By ROBERT CESSNAJeff Fuller and Von Miller stood out at Saturday's Maroon & White Game like liberals at a Rush Limbaugh tribute dinner.
Fuller, who seemingly was always open, had nine catches for 147 yards. If Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson needed a spark he simply threw toward Fuller, who had six catches for first downs.
Miller's relentless pressure forced Johnson to dial up Fuller quickly. Miller had three sacks and a couple of hurries from the "jack" position, a hybrid of defensive end and linebacker.
Fuller and Miller have the potential to be playmakers. Unfortunately, some of their success Saturday was because of deficiencies in other areas that also plagued A&M last season.
The 6-foot-4, 209-pound Fuller overpowered A&M's undersized and undermanned cornerbacks. Five receivers had 100-yard games against the Aggies last year and another seven had at least six catches. Opponents attempted 365 passes against A&M last year, and the Aggies had only eight interceptions and 36 deflections.
A&M also had only 16 sacks, which was a sad total in the pass-happy Big 12. That's why A&M moved Miller, who's had a sizzling spring against an offensive line that last season allowed 39 sacks and is missing three starters.
Injuries have been one of A&M's biggest problems this spring. More than 20 players, including at least 13 on scholarship, didn't dress for Saturday's game. When you add in the 28 incoming players who are still in high school, that means roughly 50 percent of the 2009 team wasn't available.
A&M defensive coordinator Joe Kines can't wait until he gets his hands on the 16 defensive newcomers.
"I gave them a couple of good words of advice," Kines said. "Run, and get in shape. If you want to play, come in in shape, 'cause you're really gonna get a chance. You're really gonna get a chance."
Despite the lack of numbers, A&M has made great strides this spring.
"We're starting to solidify ourselves on the scheme and how we want to play defense," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said.
Miller, senior safety Jordan Pugh and sophomore safety Trent Hunter have been solid, which was expected. But redshirt freshman linebacker Kyle Mangan, senior defensive back Justin McQueen, junior walk-on linebacker Michael Hodges and sophomore defensive tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie are reasons the defense clearly has had the upper hand against the offense.
Sophomore linebackers Garrick Williams and Ricky Cavanaugh haven't been spectacular, but they've made progress.
"Last year we played with linebackers who never played linebacker in high school," Sherman said.
And it showed, play after play.
The Aggies have addressed that issue by landing five linebackers, led by Jonathan Stewart of Shreveport, La.
"They'll enhance that group, and we're going to find a spot for those guys either as backups or starters," Sherman said. "So the guys who are playing right now as starters really gotta work hard this summer to keep their jobs, because we're gonna work like heck to get the speed on the field that we're bringing in this fall."
If the Aggies can make progress in 13 workouts with 48 players missing, how much better can they become in the fall?
Running back Christine Michael, the Aggies' highest-rated incoming freshman, has the potential to be an impact player if the offensive line can improve.
Therein lies the biggest concern for Sherman and A&M.
The Aggies averaged only 2.9 yards per rush last year, so returning four starters on the line isn't necessarily a good thing. Sherman, a former line coach, is trying to get as much competition as possible. Junior Lucas Patterson, who moved over from defensive line; junior Matt Allen, who sat out last season as a transfer; and sophomore Danny Baker along with redshirt freshman Brian Thomas will have chances to become starters. If nothing else, maybe they'll push the returning starters into getting better.
The success of Johnson also hinges on the line's development. One of the spring's biggest disappointments was sophomore Ryan Tannehill not being able to compete against Johnson because of a shoulder injury.
A&M also will go into fall drills without a complement to Fuller. Redshirt freshman Tommy Dorman hasn't proven he's a legitimate No. 2 quarterback, which will make A&M hesitant to return Tannehill to wide receiver even if he doesn't beat out Johnson.
Terrence McCoy, Nick Trice, Kenny Brown and Cody Beyer have failed to win a starting receiver spot, and now former defensive back Lionel Smith is in the mix.
