Injury report: Jonathan Mathis was sidelined today with a concussion. His return is to be determined--as Coach Sherman said, they don't play with those things. Cyrus Gray and Jeff Fuller were both held out; Kenric McNeal was a no-go as well. Stephen Barerra continues to be out.
Notes:
* Defense was the order of the day today, just about from the word go. Terrence Frederick had a pick six on Ryan Tannehill's second pass of the scrimmage, and that set the tone. There were multiple instances where the offense was in goal to go situations and did not score.
* Ivan Robinson was working second team today as Ben Bass moved up to replace Mathis, and he had several nice plays where he was able to break containment and get to the back at or just behind the line of scrimmage. He moves really well laterally for a guy of his size.
* Today was an acid test for Donnie Baggs and Jonathan Stewart, and I thought both were solid. Baggs, especially, made several nice plays getting up in the gaps and making tackles. For a guy who spent his high school career on the outside, he's not afraid to get up into traffic and take on blockers or ballcarriers.
* Kyle Mangan was still running third team, but he made a couple of nice plays, especially in coverage. If he keeps things in front of him, he's become a very solid defender.
* Charlie Thomas had a "sack" today on a blitz of Ryan Tannehill. He's taken to the interior well.
* Sherman said he really is eager to take a look at the film from today's scrimmage to see where everyone in the ILB race shakes out. He said that he's been impressed by the competition among six guys (Baggs, Stewart, Mangan, Garrick Williams, Thomas and Steven Jenkins) for two spots. Once they review film, it's likely we'll get a clearer picture of what is likely to be the first team going into the SMU game.
* I really enjoy watching Coryell Judie play corner. He's physical, jams well at the line, keeps up with wideouts and never gives up on a play. Even though he's sore, he made a leaping deflection on a deep corner end zone route intended for EZ Nwachukwu and ended up on the track.
* Shaun Ward made a couple of real nice plays today, working with the second team. The one that stood out came in pass coverage, as Jameill Showers sprinted out to his right and tried to throw a short ball to Will Randolph. Ward came up and got a hand on the ball, deflecting it away.
* Brandon Alexander is still grasping coverages, but if there's a play to be made along the line of scrimmage, he's going to be in on it.
* Special teams were not good today. Taylor Bertolet had both of his field goal attempts blocked (by Howard Matthews and DeMontre Moore). They never got to the line of scrimmage.
* Of the quarterbacks, only Tannehill looked remotely good. The other guys were all struggling with the pressure they were under and made a lot of poor throws. Tannehill was especially good finding receivers like Ryan Swope and Malcome Kennedy over the middle, primarily in the second part of the scrimmage.
* Christine Michael has not only fully recovered from his injury, he appears to be a much more complete back than he was before. He had a couple of really exciting runs today, including one where he completely spun around a defender to gain a few more yards. On runs like sprint draws, he's much more patient and lets holes up for him before getting caught up in the scrum.
* Will Randolph put another ball on the ground today and Mister Jones was ineffective. Sherman said they're still looking for a third running back, but odds are tilting real heavily in Ben Malena's favor.
* Nate Askew ran first team today with Fuller not going. And, again, he was very good, making a couple of good catches including one on a deep ball. He's probably the guy who has caught Sherman's attention the most this spring; the coach said he was "light years" ahead of where he was this time last year. I think he will be in that first group of guys out there behind Fuller and EZ, with Swope and McNeal.
* The Washington Redskins had a scout in attendance today, primarily looking at Fuller, Tannehill, Gray and Michael. About 10 teams have been to practice in less than a week.
Posted on 8/15 12:25 PM | IP: Logged
First?
Posted on 8/15 12:28 PM | IP: Logged
* Christine Michael has not only fully recovered from his injury, he appears to be a much more complete back than he was before. He had a couple of really exciting runs today, including one where he completely spun around a defender to gain a few more yards. On runs like sprint draws, he's much more patient and lets holes up for him before getting caught up in the scrum. Not following this?
Posted on 8/15 12:29 PM | IP: Logged
Will Randolph better start holding on to the ball or his A&M playing career will be over before it ever starts.
Posted on 8/15 12:29 PM | IP: Logged
Did Kaser kick today?
Posted on 8/15 12:30 PM | IP: Logged
Do we still have TE's?
How are Hicks and Prioleau doing? Good or bad? Not standing out at all?
Posted on 8/15 12:30 PM | IP: Logged
Bad news on Mathis.
Posted on 8/15 12:31 PM | IP: Logged
Nobody punted today in the scrimmage. He may have indoors or at McFerrin.
