Coach: Dennis Franchione | Staff In 2006: 9-4, 5-3; lost in the Holiday Bowl to California, 45-10. Returning starters: Offense: 9. Defense: 7. Key losses: WR Chad Schroeder, WR L'Tydrick Riley, LB Justin Warren, S Melvin Bullitt.
2007 breakdown: Top 10 players | Outlook | Offense | Defense | Special teams | Coaching | Schedule

Breaking down the offense

Overview: For most of last season the Aggies were the only team in the country to average 200 yards rushing and passing. However, there is no doubt the strength of A&M's offense is its running game. The Aggies feature the power of Jorvorskie Lane, the speed of Mike Goodson and QB Stephen McGee running the show. Still, the Aggies need to improve their passing game.

TEXAS A&M TOP 10

Mike Goodson gives the Aggies an explosive weapon out of the backfield.

1. RB Mike Goodson

2. TE Martellus Bennett

3. QB Stephen McGee

4. RB Jorvorskie Lane

5. DE Chris Harrington

6. C Cody Wallace

7. LB Misi Tupe

8. S Devin Gregg

9. OT Yemi Babalola

10. DT Red Bryant

Most overrated: A three-star prospect back in 2003, WR Earvin Taylor has one last chance to prove he's better than he has shown. He has managed just 40 catches in his career, 19 last season. The Aggies don't throw a lot, but they'd still prefer more production than they've received from Taylor.

Most underrated: Big 12 coaches named C Cody Wallace a second-eam all-conference lineman last year, and frankly that just wasn't good enough. He has started 23 consecutive games and has been consistently effective.

Must step up: McGee had a very good year in 2006, but the Aggies simply cannot afford for him to take a step back this season. He rushed for 666 yards and only threw two interceptions while passing for 2,295 yards in 2006. A&M is counting on similar production in 2007.

Impact newcomer: Nine returning starters won't allow many opportunities for newcomers, but WR E.J. Shankle could inject some much-needed speed into the A&M passing game. He actually played last season, though few probably know that. He notched just one catch and one rush. His opportunities figure to increase substantially.

Battle to watch: Four starters return on the offensive line, and guards Chris Yoder and Michael Shumard will vie for the position left open by the graduation of Grant Dickey.

New in 2007: Career backups Pierre Brown and Kerry Franks are expected to move into the starting lineup at wide receiver.

Grade the units:
QB: B-plus. McGee threw just 12 touchdown passes, but only had two interceptions. He runs hard and provides spirited leadership.
RB: A. The bullet and the bulldozer – Goodson and Lane – combined for 1,572 rushing yards and 23 TDs. Also, redshirt freshman Cornell Tarrant was the star of the spring game. Incoming freshman Bradley Stephens is a four-star prospect.
WR/TE: B-minus. TEs Martellus Bennett and Joey Thomas raise the grade, but the WRs are mediocre at best.
OL: A. Wallace, guard Kirk Elder and tackle Corey Clark all have at least 23 career starts. Tackle Yemi Babalola has been a starter for two seasons, although injuries limited him last year. He's healthy now, and the Aggies have their best offensive line since the arrival of coach Dennis Franchione.

Breaking down the defense

Overview: A&M made amazing strides in upgrading its pass defense in 2006, and this year hopes to move closer to returning to "Wrecking Crew" status. A few heralded new starters have raised optimism that the Aggies defense can play at a high level. That was once taken for granted in College Station.

Best player: Defensive end Chris Harrington has been overshadowed throughout his career at A&M, but he's coming off a junior season in which he led the team in solo tackles, sacks and tackles for losses.

Most underrated: Halfway through his freshman year, safety Devin Gregg moved into the starting lineup and registered a sack on his first collegiate play. He has been in the starting lineup since. Other teammates have received more attention in the past, but last year Gregg posted 64 tackles and two interceptions.

Must step up: Defensive tackle has become a position of concern. Sophomore Kellen Heard (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) played well when Bryant was hurt last season. Heard even managed two sacks against Nebraska. However, he needs to prove he can be productive as a starter.

Shoes to fill: Alton Dixon will take over for strong safety Melvin Bullitt, a two-year starter. Many observers feel Dixon actually will be an upgrade.

Impact newcomer: Sophomore safety Jordan Pugh primarily played on special teams last season. He will be a new face in the starting lineup in 2007. He starred in the spring, and A&M coaches are confident Pugh will immediately raise the talent level in the secondary.

Position battle: CBs Jordan Peterson and Danny Gorrer were good at times, and they were burned (badly) at times. The DBs must show they have improved since last season. Peterson and Gorrer will have to be better in order to hold off impending challenges from Arkeith Brown and former starter Marquis Carpenter.

New in 2007: The secondary in A&M's 4-2-5 alignment will have two new starters at safety in Pugh and Dixon.

Grade the units:
DL: B-minus. Harrington is a solid pass rusher, and Bryant - when healthy - is good against the run. But the Aggies need linemen like Heard, Henry Smith and Michael Bennett to raise their games.
LB: B-minus. Junior college transfer Misi Tupe earned All-Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year honors last season. Mark Dodge also had a solid season. Matt Featherston may be ready to challenge for a starting job.
DB: B. The depth at corner is respectable, and Gregg is solid at safety. Pugh and Dixon are new starters, but they should prove to be upgrades over their predecessors.

Breaking down the special teams

Overview: Kickoffs aren't a problem – booting them or returning them. K Matt Szymanski has a powerful leg and often has little trouble blasting kickoffs out of the end zone. Kerry Franks is a dangerous return man. The punting is solid, too. But no field goal attepmt can be taken for granted.

Grade the units:
K: C. Long kickoffs are wonderful, but a kicker's worth is judged by his ability to convert field goals. Szymanski hit just two of five in 2006, but he has the ability to become a threat from long range.
P: A. Justin Brantly's 44.3-yard average last season ranked fourth in the nation.
KR: A. Including his Holiday Bowl numbers, Franks ranked 10th nationally with a 27.7 return average last year.
PR: Incomplete. Chad Schroeder, the only player with more than two punt returns last season, is gone and his successor hasn't yet been named. Franks did get 20 yards on his only punt return last year.

Breaking down the coaching

Overview: Dennis Franchione has rebuilt struggling programs several times in his career, but the Texas A&M reconstruction project has taken more time than many fans anticipated. He's been criticized for many decisions, but the fact remains the Aggies posted nine victories last season, upset Texas and came close to knocking off Oklahoma and Nebraska. A big reason for that success was the defensive improvement shown under then first-year defensive coordinator Gary Darnell.

Grade the coaches:
Head coach: C. Franchione has guided the Aggies to two bowl games in four years, but both ended with lopsided losses. His A&M teams are 25-23.
Offense: C-plus. The Aggies have been good, but not great in four years with Les Koenning Jr. as offensive coordinator. They've ranked among the nation's top 20 in total offense the last three seasons and have been among the top 35 in scoring offense the last two seasons.
Defense: B. Last year Darnell took over a defense which ranked last nationally in total defense. Under his supervision, DArnell has improved the unit significantly. In one season under Darnell, A&M reduced its points allowed from 31.2 per game in 2005 to 20.5 in 2006.

Special teams: B-plus. Mark Tommerdahl has presided over solid but largely unspectacular special teams at A&M. The punt and kickoff teams have usually been solid, and kickoff returns are usually good, too.

Olin Buchanan is the senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at olin@rivals.com.

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