Incoming freshmen Brandal Jackson (Navasota) and Uzoma Nwachukwu (Allen) will get a chance to become the next Fuller.
"Some other guys have to step up," Sherman said. "We can't play with just a target. We need targets."
A&M also needs one or two more defensive linemen so teams won't be able to load up to stop Miller.
A&M might have a long list of shortcomings, but it's making progress. A year ago, the Aggies didn't have a go-to receiver or a sure-fire pass rusher.
Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com
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Posted by: Pablo On: 5/5/2009
Comment Title: No way Jose!
Leach may be a very good coach, but he is not our cup of tea... IMO
Posted by: ags On: 5/1/2009
Comment Title: the heck with sherman...let take mike leach instead!
mike leach turned tech program around -he will be good here in B/CS.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/24/2009
Comment Title: THIS IS NOT PROGRESS BY SHERMAN?
My personal opinions:_____In the past two+ weeks, Sherman has lost offers to 7 players, 2 DB's committing to ou and nebraska, 2 LB's committing to okie lite and lsu, a RB committing to michigan, an OG committing to alabama and finally a DE committing to tech!_____Asof today A&M still has no five star and only 1 four star player; and tu has 17 of them?_____Sherman's excuse makers do not like it when you rank teams by 4*/5* difference makers, because it quickly shows even the novice football fan, who are the winners and losers!_____miller58
Posted by: Pablo On: 4/23/2009
Comment Title: Can't argue with that Miller..
First coherent analysis I've read in a while (from you of course). I'm hoping you're wrong of course, will be a big year for Sherm & Co.
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/22/2009
Comment Title: RE: miller58
SOLID EVALUATION.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/22/2009
Comment Title: RE; austinweirdo
My personal opinions:_____Who will win the Big 12 title?_____First A&M will lose more games than it wins this year, with Sherman's poor recruiting and equally poor coaching!_____In the south, tu has more good players._____ou has more good coaches._____Because you only play 11 players at a time, "IF" ou has no injuries and is healthy for the RRS, expect ou to win the itle!_____Some time in the year, ou is likely unhealthy and injury short on players, and I expect tech or osu etc. to slip up on ou!_____In the north, pelini has the best coaching staff equal to stoops, is recruiting lights out and building a powerhouse!_____I expect ou to win the south by tiebreaker, facing nebraska in the champ game._____ou will be favored, but pelini could win this year!_____Probably ou is Big 12 title champ, and pelini starts to dominate in 2010 and beyond!_____A&M will continue to suck near the bottom until we after get a new coach!_____miller58
Posted by: austinweirdo On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title: Re:Miller58
You sir, knows alot about team assessments. Who do you think will win big12 title this year?
