| A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, left, said despite being
five-touchdown favorites today, the Aggies aren't looking past Idaho
toward Oklahoma State next week.
Photo: Nick De La Torre
/ © 2011 Houston Chronicle
|
By BRENT ZWERNEMAN, COLLEGE STATION BUREAU
Updated 11:13 p.m., Friday, September 16, 2011
More Information
Idaho at Texas A&MWhen/where: 6 p.m.; Kyle Field, College Station.
TV/radio: PPV; 740 AM.
Records: Idaho 1-1, Texas A&M 1-0.
Line: Texas A&M by 35 1/2.
Last meeting: Never played.
Story line: The Aggies vow they are not overlooking the Vandals in advance of next week's showdown with No. 8 Oklahoma State. OLB Damontre Moore returns to the lineup for A&M after his suspension in the opening game following an offseason arrest on charges of marijuana possession. The defense needs him after struggling against the run in the first half against SMU.
By the numbers: A&M RB Cyrus Gray enters tonight's game as the school's new all-time leader in all-purpose yards (5,159). Darren Lewis (1987-90) held the previous record with 5,138. ... A&M DE Tony Jerod-Eddie leads the nation in sacks with three — in only one game.
COLLEGE STATION - Coach Mike Sherman
has few regrets along a four-year path in building a top-10 program at
Texas A&M, but there's at least one thing nagging him from last
season. A redshirt, apparently, is a terrible thing to waste.
"I look at Shep Klinke last year," Sherman said of the 6-7 offensive lineman. "I feel terrible. I thought he was going to play a lot more than he did. (Receiver) Nate Askew - I thought he was going to play a lot more than he did.
"They didn't play a whole lot, and they lost that year of eligibility."
That in mind, Sherman said he's being extra careful this season with the youngsters he trots onto the field - with the idea of perhaps having them around for five years instead of four. It helps, too, that Sherman has more quality depth at almost every position than what he inherited prior to the 2008 season and over his first three years on the job. Two years ago, for instance, Sherman played 18 true freshmen en route to the Aggies' 6-7 finish.
Minimal kid's play
That number likely will drop considerably this year, considering he turned to only four - cornerback Deshazor Everett, safety Howard Matthews and linebackers Tyrell Taylor and Shaun Ward - in a 46-14 season-opening victory over SMU. He might add a couple to the mix tonight, when the ninth-ranked Aggies (1-0) host Idaho (1-1).
"I had a list of the four guys who played last week, and I have a 'B' list of guys who might play (tonight)," Sherman said.
The B list includes defensive tackle Ben Compton, converted from the offensive line, and punter Drew Kaser.
"Compton was third-team center for us," Sherman said. "To make a trade like that with the defense, (the coaches) have to assure me he will be somewhere in the mix. He's a 310-pound kid, he can run and he's athletic.
"He doesn't know the position yet, but the (off) week was a great time for us to develop him."
Compton will fight for playing time with veteran defensive tackles Eddie Brown and Kirby Ennis.
"He's explosive," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said of Compton. "He's raw, but you can see that he's strong."
Meanwhile, Sherman recruited Kaser to immediately take over one of the team's biggest weaknesses. The Aggies netted just 34 yards per punt last season, ranking 99th nationally. But Kaser was limited in camp with a tweaked hamstring and only of late has provided the incumbents with competition. Junior Ryan Epperson averaged 40 yards on two punts in swirling winds against SMU.
"There were plans against SMU to get both Epperson and Kaser in, but Epperson did well and that ended up not happening," Sherman said. "We also didn't punt much."
Dodging a trap
Sherman said he'll determine the starting punter on a weekly basis. Following tonight's game against the Vandals, the Aggies welcome No. 8 Oklahoma State next week to open Big 12 play.
"We're not overlooking Idaho one bit," said quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose team is a five-touchdown favorite tonight. "Heading into conference play, you want to be running at a high level, and our goal is to win the Big 12."
brent.zwerneman@chron.com
"I look at Shep Klinke last year," Sherman said of the 6-7 offensive lineman. "I feel terrible. I thought he was going to play a lot more than he did. (Receiver) Nate Askew - I thought he was going to play a lot more than he did.
"They didn't play a whole lot, and they lost that year of eligibility."
That in mind, Sherman said he's being extra careful this season with the youngsters he trots onto the field - with the idea of perhaps having them around for five years instead of four. It helps, too, that Sherman has more quality depth at almost every position than what he inherited prior to the 2008 season and over his first three years on the job. Two years ago, for instance, Sherman played 18 true freshmen en route to the Aggies' 6-7 finish.
Minimal kid's play
That number likely will drop considerably this year, considering he turned to only four - cornerback Deshazor Everett, safety Howard Matthews and linebackers Tyrell Taylor and Shaun Ward - in a 46-14 season-opening victory over SMU. He might add a couple to the mix tonight, when the ninth-ranked Aggies (1-0) host Idaho (1-1).
"I had a list of the four guys who played last week, and I have a 'B' list of guys who might play (tonight)," Sherman said.
The B list includes defensive tackle Ben Compton, converted from the offensive line, and punter Drew Kaser.
"Compton was third-team center for us," Sherman said. "To make a trade like that with the defense, (the coaches) have to assure me he will be somewhere in the mix. He's a 310-pound kid, he can run and he's athletic.
"He doesn't know the position yet, but the (off) week was a great time for us to develop him."
Compton will fight for playing time with veteran defensive tackles Eddie Brown and Kirby Ennis.
"He's explosive," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said of Compton. "He's raw, but you can see that he's strong."
Meanwhile, Sherman recruited Kaser to immediately take over one of the team's biggest weaknesses. The Aggies netted just 34 yards per punt last season, ranking 99th nationally. But Kaser was limited in camp with a tweaked hamstring and only of late has provided the incumbents with competition. Junior Ryan Epperson averaged 40 yards on two punts in swirling winds against SMU.
"There were plans against SMU to get both Epperson and Kaser in, but Epperson did well and that ended up not happening," Sherman said. "We also didn't punt much."
Dodging a trap
Sherman said he'll determine the starting punter on a weekly basis. Following tonight's game against the Vandals, the Aggies welcome No. 8 Oklahoma State next week to open Big 12 play.
"We're not overlooking Idaho one bit," said quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose team is a five-touchdown favorite tonight. "Heading into conference play, you want to be running at a high level, and our goal is to win the Big 12."
brent.zwerneman@chron.com
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