COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Slowly but surely, Texas A&M coach
Mike Sherman is seeing progress from the Aggies' offensive line.
The unit was a major area of concern when the season began with
only one returning starter, senior right tackle Travis Schneider.
Sherman sys the line had perhaps its best performance in last
week's 56-28 loss to Oklahoma State.
The Aggies rushed for 184 yards and amassed 402 total yards,
both season highs. A&M (2-3, 0-1 Big 12) plays Kansas State (3-2,
0-1) on Saturday.
But the defensive line is still a work in progress. The Aggies
have allowed 13 sacks, the most in the Big 12, and sophomore
quarterback Jerrod Johnson went down twice against Oklahoma State.
But overall, Sherman said A&M's pass protection looked better.
Schneider, who missed A&M's 21-17 win over Army with an ankle
injury, said the line just needs experience and time to gel.
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QUARTERBACK WHO?: The health of senior quarterback Stephen
McGee has become a weekly issue.
Jerrod Johnson started against Oklahoma State last week as McGee
sat out for the second game to nurse a sprained throwing shoulder.
McGee went 7-for-9 against Army on September 27th before
re-aggravating the injury he sustained against New Mexico on
September 6th. McGee also missed A&M's 41-23 loss to Miami.
Sherman said Monday that McGee's health would be evaluated again
this week. But he wouldn't commit to starting Johnson on Saturday,
despite saying Johnson came out of the Oklahoma State game with no
health concerns. Johnson sprained his shoulder in the Miami game,
but went 24-for-43 for 218 yards with a two touchdowns and two
interceptions in the 56-28 loss to the Cowboys.
Johnson said he's finally comfortable running Sherman's offense
after McGee beat him out for the starting job in August practices.
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SPECIAL NEEDS: Mistakes on special teams cost the Aggies again
in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant returned a punt 78 yards for a
touchdown and the Cowboys averaged 30 yards on five kickoff
returns. The Aggies, meanwhile, are still looking for their
special-teams touchdown and have no kick return longer than 31
yards.
In the season opener, senior Richie Bean missed two field goals
in an 18-14 loss to Arkansas State. Bean is 1-for-4 on field goals
this season.
The one bright spot on special teams has been punter Justin
Brantly, who leads the Big 12 and ranks third in the nation with a
47.1-yard average. Sherman says the problem is that some of
Brantly's kicks are so long, the Aggies can't get down the field
fast enough to cover them.
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EXTRA POINTS: Running back Mike Goodson needs 110 rushing yards
to become the 15th Aggie to reach 2,000 for his career. He would
become A&M's first 2,000-yard rusher with at least 70 career
catches. ... The Aggies have won the last five meetings with Kansas
State, starting with the 36-33 double-overtime win in the 1998 Big
12 championship. ... Five of A&M's top 10 receivers -- Ryan
Tannehill, Jamie McCoy, Cyrus Gray, Jerrod Johnson and Pierre Brown
-- played quarterback in high school.
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QUOTABLE: "In boxing, they make 'em box in divisions. They
don't let the real big guys box them little bitty guys. Same things
holds true in football. You shouldn't ask a real little guy to play
a really big guy, especially up where the hand grenades are going
off." -- defensive coordinator Joe Kines.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)