Posted by: Seeing Stars On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title: (Just Venting- Don't Take This Too Seriously)
This is ridiculous. I wish this group all the best but I don't know what the hell folks think is going to happen on the field with this "defense". You better start realizing some of the downside to this scheme. When Mr Von Miller, with all good intentions, turns loose on his blitz from the corner who the hell is left for contain out there ?? You can "script" it in a scrimmage so it doesn't show itself but our opposition will not be so accomodating. Two basic jobs of that last man on the D-line: contain the back trying to go wide (turn him upfield) and next put pressure on the passer. That takes size and speed. You know, like a good defensive end. Do you really believe his 214 pounds (maybe) is going to be able to stand up a tackle or lead back and turn a running back upfield. If this stuff worked somebody else in college football somewhere would be doing it with 3 down linemen and a big safety because 214/4.5 is much easier to find than 255/4.6. If you don't have a very speedy 4-3 with a very good MLB to defend the spread you need to consider 4-2-5, not this stuff. We also could not take one receiver (fuller) away from the QB. He caught pass after pass with not much resistance. Say what you will but the previous staff understood the threat that spread offenses were capable of much better than the current staff (my opinion). That's why they were trying to load more DB's than LB's just like other good B-12 programs. That's why kines thought he was low on LB's and heavy on DB's when he got here. The 4-3 relies on a stud at MLB where the 4-2-5 gets more speed on the field to match-up with the spread and relies on 2 safeties and 2 ILB's. You can load up to 8 or even 9 in the box pre-snap when the situation allows, which WILL confuse the offense, and then morph into man, zone, blitz, cover-2, etc very quickly. The O-line does not know which of those in the box will drop to coverage or come on the blitz either. The 4-2-5 is easy for D-players to pick up and is fun which keeps their attention and keeps them excited about the next play. Basketball on grass. Will not work against ground-pounding running games but is highly effective against the speed of the spread. Just watch some of our better opponents run it this year. I may be wrong but I don't think anybody on this staff had ANY experience with spread offenses anywhere before last season and my opinion is they are learning on the fly as witnessed by the shifting of players from position to position during the season and between seasons. Enough on this already, how 'bout some good news. Today we have one commit out of the top 250 and tu has 17 (ou-3, tt-1, lsu-1)...now the good news is there are 13 left from the state of texas and tu will run out of scholarships before they get them all. Maybe some will stay in-state (with us).
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title: RE:
My personal opinions:_____Wolridge is a soph thast runs a 4.5 ??____miller58
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title: WHERE ARE THEY?
MY personal opinions:_____Wish I could help!_____When Sherman and Cassidy were hired in November'07, they evaluated the commits they wanted to keep, went out and got some of their own, withdrew scholarships from some, like Brown who signed with ole miss and Janisch who signed with rice!_____28 players were signed in Feb'08, so that's enough players for 11 on offense and 11 on defense plus kickers and deep snappers, etc.?_____They will be sophs on campus this fall, and the players you are looking for should be in there, maybe?____Then Sherman signed a four star junior O-line transfer from lsu and transfers from smu and north texas!_____Add those 31 to 28 more Sherman signed in Feb'09, and that makes 59 juniors, sophs and fish that Sherman will have on campus this fall._____Maybe the players you are looking for are there?_____ With Sherman's 59 players, I still can't identify even 11 on offense or 11 on defense that will be studs and not just mostly duds?_____Call Sherman and ask him, is my suggestion?_____I have no confidence and no clue what Sherman is doing with 4.7 types?_____Corners, safetys and linebackers need 4.4 to 4.5 speed and coverage skills; and a 3-4 D-line need two 280# DT-DE types and a 320# nose tackle; only thing left is for them to be slow middle linebackers?_____But Nick Saban was in exactly the same position as Sherman last year and won 12 regular season games?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title:
I know what you mean. We do not need defensive ends at all from the looks of this defense. We need some jack players like miller. Where are they.
Posted by: On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title:
Let me try again. I am not saying this right. Why would we take them at all if we are not using them in this new defense you gays talk about.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title: THE 4'5's ARE COMMITTED TO tu AND ou !
My personal opinions:_____Sherman has to take the slower lower ranked leftovers!_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title:
Sorry. It just seems we have plenty of these 4.7 ends to sit on the bench in favor of 4.5 vonmiller types. why do we need more was my question. Thank you.
Posted by: miller99 On: 4/21/2009
Comment Title:
My personal opinions:_____ To answer your question, A&M would like to have the 4.45 to 4.55 guys, but when the faster players turn down Stoops' offers to commit to A&M, We are happy to take them, along with undiscovered talent because or coaches know talent!_____ And the quantity will definitely reflect our team recruiting power?_____ Quantity & Quality with speed, athleticism and size Will help create blow out wins for the Aggies!_____miller99
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: RE:
My personal opinions:_____To answer your question, A&M would like to have the 4.45 to 4.55 guys, but when theae faster players turn down A&M offers to commit to other schools, We have no choice but to take the slower lower ranked leftovers!_____But the quantity will at least falsely inflaste our team recruiting ranking higher?_____Just quantity with no speed, athleticism and size Won't help stop the blow out losses though!_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: Milla
Hey dude. Just let you know, we've made a maroon blue bonnet before... My friend was one of the botanist who "made" it. Anyways, please just move to austin. They will love you.