Posted on 8/15 12:31 PM | IP: Logged
Did Kaser punt?
Posted on 8/15 12:33 PM | IP: Logged
This post was edited on 8/15 6:44 PM by 6.William.Bs
Posted on 8/15 12:33 PM | IP: Logged
Is Randolph the second coming of Wilbert Biggens? Of course without all the hype coming out of H.S. to that of Biggens.
Posted on 8/15 12:43 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by 819 Ag: Will Randolph better start holding on to the ball or his A&M playing career will be over before it ever starts.
yep.
Two things that get Tank pissed are dropped balls by WRs and fumbles by backs. Those are nearly unforgivable breaches for this coach. Just can't do it.
Posted on 8/15 12:47 PM | IP: Logged
glad to hear Nate has picked it up
Madison pride, baby
Posted on 8/15 12:48 PM | IP: Logged
If Randolph cannot hold on to the ball, switch him to defense. A skill positon guy on offense who cannot hold onto the ball is a huge liability.
Posted on 8/15 12:52 PM | IP: Logged
Rivals ranked the Aggie OL 6th best in the conference for this year. Has the defense really come along or is the OL not playing up to par yet?
Posted on 8/15 12:59 PM | IP: Logged
I hate scrimmages. I am so torn over whether I should be excited about the Def or disappointed in the Off. I know our offense should be very good this year but it is just my nature to look at the negative side of things.
That being said, I think the best coaching mind on our staff is Timmy D and he may just be outcoaching his boss out there. It is nice to have good athletes and a great D-coordinator for our Off to practice against for a change.
Posted on 8/15 1:19 PM | IP: Logged
I would always rather have the D doing well. I am not worried about this offense
Posted on 8/15 1:24 PM | IP: Logged
still young O-line comparatively speaking. could be the deciding mark.
hope that the d-line is that good.
Posted on 8/15 1:30 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by jrwarren2005: Rivals ranked the Aggie OL 6th best in the conference for this year. Has the defense really come along or is the OL not playing up to par yet?
I am curious also.
In addition, did you mean that CMIke looks fully recovered or not???
Posted on 8/15 1:34 PM | IP: Logged
I'm pretty sure Mark was saying that C-Mike is fully healed AND is a better back than he was at this point last year.
Posted on 8/15 1:41 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by aggiembp: The Washington Redskins had a scout in attendance today, primarily looking at Fuller, Tannehill, Gray and Michael. About 10 teams have been to practice in less than a week.
I'm surprised they weren't checking out TJE and Judie
Posted on 8/15 1:43 PM | IP: Logged
The few days that I've watched Bertolet in live situations, he's seemed to struggle. He does fine kicking by himself with an artificial holder, but has trouble when he needs to get kicks off at game-speed.
Posted on 8/15 1:47 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by CRF250:
Originally posted by aggiembp: The Washington Redskins had a scout in attendance today, primarily looking at Fuller, Tannehill, Gray and Michael. About 10 teams have been to practice in less than a week.
I'm surprised they weren't checking out TJE and Judie
For real, they could use TJE right now.
Posted on 8/15 1:57 PM | IP: Logged
Best Part.
Originally posted by aggiembp: * The Washington Redskins had a scout in attendance today, primarily looking at Fuller, Tannehill, Gray and Michael. About 10 teams have been to practice in less than a week.
Posted on 8/15 2:00 PM | IP: Logged
Sound like they are a little tired. Get on them Sherman!
Posted on 8/15 2:10 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by Vaughn: If Randolph cannot hold on to the ball, switch him to defense. A skill positon guy on offense who cannot hold onto the ball is a huge liability.
Don't give up on him yet. Goodsen fumbled regularly when he first came in. He was a game changer and some coaching changed him for the better. Randolph is young and experience along with ass eatings will change that.
Posted on 8/15 3:50 PM | IP: Logged
Red Shirt for Randolph.
Posted on 8/15 4:07 PM | IP: Logged
We know we have a stellar offense, has the defense just finally caught up with them? Is it possible that the offense wasn't sub par, but rather the defense was stellar?
Posted on 8/15 4:41 PM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by 12byag: The few days that I've watched Bertolet in live situations, he's seemed to struggle. He does fine kicking by himself with an artificial holder, but has trouble when he needs to get kicks off at game-speed.
I think he'll redshirt for us this season. He had all three attempts blocked.
That said the punters all struggled today, too. No- Kaser did not punt today... was told he still has a tweaked hamstring. Ken Wood probably looked the best of the punters today.
The return guys did OK in my opinion, especially for it to be early in camp. And, Randy Bullock had another good day. He made all 3 of his FG attempts.
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