatic improvement over Fran the past couple of seasons. Sherman also brought in Fuller, Gray, Cavanaugh, Hunter, and Frederick at the end of the last recruiting class. Surprise! Surprise! They are some of the most talked about freshmen from August camp. This could go on and on to things like switching Pugh and Peterson back to their natural positions that Fran and his geniuses screwed around with but I will go ahead and stop here. August 30th is only 8 days away! Give em hell Sherman!
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Truth or Always Positive
My personal opinions: Aggie92 The Ag spin machine and other Ags not being more truthful has made short term losers of all of us. miller58
Posted by: AggieBill On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Comparing coaches?
So, miller, let me get this straight. You think that Sherman should be able to come in and recruit like Nick Saban? Nick Saban, who was in the NFL for a brief stint and had a GREAT amount of success at the college level? You cannot compare those two coaches and expectations based on such comparisons are completely unrealistic.
Posted by: mller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Who would ome in here and recruit the first year?
My personal opinions: Aggie92, to answer your question, "almost any decent coach". Two quick examples are: Nick Saban in his first year out of the nfl, signed 3 five stars and 19 four stars players. Charlie Weis in his first year out of the nfl signed 2 five stars and 10 four star players. Both had similar budgets for assistants and similar or worse w-l records. miller58
Posted by: HavocRise On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Oh, and miller...
Oh, and miller, to show improvement over last year, all Sherman needs is 8 wins. Ags were 7-6 last year, remember? Also, all those 4 star recruits sure did Franny a lot of good. I am so sad that part of my time on campus was wasted on the Fran years. At least I got to see two years under a real coach.
Posted by: HavocRise On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: I think miller58 is Fran
I think miller58 is Fran. He's been a freaking Franny homer for years. They booted him off of Texags for being so freaking annoying. Now, he spends his time on rival sites bashing the current Aggie staff who has YET TO COACH A GAME AT A&M! Dude, get a freaking life and stop brown-nosing a disgraced coach! Maybe Sherman is the answer, and maybe he's not. But don't act like you know either way at this point.
Posted by: Aggie92 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: My Personal Opinions of Miller58
Way to go miller58, your enthusiasm & positive outlook is really going to support your team this year...NOT! Dismal failure??? I believe we are going to see a very different team on the field this year. A team that will not lay down on their coach with a mediocre effort, and will play with passion every game. Will it translate into your unrealistic expectations this year, no. However, Sherman has been on staff for less than one year, hardly a body of work to claim as "a dismal failure". In your humble opinion, who in the world was going to come in here a light the world on fire with their recruiting in less than a year??? Either let Coach Sherman & his staff prove themselves over the coarse of 3 or more seasons or jump on some college team's bandwagon that can get you your instant 10 win gratification. aggie92
Posted by: miller58 On: 8/22/2008
Comment Title: Future Bench Marks
My personal opinions: Sherman's recruiting in the last and current classes is a dismal failure. So we are on the same page, in Fran's last two years, A&M had a 9 win regular season decade high and a 14 four and five star player commit decade high. Plus beat tu twice. To show any improvement Sherman needs 10 regular season wins and 15 four and five star commits. miller58