Posted by: On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title:
we just replaced a 4.7 def end to get more speed on the field with vonmiller. Why are we recruiting more of these in the 2009 and 2010 classes.
Posted by: CinterL On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: NEW DEFENSIVE END COMMIT!
My personal opinions: DE Nehemiah Hicks 6-3 219 4.7 committed to Mike Sherman, turning down a Bob Stoops and Mike Leach offer to play at A&M! Oh and he is on the ESPNU watch list for the top 150 players in the country!
Posted by: On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: Looking forward to this season
Definitely needs some work on both sides of the line. Excited about having a serious threat at receiver, now we need tannehill healthy! Gig'em
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: _____NEW DEFENSIVE END COMMIT !
My personal opinions: DE Kendrick Deal 6-5 215 4.7 committed to Mike Leach, turning down a Mike Sherman offer to play at A&M?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title:
Ignore miller58 (aka muskrat). I hear he's not an Ag - can you tell? He's baylor - bleeds green. He's banned everywhere else.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: SHERMAN HAS ALREADY LOST THE 5*'s, THE 4*'s, AND NOW IS LOSING ALMOST ALL THE TOP 3*'s?
My personal opinions:_____Sherman's first and second signing classes, and 3 transfers will all be on campus this fall!_____Looks like Shermans third signing class is falling apart._____No 5*'s, one 4*. and 16 others in the third signing class and we are losing the 3*'s out of state._____The latest is LB Luke Muncie 6-4 215 4.49 to turn down Shermans offer to commit to lsu?_____Then in the last couple of weeks we've seen Sherman's offers turned down by 2 corners to nebraska and ou, a second linebacker to okie lite, an OG to 'bama and finally a RB to michigan._____If we can't get the top 3*'s, what is left._____Of course if we fill out the class with even just 2* warm bodies, the quantity will falsely inflate our team recruiting rankng way too high!_____It also will do absolutely nothing to stop our future blow out losses?_____miller58
Posted by: Millerr58 On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: I thought the rain would cancel the game?
My personal opinions_____Bob French is the new Offensive Weather Coordinator for Sherman's staff_____Bob was only a 3-star recruit from the O&M building_____If the game is rained out, it will be Sherman and Byrne's fault for not hiring Dr. Neil Frank to forecast Offensive Weather_____And this weather is offending me_____Stephanie Abrams of The Weather Channel, now that would be a 5-star signing right there_____How can we expect 20,000 fans to show up and see the game and ZZ Top if we don't have someone smart enough to predict the weather?_____My personal opinions are that we should hold the game inside a giant wooden ark, built by the Construction Sciences department_____But t.u. has all of the 5-star tools and blueprints_____Byrne has left us with tools from the dollar store, while t.u. gets to use Mac and Snap-On_____we are using 2-Star hammers, while t.u. and OU and LSU get to have a Lowe's and Home Depot account_____when will the NCAA intervene on such improper tool benefits?_____Lightning should be maroon. I have seen LSU purple lightning, t.u. orange sunsets, Baylor green grass, OU red roses, Tceh black ashtray bottoms, I have eaten Rice rice, and yet we never have anything maroon that occurs naturally. If Byrne spent as much on having the Genome Project develop a maroon flower or goat or dog as he did building that blimp hangar we call an indoor track facility, we would have more 5-star recruits_____Millerr58.
Posted by: BOBBY12THMAN On: 4/20/2009
Comment Title: O-LINE
I said it before and I'll say it again. It all starts and ends with the O-line. I know we can pull it all together before NM. WRECK 'EM!
