Another Big XII PREVIEW (this story is about our opponent A&M and not expansion)

[rockdog]

www.ecappermall.com/2010-big-12-football-preview

I think this game will really come down to how well our new offense performs against their defense.


Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Head coach Mike Sherman is a fan of a balanced offense, and it took a while, but his 2009 Aggie squad exploded, averaging 33.9 points, 190 yards rushing and 274 passing. The good news is that starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson is back. The bad news is the offense wasn’t great against the better teams and the defense was awful all year long, allowing 32.7 ppg. The bowl loss to Georgia, 44-20, summed that up.

The offensive line needs work, but the attack will still be among the nation’s best as senior QB Jerrod Johnson does it all, throwing for 3,579 yards, 30 TDs and 8 picks, plus running for 506 yards. Sherman mentioned quarterback Jerrod Johnson would be limited in his throwing in spring drills after having his right shoulder “cleaned up” after the bowl game. In 2008 he threw for 2,435 yards, 21 TDs and 10 picks as a sophomore (with little running game).
The top two wide outs return in sophomore WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (708 yards, 17.7 yards per catch) and junior WR Ryan Tannehill (609). The offensive line improved and junior Josh Ayers is back on the line along with sophomore RB Christine Michael (844 yards, 5.1 ypc) and junior RB Cyrus Gray (757 yards, 4.8 ypc). Throw in 6-4 junior WR Jeff Fuller (568 yards) and the top three wide outs return.

Joe Kines, a veteran football coach, begins his third season as Texas A&M assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Kines most recently served four years (2003-06) as the Alabama assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He likes blitzing and man-to-man coverage. They will be aggressive and attacking, but the secondary is a weak spot, so they could be prone to giving up big plays again.

The pass rush has DE Von Miller and should be very good, but they struggled against the run and in pass defense as the front seven was ripped through by anyone who could run. The run defense gave up 208 yards or more in three of the final four games, allowed 200 passing yards or more in nine games, and was never consistent. They were last in the Big 12 in total D and scoring defense. Defensive lineman Eddie Brown had shoulder surgery in the off-season and was limited in the spring.

The Aggies should start off well, but in a six game midseason stretch, the Aggies face five teams that went bowling last year and the sixth game is at Kansas. Throw in games against Missouri and Nebraska from the North, and a road trip to Texas to close things out, and they had better get some wins early if the Aggies want to go bowling. By the way, A&M is 8-35 SU, 16-26 ATS the last seven seasons as an underdog.

[Tbone1]

www.ecappermall.com/2010-big-12-football-preview

I think this game will really come down to how well our new offense performs against their defense.


Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Head coach Mike Sherman is a fan of a balanced offense, and it took a while, but his 2009 Aggie squad exploded, averaging 33.9 points, 190 yards rushing and 274 passing. The good news is that starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson is back. The bad news is the offense wasn’t great against the better teams and the defense was awful all year long, allowing 32.7 ppg. The bowl loss to Georgia, 44-20, summed that up.

The offensive line needs work, but the attack will still be among the nation’s best as senior QB Jerrod Johnson does it all, throwing for 3,579 yards, 30 TDs and 8 picks, plus running for 506 yards. Sherman mentioned quarterback Jerrod Johnson would be limited in his throwing in spring drills after having his right shoulder “cleaned up” after the bowl game. In 2008 he threw for 2,435 yards, 21 TDs and 10 picks as a sophomore (with little running game).
The top two wide outs return in sophomore WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (708 yards, 17.7 yards per catch) and junior WR Ryan Tannehill (609). The offensive line improved and junior Josh Ayers is back on the line along with sophomore RB Christine Michael (844 yards, 5.1 ypc) and junior RB Cyrus Gray (757 yards, 4.8 ypc). Throw in 6-4 junior WR Jeff Fuller (568 yards) and the top three wide outs return.

Joe Kines, a veteran football coach, begins his third season as Texas A&M assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Kines most recently served four years (2003-06) as the Alabama assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He likes blitzing and man-to-man coverage. They will be aggressive and attacking, but the secondary is a weak spot, so they could be prone to giving up big plays again.

The pass rush has DE Von Miller and should be very good, but they struggled against the run and in pass defense as the front seven was ripped through by anyone who could run. The run defense gave up 208 yards or more in three of the final four games, allowed 200 passing yards or more in nine games, and was never consistent. They were last in the Big 12 in total D and scoring defense. Defensive lineman Eddie Brown had shoulder surgery in the off-season and was limited in the spring.

The Aggies should start off well, but in a six game midseason stretch, the Aggies face five teams that went bowling last year and the sixth game is at Kansas. Throw in games against Missouri and Nebraska from the North, and a road trip to Texas to close things out, and they had better get some wins early if the Aggies want to go bowling. By the way, A&M is 8-35 SU, 16-26 ATS the last seven seasons as an underdog.

Wow.
That's old info. Joe Kines (Defensive Coordinator) retired around December sometime. Their new Def Coordinator is Tim DeRuyter who led the Air Force defense to a Top 10 ranking in the nation last year.