Texas A&M Aggies
Overall Rank: #12
#3 Big 12
Texas A&M Team Page
2010 Record: (9-4, 6-2)
2010 Bowl: Cotton Bowl vs. LSU (L 24-41)
Coach: Mike Sherman (19-19 at Texas A&M, 15-15 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Sherman
Defensive Coordinator: Tim DeRuyter
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Cyrus Gray, RB, 1,133 yards
Passing: Ryan Tannehill, QB, 1,638 yards
Receiving: Jeff Fuller, WR, 1,066 yards
Tackles: Garrick Williams, LB, 112
Sacks: Damontre Moore, LB, 5.5
Interceptions: Dustin Harris, CB, 4; Coryell Judie, CB, 4
Other Key Returnees: CB Terrence Frederick, S Trent Hunter, DE Tony Jerod-Eddie, OT Luke Joeckel, C Patrick Lewis, DE Jonathan Mathis, OT Jake Matthews, RB Christine Michael, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu, LB Sean Porter, WR Ryan Swope
Key Losses: C Matt Allen, LB Michael Hodges, QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, DT Lucas Patterson
Coach Mike Sherman put Ryan Tannehill in at quarterback during the seventh game of the 2010 campaign. The Aggies did not lose again until they were outmatched by LSU in the Cotton Bowl. That change was a huge deal. Benching Jerrod Johnson could have easily backfired, but Texas A&M had a whole new team with a whole new explosive offense under Tannehill. The former wide receiver came out slinging the ball all over the place once he was put in under center. That will not change this year.
Strengths:
Tannehill may have something to prove still, but with this offense, he will not have a problem putting up more great numbers. Jeff Fuller is one the best receivers in the Big 12, and that is saying something. Last year he caught 72 passes for 1,066 yards and a dozen touchdowns. Ryan Swope is more of a possession receiver and Uzoma Nwachukwu is still developing into a big playmaker. Those three will give Tannehill plenty of targets. However, the Aggies do not need to throw all of the time. Cyrus Gray had a superb junior campaign, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and ending up with 1,133 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Christine Michael is back after breaking his leg, which led to Gray’s breakthrough. But now Michael, the Big 12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2009, is back and there will not be enough carries for those two…which is a good thing for the Aggies. Despite all the returning skill players, the offensive line is what will make this one of the best offenses in the nation. Center Matt Allen is gone, but a slew of experienced players are back. Patrick Lewis will slide over to the middle of the line, but the true strength is on the ends with tackles Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel.
Weaknesses:
Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter did an amazing job improving the Aggies defense. Until last season this was one of the worst defenses in the country. However, there is still room for improvement and losing tackling machine Michael Hodges and stud pass rusher Von Miller leaves a few more questions. That leaves the biggest concern at linebacker where Garrick Williams will have to emerge as the leader of the unit. Kyle Mangan is the likely starter beside Williams in the middle of the Aggies 3-4 defense after starting ten games as freshman two years ago. Replacing Miller on the edge is a bigger issue. Damontre Moore showed plenty of potential as a freshman, tallying 5.5 sacks, but he will not be Miller any time soon. The front line, with the help of the linebackers, did a good job stuffing the run last year. Nose tackle Lucas Patterson is gone, but Eddie Brown was a third-team Big 12 honoree last season and will start this year. It is the depth behind him that may become an issue unless junior college transfer LaMarc Strahan is ready to play quite a few snaps. At 6-4 and 365 pounds, Strahan is a fine run stuffer and has a lot more size than anybody else on the Aggie line.
The Bottom Line:
The secondary gave up over 234 passing yards per game last year. Yes, this is the Big 12, but that is still a high number. Yet, all four starters are returning and this young group is now grown up. Cornerback Coryell Judie is one of the best in the conference and Terrence Frederick will not be able to be picked on by opposing teams trying to avoid Judie. Dustin Harris will even give the corners another option when they need to run out an extra defensive back. Safeties Steven Campbell and Trent Hunter are not spectacular, although Campbell will lay out a spectacular hit or two, but they do provide leadership and intelligence to the Aggies last line of defense. If the secondary can live up to their billing, which may depend on the rush linebackers getting pressure on the quarterback, not only can Texas A&M compete in the Big 12, but they can win it.
Projected Bowl: Cotton Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 165.00 (45th in nation, 5th in conference)
Passing Offense: 276.85 (20, 5)
Total Offense: 441.85 (23, 5)
Scoring Offense: 31.23 (34, 5)
Rushing Defense: 130.15 (30, 1)
Pass Defense: 234.15 (89, 8)
Total Defense: 364.31 (55, 5)
Scoring Defense: 21.92 (34, 4)
Turnover Margin: -.38 (80, 10)
Sacks: 2.23 (40, 5)
Sacks Allowed: 2.85 (104, 11)
Madness 2012 NFL Draft Rankings:
#26 Jeff Fuller
#64 Cyrus Gray
Madness 2011 Football Recruit Rankings:
#175 Howard Matthews
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