Practices No. 9/10: The Texas A&M football team worked out in full pads at the Coolidge practice fields Monday morning for 2 hours, 10 minutes, then donned shoulder pads and helmets for 2 hours in the afternoon in the McFerrin Center.
"I thought we had two pretty good practices," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "I thought the defense had a great red zone period this morning, [and] the offense came back and responded well this afternoon.
"I think our maturity is helping and the players understand the process. The competition is helping to push guys to get better."
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After further review: After dissecting the tape, Sherman said junior running back Bradley Stephens had a good scrimmage Sunday. "He really took a big step as a runner," Sherman said. "He held onto the football. He caught balls."
The young offensive linemen, junior defensive lineman Eddie Brown and sophomore inside linebacker Kyle Mangan were others cited by Sherman for good play.
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No. 1 1/2 and trying harder: First-year defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said his first unit and a half is making progress in the switch to the 3-4 alignment as far as intensity, effort and disguising coverages are concerned.
He said the unit is playing fast but needs more depth, though bumps and bruises to key players have paved the way for freshman defensive lineman Demontre Moore and redshirt freshman defensive back Charlie Thomas to catch DeRuyter's eye.
Moore, defensive back Tony Hurd Jr., and linebacker Domonique Patterson are true freshmen who were praised by the former Air Force defensive coordinator. DeRuyter said the plan probably was to redshirt Moore, who has raw talent, but he's been impressive. Hurd "is really physical," while Patterson has "come on the last few days," DeRuyter said.
As for the veterans, All-American Von Miller is faster and better than he was in the spring. Junior strong safety Trent Hunter was having a great fall camp until getting hurt and junior cornerback Terrence Frederick, who missed spring drills with a minor knee injury, "is going to be really, really good," DeRuyter said.
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He also knows offense: During the afternoon red zone work, Karl Kapchinski, assistant athletic director in charge of athletic training, picked up a football and threw it back to one of the ball boys.
"Kapchinski, nice arm," DeRuyter said.
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Four times young: The offensive line that handled most of the snaps on the second unit included four freshmen -- left tackle Jake Matthews, right guard Shep Klinke, left guard Jarvis Harrison and right tackle Cedric Ogbuehl -- along with junior center Danny Baker. Matthews had been at right tackle and Ogbuehl at left tackle until getting switched Monday.
"The first time they do that, I'm sure it's very uncomfortable for both of them," Sherman said. "We just want to see what's the best blend. This is the week I wanted to do that and at the end of this week kinda settle in exactly where we want to play everybody."
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Be good enough: Freshman wide receiver Nate Askew made an easy touchdown catch during the goal-line scrimmage in full pads when junior cornerback Lionel Smith slipped, which wasn't acceptable for DeRuyter.
"Come on and compete," DeRuyter said. "It's what's tough about being a defensive back."
A few plays later DeRuyter was applauding as sophomore free safety Steven Terrell came up with an interception after sophomore running back Christine Michael tipped the pass. Michael, who had 15 catches for only 66 yards last year, earlier had made a nice catch of a long throw from senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson.
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Terrell on a tear: Terrell and junior outside linebacker Garrick Williams tackled tight end Hutson Prioleau in the morning session, knocking the ball free, through it appeared that maybe Prioleau's knee might have been down. ... Terrell had his interception near the end of the morning drills and added another in the afternoon. ... Frederick intercepted Johnson during 7-on-7 drills.
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We meet again: Michael and junior cornerback Coryell Judie were very physical with each other as Judie pushed Michael out of the bounds. The two repeated the process on the very next play. Sherman and DeRuyter both said that Judie has been elevating his play.
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J-Train returns: Former A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane (2005-08) was at the afternoon practice. Lane said he's training and hopeful to play again. He talked to a scout from the Arizona Cardinals on Monday at practice who said to call when Lane got in playing shape. Lane, who had trouble keeping his weight down while playing the last two years, said he didn't know what he weighed, but looked slimmed down. Lane said returning to school for the spring semester is an option. ... Former A&M Consolidated head coach Ross Rogers, who coached A&M wide receivers coach Troy Walters, was at the indoor practice as well.
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Et cetera: Johnson had a good day, and backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill had his fourth straight good day, Sherman said. ... The father of Patrick Lewis, also named Patrick Lewis, watched both practices. The younger Lewis is one of six players from Louisiana on the squad. ... A&M has several players nursing minor injuries. A few of them returned Monday while a couple others joined those who are working with support personnel to return ASAP. Injuries are always a touchy topic at open practices and all updated information is supposed to come through school officials, though a smiling Hunter -- who is expected back soon -- was joking with an Aggie Hostess when he said he'd be out until Week 6 when she asked about his status with media members listening in.
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Next up: Practice No. 11 will be at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday at the Coolidge practice fields. The rest of the week's schedule will be Wednesday at 8:25 a.m (Coolidge) and 4 p.m. at the McFerrin Center (closed); Thursday at 8:25 a.m. (Coolidge); Friday at 8:25 a.m (Coolidge) and 4 p.m. at the McFerrin Center (closed); and Saturday at 8:55 a.m. (Coolidge). Outside practices are open to Aggies. Students, faculty and staff must show their A&M ID. Students and former students also will be admitted with an Aggie ring.
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